How to Spot a Lying Politician

In my nine years at Men’s Health, my absolute favorite source has been Marc Salem, whom we affectionately refer to as the MH Mentalist. Marc is considered one of the foremost authorities on nonverbal communication in the world—indeed, he can read people’s thoughts with remarkable accuracy. Over his 30-year career, Marc has worked for such diverse organizations as the FBI and Sesame Street. (You can guess what he did for the former; you don’t want to know what he did for the latter!)

As primary season heats up, and whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, the credibility of the candidates is uppermost on everybody’s mind. Sure, most politicians are covering something up (who isn't, right?). But is it a benign insincerity or a flat-out lie?

“There are up to 1,000 body-language cues packed in every minute of interaction,” Salem says. “This is how the subconscious mind speaks. No matter how much a person wants to control it, nonverbal behavior reveals how he's truly feeling.” (Interestingly, researchers have also linked the width of your face with your likelihood of lying. Click here to find out if your face makes you a fibber.)

These cues differ depending on whether we’re addressing a crowd or talking to someone one-on-one. “President Obama constantly scans the entire crowd rather than looking just in one particular place or speaking mostly to those nearest him,” says Salem. “This is a really effective way to make everyone in the room feel you’re speaking directly to them.” Newt Gingrich also does this very well, says Salem, though he loses some credibility by tapping his fingers. “This showcases his impatience and nonverbally tells the world ‘I’m too smart for this,’” says Salem. Watch for it at the next debate.

President Obama’s use of his hands also helps him connect with large audiences. His gestures generally stay inside his body line—they’re less frenetic, more controlled, and thus more powerful. His nonverbal communication says “I’m assured but not big-headed,” Salem explains.

Contrast that with Rick Perry, whose hands move wildly left and right, up and down. It comes across like he’s nonverbally shouting. It’s the equivalent of writing an email in all caps.

Nonverbal cues are even more revealing in one-on-one situations. In important public interviews, according to Salem, Bill Clinton performed microshrugs, noticeable only in slo-mo (while denying Lewinsky allegations before a grand jury), and John Kerry stared with overstudied empathy (on the Today show). And, in an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer after the capture of Saddam Hussein, President George W. Bush was afflicted with a wide range of nonverbal tics, from rapid eye blinking to pursed lips. In these moments, each of these men displayed nonverbal cues of deception.

Below is your viewer's guide to what to look for over the next 10 months. The best part: These same rules apply to everyday life, so you'd better warn your wife, kids, and coworkers! Happy hunting, men.

1. Sharp Pauses 

When a person is lying, he pauses longer in the middle of sentences, provides shorter answers, and takes longer to begin his response than someone who's merely nervous. After all, explains Salem, he needs time to create the lie. Also, check his eyes. People tend to look up to the right to visualize or invent a response, and down to the right to invent sounds. We recall truth by looking up or down to the left.

2. Excessive Gesturing 

When people lie, they move their hands a lot and employ "adapters"—that is, nervous movements like scratching the body or fiddling with a pencil, says Salem. If a candidate is asked a question and immediately picks up a pen and begins playing, something's amiss subconsciously. 

3. Lack of Gesturing 

On the other hand, the practiced liar will try to control gestures. Richard Nixon was coached to stay still during his post-Watergate TV appearances, says Salem. “He kept his face inexpressive, his upper body stiff, and his legs crossed,” he says. “First, he looked frozen. And then, when he couldn't hold it any longer, he leaked aggression cues, such as finger pointing and grasping motions. These movements were rarely in sync with his words—a real red flag.”

4. Tight Lips 

Look for unusual movement of the mouth, lips, or tongue, says Salem. In a interview with NBC about Iraq's WMDs, Vice President Dick Cheney tightened and sucked his lips inward a half-dozen times. Tight lips indicate a person may be hiding the truth. If he sucks his lips in, he may be withholding anger. Also, when a person gets nervous, his mouth becomes dry, so he licks his lips and swallows. During the Iran Contra hearings, many witnesses asked for water. Clinton needed a soda during his grand-jury appearance.

5. Creation of Barriers 

Just as we pull down the shades at home, we close off entrances to our bodies so our true feelings aren't seen. “Liars tend to stick their hands in their pockets, clench them, or hold them behind their backs,” says Salem. “Or they'll hold objects (even a pen) in front of their bodies, fold their arms, stand sideways, or never emerge from behind the podium.”

6. Circumstances Not Matching Demeanor 

Considering the accusation, one would have expected Clinton to be emotionally upset and embarrassed. Instead, he began his I-did-not-have-sex denial calmly. The lack of appropriateness was a sign of insincerity, says Salem.

7. Half Smiles 

A real smile changes the entire face, says Salem. The eyes light up. The forehead wrinkles, the eyebrows and cheek muscles rise, skin around the eyes and mouth crinkles. And, finally, the mouth turns up. It's slow to appear and disappear. In a masking smile, nothing moves but the corners of the mouth, and often they curve down. It's quick to appear, and vanishes just as fast. Watch for it.

Learn how to raise your IQ instantly, fast-track your promotion, and win a fight before it starts. You'll find all that and more in Marc Salem's Mind Games, a new blog at MensHealth.com.

And don’t miss Testosterone Transformation, a new book from Men’s Health that reveals how to unlock the power of your most important hormone to lose fat, build muscle, and live longer!

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