Some common wisdom and stereotypes suggest that people tend to close their eyes or avert their gaze when telling a lie. This belief likely stems from the idea that liars want to avoid making eye contact because they feel guilty or don’t want their deception to be detected. But is there any scientific evidence to back up this notion? Do liars actually close their eyes or look away more when being untruthful?
Quick Summary
– Research findings on whether liars close their eyes when lying are mixed, with some studies finding a correlation and others not.
– There are inconsistencies in research methods that may impact results, like how “closing eyes” is defined and measured.
– Some research suggests lying causes increased cognitive load, which could result in gaze aversion as a way to reduce stimuli.
– Individual differences in personality and lying styles likely influence whether someone closes their eyes when lying.
– Context plays a role – high stakes lies may increase gaze aversion while skilled liars may maintain eye contact to appear credible.
– More research is needed taking individual factors into account to determine if there is a consistent link between eye closure and deception.
Key Factors That Influence Eye Closure When Lying
Whether someone closes their eyes when telling a lie seems to depend on several key factors:
How “Closing Eyes” is Defined
– Complete eye closure vs partial shutting of eyes
– Frequency of blinks
– Duration of eye closure
Individual Differences
– Personality traits like anxiety
– Lying skill and experience
– Cultural background
Context
– High vs low stakes lies
– Motivation to appear credible
– Interrogation vs casual setting
Research Findings
Studies examining the connection between eye closure and lying have had mixed results:
Studies Finding a Correlation
– A 2014 meta-analysis reviewing multiple studies found that liars tend to blink more frequently.
– A 2012 study of videotaped confessions found increased blinking when people lied vs told the truth.
– A 2010 study using electromyography found greater orbicularis oculi activation (eye squinting) when subjects lied.
Studies Finding No Link
– A 2018 study using infrared glasses found no difference in blink rates between truthful and dishonest responses.
– A 2016 study found no increase in overall eye closure or blink rate when participants lied in a mock theft scenario.
– A 1996 experiment observed no correlation between eye blinks and lying during an interview.
Theories on Why Liars Might Close Eyes
There are a few theories that may explain why some liars close their eyes or gaze away more when deceiving:
Increased Cognitive Load
Lying often requires more mental effort than telling the truth. This extra cognitive load could result in physical reactions like increased blinking or eye closure.
Guilt and Shame
Liars may avert their gaze due to feelings of guilt, shame or embarrassment about their deception. Eye closure could be an unconscious reaction.
Deliberate Gaze Aversion
Some liars may deliberately look away as a strategy to avoid revealing visual cues to their deception.
Reducing Stimuli
Closing eyes can temporarily reduce environmental stimuli, which may help liars concentrate on their false narrative.
Limitations of Research
While some studies point to a possible link between eye closure and lying, the research has limitations:
Inconsistent Definitions of “Closing Eyes”
Studies use varying definitions for measuring eye closure. Blinks, squints, and gaze aversion are sometimes conflated.
Reliance on Videos or Observer Reports
Much research relies on third-party observation rather than precise biometric measurement.
Small Sample Sizes
Many lab studies use fewer than 100 participants, limiting generalizability.
Lack of Context
Most lab studies cannot replicate the high stakes of real lies, reducing ecological validity.
The Role of Individual Factors
Personality traits and differences in lying behaviors likely mediate whether someone closes their eyes when deceiving.
Social Anxiety
People with social anxiety display more gaze avoidance overall. This may get magnified when lying.
Culture
Cultural norms influence eye contact. Lying may produce different eye movements across cultures.
Lying Skill
Skilled, habitual liars may keep their eyes open to feign honesty and credibility. Novice liars are more likely to shut eyes.
Stakes
Lying about high stakes topics leads to more stress and cognitive load, increasing chances of eye closure.
Personality
Introverts and people high in neuroticism may close eyes more when deceiving due to discomfort.
Contextual Factors That Influence Eye Closure When Lying
Aspects of the situation and context also impact whether liars close eyes:
Interrogation vs Casual Conversation
The intensity of an interrogation could produce more eye closure due to stress. Casual lies may show no difference.
Motivation to Appear Credible
Liars motivated to seem honest and trustworthy may consciously keep eyes open.
Question Type
Open factual questions may produce more eye closure than subjective or opinion questions when lying.
Medium
Lying face-to-face could yield more eye avoidance than deceiving over the phone or text.
Evidence
Liars may stare more when presented with hard evidence to reduce cognitive load.
Conclusion
While there are some studies finding links between eye closure and deception, the overall research remains inconclusive and inconsistent. Individual differences in personality, culture, and lying styles appear to mediate whether someone closes their eyes when lying. Contextual factors like stakes, motivation, and medium also likely play a role. More research taking into account each individual’s baseline eye movements in truthful scenarios is needed to determine if there is a reliable correlation between eye closure and lying. But the common assumption that all liars reflexively avert their gaze when deceiving is probably oversimplified. The notion that furtive glancing or eye closure betrays dishonesty does not hold up across all people and contexts. Like many nonverbal behaviors, eye movements provide limited cues to deception without considering the person’s unique communication style and the circumstances surrounding the lie.
References
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