Lie Detector: Body Language

If you're still visiting this blog, then you can be sure to expect some interesting news.

Earlier today, I attended a speech presentation at my University (UOIT) from a customs agent.

Who and what is a customs agent you ask?

To start, her name is Donna Brown and she is a smart and funny "lie detector" that works at the customs agent in the airport. Her job is to basically guard the airport and integrate suspicious suspects into telling her the truth about anything related to a serious situation. She also instructs private law enforcement agencies.

So, what exactly does she do?

She watches people for any emotional signal, mostly from body language, even though she doesn't like to call it "body language" since it's not really a language.

Here are some things that she taught:

- If someone looks up at the ceiling, it means they are using their brain to think. However, if he/she looks left or right, then they are listening and if they look at the ground, it is something emotional using the heart.

- If someone is listening to you or has an interest, they might tilt their head.

- Make sure to carefully watch for pupil dilation when asking deceptive responses. For instance, if a girl at a bar has her eye pupils dilated, this might mean that she is interested in you.

- The term, "Olfactory" recalls odour, oxygen deprivation or pre-indicator for anger.

- Two types of control gestures involve biting your nails and holding your hands behind your back.

- A mouth twitch is when someone is watching to not say something he or she will regret.

- A "cold shoulder" is when someone's body leans away from the interviewer or integrator and the shoulders start to rotate away from that person. This means that they are not involved in the conversation and the subject disagrees with what is being said.

- There are seven emotions that consist of: Anger, Contempt, Disgust, Fear, Happy, Sad/Distress and Surprise.

There are many more things that she discussed during the one hour lecture, but unfortanely, it's too big for this post. I hope you enjoyed some of the things and e-mail me if you want more info.