No one wants to be lied to.
But the reality is, white lies abound, and prolific liars are among us.
Because the fewer details there are, the less it’s possible for you to fact-check, right?
The aforementioned research from 2011 notes that people who are outright lying may indeed use excessive words.
Whether it’s to beef up their story or simply out of nervousness is less clear.
Notice if certain things are repeatedly not lining up.
How to tell if it’s a lie.
Short answer: There is no surefire way to tell if someone is lying.
It’s also important to understand the person you’re dealing with, according to Birkel and Spinelli.
How to handle a lie.
If you’re convinced you’re being lied to, then comes the question of how to handle it.
Birkel says it’s up to you whether the lie is worth confronting.
“It is best to take a pause and reflect on theirwhy,” adds Spinelli.
And again, it’s important to figure out what your boundaries are.
Are you sure that what you shared is actually what you meant to say?'"
