How to Get the Truth Out of a Liar

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Being lied to can be a really devastating and confusing experience. Whether it's your spouse, your friend, or a coworker, you likely want to get the truth out in the open somehow. This article is here to help give you the tools to do just that, no matter how difficult the conversation may be.

1

Wait to bring up the subject until you are alone.

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    If you think someone may be lying to you, arrange a one-on-one meeting with them or broach the subject in private. This gives the person a comfortable space to tell the truth, as they may feel less judged or put on the spot. [1]
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2

Speak to them in a gentle tone of voice.

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    Slow down your speech and say your words in a calm manner. Avoid yelling or using an aggressive tone of voice. [2] That may cause them to get defensive and less likely to tell the truth. [3]
3

Ask them about what happened in different ways.

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    If you're still not sure if they're lying but feel like something is up, try repeating your question in varying ways. It's likely that the person is lying if they don't change the wording of their response. Repeating the question may also cause them to get uncomfortable and potentially confess. [5]
    • Let's say an employee took money out of the donation jar at an event. Ask them, "How come there were $20 dollars missing from the jar?"
    • Next, ask, "What happened to the $20 dollars?" Then, "If all the donations were recorded accurately, why is there a missing $20 dollars?"
    • If their answer doesn't change, especially their exact word choice, that's a sign that they're giving a premeditated response and are not being genuine.
    • Don't take this as a definite sign that they're lying, though. It's also possible that they're just really nervous and don't know what to say.
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4

Downplay the lie that they're telling.

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    Use statements that minimize the severity of their lie as well as the consequences that they will face if they tell the truth. People who lie often fear the repercussions of their actions, which makes them less likely to fess up. [6]
    • Try something like, "I won't be angry. I just want us both to be on the same page" or "I don't want to make this a bigger deal than it is. I just want to understand what happened."
5

Empathize with them.

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    Use empathetic language like "I understand" and "I completely get it." Make an effort to show that you understand their motivations, too. [7] Even if you don't support their behavior, validating their perspective can help level the playing field so that the liar feels more comfortable admitting what happened. [8]
    • Maybe your partner lied to you about where they were for the evening. Say, "I know you're not telling me, but I understand why you did this. It's been stressful at home. It makes sense that you'd want to be by yourself for a while."
    • Empathizing with their behavior doesn't mean you have to support what they did. Use it as a tool to get the truth out in the open and diffuse the conflict, then discuss the ramifications of their actions.
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6

Remain silent.

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    Their discomfort may prompt them to tell the truth. After you've asked them a question, pause and look them in the eye. Suppress the need to fill up the silence and wait for them to respond instead. This may put pressure on the person who's lying to confess what happened. [9]
7

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    This encourages the person who's lying to disagree with your reading of the events. It may even prompt them to confess to get the story straight. To really encourage them to tell the truth, exaggerate what they did so that the person feels like they have to reveal what actually happened. [10]
    • Maybe you can't find your favorite dress and you know that your sister took it. Say something like, "When I left for the weekend, I hung up all my clean clothes. I came back to find the dress, my tights, and my favorite necklace missing!"
    • This may prompt your sister to confess with something like, "I only took the dress!"
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8

Avoid accusing them directly.

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    Though it may be tempting to just say that they're lying (especially if you know it's true), hold off on any direct accusations. [11] Putting a liar on the spot may cause them to place the blame on you, lash out, and get defensive. [12]

Protect Yourself from Deceitful People with this Expert Series

Do you have liars or people who like to bully and gossip in your life? It can be hard to know what's real when the people around you aren't truthful, so we've put together this expert series to help you protect yourself from lying, bullying, and gossip.
1
Deal With People Who Exaggerate
2
Deal With a Liar
3
Deal With a Compulsive Liar
4
Deal With Drama Queens or Kings
5
Deal With Bullying, Gossip and Rumors
6
Tell when Your Friend Is Lying

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I say to my girlfriend if I know she's hiding something from me?
    Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW
    Psychotherapist
    Kelli Miller is a Psychotherapist based in Los Angeles, California. Kelli specializes in individual and couples therapy focusing on relationships, depression, anxiety, sexuality, communication, parenting, and more. She is the author of “Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues” which details the top 15 relationship issues and 3 quick solutions to each. She is also the award-winning and best-selling author of “Thriving with ADHD”. Kelli co-hosted an advice show on LA Talk Radio and was a relationship expert for The Examiner. She received her MSW (Masters of Social Work) from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Sociology/Health from the University of Florida.
    Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW
    Psychotherapist
    Expert Answer
    You should tell her you noticed she's uncomfortable and hiding something. This way, you might make her less defensive and more open to seeing their behavior. After her answer, try asking how you can make her feel more comfortable in sharing things with you in the future.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.inc.com/travis-bradberry/what-to-do-when-you-catch-a-liar.html
      2. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview. 11 June 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.today.com/parents/why-kids-lie-7-ways-get-them-tell-truth-1c7398399
      4. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview. 11 June 2020.
      5. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/282129
      6. ↑ https://www.today.com/parents/why-kids-lie-7-ways-get-them-tell-truth-1c7398399
      7. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview. 11 June 2020.
      8. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/282129
      9. ↑ https://www.fastcompany.com/3042260/8-methods-to-get-anyone-to-tell-the-truth
      1. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/282129
      2. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview. 11 June 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.inc.com/travis-bradberry/what-to-do-when-you-catch-a-liar.html

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