Don't Lie.

The following is a synopsis of tips from Mark Bouton's non-fiction book titled How to Spot Lies Like the FBI. Bouton is a published mystery writer and was an FBI agent for 30 years. He's seen more than his share of liars. See his website at www.mmbouton.com.

TEN SECRETS FOR SPOTTING LIES

*Watch for clusters or groups of the following behaviors.

Touching – mouth, nose, neck or throat, eyes, ears, objects

Omission – words, ideas, answers, clarifying statements

Speech – stuttering, mumbling, pausing, scrambling phrases, slurring, bad syntax, high voice

Posture – stiff, leaning away, stonewalling, turning sideways, shoulder roll, head jerks or shifts

Obfuscation – fake smile, ill-timed gestures, words unlike emotions, no use of contractions

Tells – mimicking, denial, bridging, modifying, blocking, displacing, stalling, inclusion

Attitude – creased forehead, grimaces, clenched fists, arms crossed, hands stuffed into pockets

Legs – bouncing, swinging, crossing, pointing, tucking

Incongruity – gives partial shrug, smiles when saying something serious, exaggerates reactions

Eyes – lack of contact, blinking, darting, glancing away, closing, shifting, aversion, “mercy stare”

*Remember to value and honor your close personal connections and family ties. Use the above techniques to inform yourself and to protect your health, money, and above all, your important relationships.