Being too lazy
or excessively detailed in irrelevant parts.
Avoid a clear chronology.
Asking for a step-by-step reconstruction increases cognitive pressure.
Inconsistencies usually appear when the narrative needs to be structured.
2️⃣“What happened just before and just after?”
This is the key question.
Most lies concern the main event. What happens before and after is usually less prepared.
By extending the period:
Contradictions are detected.
Changes in the story.
Unusual hesitations.
Authentic memories generally include context. Lies focus on the essentials.
What NOT to do:
Don’t make direct accusations without evidence.
Don’t constantly interrupt.
Don’t look for “universal signs” like avoiding eye contact (this doesn’t always indicate a lie).
Effective detection relies on narrative inconsistencies, not isolated gestures.
An important warning:
No technique is infallible.
Some nervous people may give the impression of lying.
Some trained people can lie with great consistency.
The best tool is not aggressive confrontation, but patient observation.
