TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCESpale may be frightened or angry. In either case the reaction could
he because the person is telling a lie.
Sweating is another physiological process controlled by the ner-
vous system, and while it is often a reaction to excessive heat or
exertion, it can also occur when someone is put under emotional
pressure.
Other facial expressions may help in detecting a lie. The most
common is an "unmatched" face. In this, the same expression
appears on both sides of the face, but it is stronger on one side.
These unmatched expressions, according to scientists, are clues
to the fact that the feeling expressed is fake.
Crooked or asymmetrical expressions, however, are still not a
definite clue to lying. Like other clues, asymmetry is only one
element in the arsenal needed to judge a possible liar.
Another element in catching a liar is time. How long does an
expression last and how long does it take to appear and disappear?
According to Dr. Ekman's studies, expressions that last a long
time, between five and ten seconds, are probably false and the
subtext they send out is not to be trusted. An expression of true
feeling is much shorter. Genuine emotions only remain on the
face for a few seconds. For instance, to be genuine, an expression
of surprise must last less than a second. It must be a fleeting
thing.
Everyone, Dr. Ekman insists, is able to produce some kind of
false emotion, but a liar has trouble with timing. If an expression
of anger comes after angry words, it is probably false. Usually a
show of genuine anger comes at the start of angry words or even
a few seconds before.
The same is true of body language symbols of anger. If an
employer bangs a fist on the table to show anger and then vents
that anger in words after the fist banging, it is probably false