Here in the post-truth era you've got to become better than ever at being a HUMAN LIE DETECTOR. And yeah, that's actually possible.
Here are the five things you need to do to catch someone in a lie, according to studies by the FBI's High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group.
1. Be nice to the person. You need the person to like you so they want to talk and talk and talk and talk and talk . . . which gives them a chance to slip up.
2. Don't obsess over body language. Things like a lack of eye contact or fidgeting AREN'T the signs of a lie you might think they are. Don't waste your time focusing on someone's body language.
3. Ask unanticipated questions. If someone's ready for your question, they can tell a confident lie. But if you surprise them with questions, they can start hedging. Also . . . ask for verifiable details. See if they're willing to provide proof.
4. Use strategic evidence. Lead the person to say something you know is a lie. Then drop a piece of evidence on them to catch them in it.
5. Don't challenge them too early. Let the conversation go on for a while before you start trapping the person with evidence or tricky questions. Let them say as much as possible before they realize what you're doing.