Avoiding eye contact. Being vague, or offering few details. Body language that is contradictory (such as saying "no" but nodding their head up and down) Body language that is unusual (like fidgeting, rigidity, rubbing brow, playing with hair, or slouching)
Their Story Is Longer & Detailed
If you're suspecting someone is lying, yet they tell you a story that is lengthy, complete, and fully detailed, it's likely they're actually telling the truth, according to Psychology Today.
Itching and fidgeting: Rocking the body back and forth, cocking the head to the side or shuffling the feet can also be signs of deception, says Glass, who completed a post-doctoral fellowship at UCLA focusing on Psychology and Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication.
Deception can be found in the strangest of ways, some of which involve fidgeting and itching. “The head will be retracted or jerked back, bowed down, or cocked or tilted to the side,” behavioral analyst and The Body Language of Liars author Dr. Lillian Glass previously wrote.
The narcissistic liar
This type of person never admits to making a mistake, even when the mistake could be a growth opportunity for your PR team. He or she is often a "people person" seeking attention when things go right, bragging or exaggerating accomplishments, while being quick to place blame and criticize others.
She won't want to connect on any level and doesn't smile anymore when around you. A cheating wife avoids talking to you, touching you, or even being in the same room as you. Ask her out for coffee and see where the conversation goes. Whenever possible, she'll try to stay away from it.
Often, a spouse hides something because they don't feel like they have a safe place to share. Or, they hide something because they are doing something wrong and fear that the truth might hurt you. That being said, the safer you can make the environment, the more likely they are to open up and tell you the truth.
Cheaters often react to an accusation of cheating with denial, showing no guilt signs. This can be a simple 'no' or more of a statement of unwillingness to accept the accusation. Whatever the form, denial is likely to be one of the first responses to allegations of cheating.
Your partner is constantly sending messages. The phone is always angled away from you. They are constantly scrambling to keep the phone within reach. When bedtime rolls around, they don't put their phone on the nightstand anymore – it's always tucked under the pillow.
When it comes to detecting lies, people often focus on body language “tells,” or subtle physical and behavioral signs that reveal deception. For example, shrugging, lack of expression, a bored posture, and grooming behaviors such as playing with hair or pressing fingers to lips can give away a person who is lying.
Another important sign that can help you know when to leave a lying spouse is that they start becoming distant. This is another common sign that they are lying. If you are constantly questioning whether or not your spouse is telling the truth, it's likely that they will eventually become distant.
Reasons Spouses Lie
They have already disappointed you, and they're afraid of your reaction; They promised to change a pattern, and they haven't; They promised to get something done, but didn't…even though they meant to. People often lie not necessarily to deceive, but to protect their own ego.
In addition to deflecting blame, they will devalue you and make you wish you had never confronted them. Devaluing is a huge part of the narcissistic relationship. When it comes to devaluing you, catching them in a lie will be no different than dealing with any other conflict.
Apologize. If you've heard someone say, “Narcissists never apologize,” they're not exactly right. While many traits of narcissism like entitlement, elitism, and arrogance make it unlikely someone with narcissistic traits will go the apology route, apologies are sometimes used with ulterior motives.
Tightened jaw and forehead
Liars also tend to tense up when they're not being truthful, and this can include tightening the jaw and forehead. Both are connected to the "mental effort and stress" associated with telling a lie, according to Wenner.