We hear anywhere from 10 to 200 lies a day - here's how to spot them.
Talking Points:
- When someone is lying they will reference themselves less, avoiding the use of personal pronouns. The liar will avoid taking any ownership of a situation, speaking of it in terms of outside involvement. A person bending the truth will make an effort to disassociate themselves from the situation, focusing solely on the actions of another person.
- As a fibber crafts a lie, they will often create a very simple story, since it’s difficult to add complexity to a fiction. Building a false narrative is cognitively difficult and requires a large amount of situational analysis and forethought.
- While it is important to be able to spot lying, it’s also important to apply these analyses to ourselves. Building a personality of integrity requires a great deal of reflection. Habitual liars are people that need to be watched out for, especially in close relationships. As you learn to spot lies remember that everyone falls prey to this character flaw and needs some grace to overcome it. “Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove.”
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever been caught in a lie? What was the result?
- Have you ever lied and regretted it? Explain why you regretted it?
- Has a lie ever helped you? Looking back was that a good thing?
- Is there such a thing as a “white lie?” Explain.
- How can spotting your own lies be a good thing? Explain.
- How do these tips help you to be on guard against liars in your life?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
