184 W H A T EVERY BODY IS SAYING
Richard Nixon’s blink rate increased when he made his “I am not a
crook” speech. The fact is eye-blink frequency will likely increase in any-
one under stress whether he is lying or not. I reviewed President Bill
Clinton’s eye-blink rate during his deposition, and it increased fivefold as
a result of the stress he was under. Though it’s tempting to do so, I would
be very reluctant to label anyone a liar just because their blink rate in-
creases, since any stress, including being asked questions in public, can
cause the blink rate to increase.
Looking AskanceLooking askance at others is a behavior that is performed with the head
and eyes (see figure 71). It can take the form of a sideways or tilted head
motion accompanied by a side glance or a brief roll of the eyes. Looking
askance is a display that is seen when we are suspicious of others or
BOX 51: FLUTTER FOCUSObserving for eyelid flutter can help you read people and adjust your be-
havior accordingly. For instance, in a social gathering or business meet-
ing, the socially adept will look for this behavior to assess participants’
comfort. Something is troubling the individual whose lids are quivering.
This nonverbal is very accurate, and in some people it will start precisely
at the moment an issue arises. For instance, in conversation, an onset of
eyelid flutter indicates the subject has become controversial or unaccept-
able and a change of topic is probably in order. The sudden appearance
of this nonverbal signal is important and should not be ignored, if you
want your guests to be comfortable. Since people vary in their blink rate
or eyelid fluttering—particularly if they are adjusting to new contact
lenses—you should look for changes in flutter rate, such as a sudden
absence or increase in flutter, to gain insight into a person’s thoughts and
feelings.