• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
The surprisingly simple method for spotting a liar discovered by scientists

Home> Science

Published 12:59 18 Apr 2024 GMT+1

The surprisingly simple method for spotting a liar discovered by scientists

Can you lie and multitask?

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Whether you've tried to get yourself out of a sticky situation or didn't want to share your true feelings about someone, we've all lied at one time or another.

Though, some are better at it than others.

However, new research has now shared an easy way to catch a liar in the act.

Scientists at the University of Portsmouth suggest that by simply asking a suspect to perform an additional task while being questioned, it's easier to spot dishonesty.

Advert

How does this work?

Jan Scherders / Getty
Jan Scherders / Getty

Well, being deceitful puts more strain on the brain and requires more mental energy to do it successfully.

Throwing a second task in the mix like giving them random characters to remember makes it more difficult to continue a lie, making it easier to spot the lie.

Advert

To test the theory, 164 people were asked their views on controversial news topics such as Covid passports, immigration, Brexit and Boris Johnson.

Then, they were asked to either lie or tell the truth again about the same issues. Some participants were also given the task of memorising a car registration that they were told was 'extremely important.'

It was found that the stories of the liars were deemed less believable compared to the truth-tellers. This was particularly the case when the liars were also distracted by an additional task.

Peter Cade / Getty
Peter Cade / Getty

Advert

Professor Aldert Vrij, one of the study’s authors, explained: “The pattern of results suggests that the introduction of secondary tasks in an interview could facilitate lie detection but such tasks need to be introduced carefully.”

According to Vrij, secondary tasks are only effective in catching a liar if they can not be easily ignored or 'neglected.'

"This can be achieved by either telling interviewees that the secondary task is important, as demonstrated in this experiment, or by introducing a secondary task that cannot be neglected (such as gripping an object, holding an object into the air, or driving a car simulator).

"Secondary tasks that do not fulfil these criteria are unlikely to facilitate lie detection."

Advert

The study was published in the International Journal of Psychology & Behavior Analysis.

So, there you have it. Try it out for yourself next time if you're trying to suss out someone's true feelings. If they struggle to handle both tasks, chances are they're lying.

Featured Image Credit: Jan Scherders / Peter Cade / Getty
Science

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
2 days ago
3 days ago
  • The Diary of a CEO / YouTubeThe Diary of a CEO / YouTube
    a day ago

    Neuroscientist's astonishing story on how she communicates with her dead husband every day

    Her discovery is a 'revelation'

    Science
  • carlo alberto conti / Gettycarlo alberto conti / Getty
    2 days ago

    Scientists identify radioactive time bombs hidden beneath the Atlantic that could threaten millions

    What was once considered safe is now incredibly dangerous

    Science
  • Maryam Majd / Stringer / GettyMaryam Majd / Stringer / Getty
    2 days ago

    Musk's Mars mission hits milestone after billionaire denies offering his sperm to populate planet

    What about running for President of Mars?

    Science
  • X/@bryan_johnsonX/@bryan_johnson
    3 days ago

    Biohacker Bryan Johnson shocks fans with bizarre picture to celebrate 48th birthday

    The health fanatic was snapped holding a beer and a cigarette

    Science
  • Scientists left baffled after spotting ‘alien helmet’ on surface of Mars
  • Scientists identify bizarre glitch in the human brain in groundbreaking study
  • Scientists identify radioactive time bombs hidden beneath the Atlantic that could threaten millions
  • Scientists create a new life form more perfect than nature's own in jaw-dropping discovery