Dating 101: Eight Ways to Spot a Dishonest Date
By Dating expert Caroline Presno, Ed.D., P.C.C.
Special to Yahoo! Personals
Updated: May 22, 2009
Chances
are you're being lied to multiple times a day. It happens not only at
work and with your friends and family, but in the intimate arena of
love and dating, whether it's a first date or someone you are forming
an exciting new relationship with.
Imagine
this:

During a
10-minute conversation, people told an average of two to three
lies
During a
10-minute conversation, people told an average of two to three
lies, and 60 percent of people lied at least once,
according to a study conducted by Robert Feldman of the University of
Massachusetts.
Telling lies is a normal
part of everyday life. People tell small lies to make themselves more
likable or to spare other people's feelings.
However,
it's when the lying gets out of hand that it becomes harmful to a
budding relationship. If someone you are dating repeatedly lies to you
for their own personal gain, you need to be aware of it. By becoming a
better lie detector, you can prevent others from taking advantage of
you, both literally and emotionally.
Here are eight ways to spot a liar:
1. Eyes aflutter. When people lie, their blink rate tends to go up.
2.
The eyes have it. Conventional wisdom says that liars
don't look you directly in the eye. And sometimes this is the case.
However, research shows that practiced liars will actually give you
more eye contact than people telling the truth!
3.
Frankly, my dear. People who lie often feel the need
to draw your attention to their trustworthiness. They may preface
statements with words like "honestly," "frankly," and "truthfully."
They're also likely to make assertions such as "I would never lie to
you" and "I'm not lying."
4.
Cool and casual. Most people expect liars to be
nervous, but practiced liars know how to act casual while weaving a
web. They may have their feet up or be slumped down in a chair as the
lies flow.
5. Behind
the smile. A liar's smile is different from a
truth-teller's smile. According to research, true "enjoyment smiles"
are so big and bright that you'll notice a crinkle around the eyes.
These authentic smiles last for less than five seconds. The "masking
smile," or lie smile, tends to last longer than five seconds, doesn't
involve the eyes, has a hint of negative emotion, and may be
crooked.
6. Sticking to
it.

Good liars stick to the true parts of their story as
much as possible and insert lies at key points.
Good liars stick to the true parts of their story as
much as possible and insert lies at key points. If
you suspect you're being lied to, don't be fooled into thinking that
the whole story is true, even if you can confirm that parts of it are
true.
7. Derailed by
details. Liars often try to divert you from their
falsehoods by detailing you to death. They'll get you so bogged down by
the minutiae of the story that you lose track of what they're saying or
you get tired of listening. Never hesitate to ask for clarification if
the story seems confusing or doesn't add up.
8.
It's not me, it's you! If you catch someone in a lie,
they'll frequently try to turn it back on you. "You must be crazy. I
never said that!" or "You must have memory loss because that's not the
way it happened."
What do you do when
you suspect someone you're dating is repeatedly lying to you? In order
to feel more secure in the relationship, let them know that even though
the truth can hurt, you want to deal with things honestly and openly.
The truth will ultimately be better than losing trust and being
devastated by lies.
The more people lie
and get away with it, the more lies they tell. Stop the cycle by
confronting the lies!
More From Dating Expert Caroline Presno