DETECTING DECEPTION 213the truth; there is no stress to conceal, and no guilty knowledge to make
them uncomfortable (Ekman, 1991, 185). Thus, you should be looking
for signs of discomfort—when they occur and in what context—to assess
for possible deception.
Signs of Discomfort in an InteractionWe show discomfort when we do not like what is happening to us, when
we do not like what we are seeing or hearing, or when we are compelled
to talk about things we would prefer to keep hidden. We display discom-
fort first in our physiology, due to arousal of the limbic brain. Our heart
rate quickens, our hairs stand on end, we perspire more, and we breathe
faster. Beyond the physiological responses, which are autonomic (auto-
matic) and require no thinking on our part, our bodies manifest discom-
fort nonverbally. We tend to move our bodies in an attempt to block or
distance, we rearrange ourselves, jiggle our feet, fidget, twist at the hips,
or drum our fingers when we are scared, nervous, or significantly un-
comfortable (de Becker, 1997, 133). We have all noticed such discomfort
behaviors in others—whether at a job interview, on a date, or when be-
ing questioned about a serious matter at work or home. Remember that
these actions do not automatically indicate deception; however, they do
indicate that a person is uncomfortable in the current situation for any
number of reasons.
If you are attempting to observe discomfort as a potential indicator
of deception, the best setting is one that has no objects (such as furni-
ture, tables, desks, or chairs) between you and the person you are ob-
serving or interviewing. Because we have noted that the lower limbs
are particularly honest, if the person is behind a desk or table, try to
move it or convene away from it, as such an obstacle will block the vast
majority (nearly 80 percent) of the body surfaces that should be ob-
served. In fact, watch for liars to use obstacles or objects (such as a pil-
low, a drinking glass, or a chair) to form a barrier between you and
them (see box 57). The use of objects is a sign that an individual wants
distance, separation, and partial concealment, because he or she is be-