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Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception by Pamela Meyer (2010)
, 26 Jul 2018
"The greatest reward of liespotting—once you can purge your environment of deception, you can rest easy knowing you live and work in a community based on trust." (p. 200).
This book should have been titled dealing with deception in the workplace because that's exactly what the book is about. The information provided mixes military, government and intelligence agencies' interrogation techniques, scientific and academic data mixed with body language and micro-facial recognition to create what Meyer calls the BASIC method, a guide to lie-proof conversations, negotiations, and interviews. She claims that the techniques provided in the book can improve detection ability by 25% to 50%.
The BASIC system is a
way to structuring a conversation to get the truth out; the acronym stands for:
B = Baseline behaviour, examining an individual's current behaviour to what s/he normally does, says or behaves to compare it with what s/he does, says or behaves while being interviewed, interrogated or simply questioned about an issue of concern.
The book is structured in two parts, the first being the general basis to detect deception trough verbal and non-verbal clues, which is applicable to any facet of our life. To me, as a non-business person, this is the most useful and entertaining part of the book.
The second part is about creating healthy behaviour and environments in the workplace by implementing structures and polices that promote honesty and trustworthiness, and effortlessly weed out deception, liars and double-faced people who play everybody to get power or money. This is very much business related. If you are a business person, head of a department, business, or corporation, will certainly find the strategies, advice and polices recommended in the book fantastic, sane and sound, it that can be said. Specially good are the items of advice on business negotiation and job interviews, which are two of the main areas where deception occurs.
B = Baseline behaviour, examining an individual's current behaviour to what s/he normally does, says or behaves to compare it with what s/he does, says or behaves while being interviewed, interrogated or simply questioned about an issue of concern.
A = Ask open-ended questions.
S = Study the Clusters of behaviour.
I = Intuit the gaps, or what is not being said.
C - Confirm.
S = Study the Clusters of behaviour.
I = Intuit the gaps, or what is not being said.
C - Confirm.
The book is structured in two parts, the first being the general basis to detect deception trough verbal and non-verbal clues, which is applicable to any facet of our life. To me, as a non-business person, this is the most useful and entertaining part of the book.
The second part is about creating healthy behaviour and environments in the workplace by implementing structures and polices that promote honesty and trustworthiness, and effortlessly weed out deception, liars and double-faced people who play everybody to get power or money. This is very much business related. If you are a business person, head of a department, business, or corporation, will certainly find the strategies, advice and polices recommended in the book fantastic, sane and sound, it that can be said. Specially good are the items of advice on business negotiation and job interviews, which are two of the main areas where deception occurs.
Appendix I is a sort of cheat-sheet about the main points presented in the first part of the book. I truly love it because it is useful and straight to the point.
Appendix II is a test to check if our lie spotting skills are tuned; the solution to the questions are in the author's book website.
Appendix II is a test to check if our lie spotting skills are tuned; the solution to the questions are in the author's book website.
General value
The book is very good, well written, and clear to understand. Meyer is a very articulate writer and does a great job at conveying her message in away that is entertaining, informative and seriously usable, with plenty of specific information about how to spot deception, and how to deal with it.
The book is very good, well written, and clear to understand. Meyer is a very articulate writer and does a great job at conveying her message in away that is entertaining, informative and seriously usable, with plenty of specific information about how to spot deception, and how to deal with it.
Liespotting tips are spread throughout the book as short reminders of important points to remember, therefore, very helpful.
Besides, photos are included to exemplify facial authentic and fake expressions; nothing like a photo to explain this sort of information.
There are many real-life examples described in the book, but I thought they were useful.
Questions posed and answered
> Why do we have a deception epidemic in our culture?
> Do we lie more nowadays than in the past?
> Why videoconferencing isn't the solution to deciding on new business ventures?
> Why old tools and devices do not work?
> Why being punctual is important?
> Which verbal and non verbal clues show deception? and how do you mentally process them?
> Which verbal and non verbal clues show deception? and how do you mentally process them?
Ah? Eh? What?
> Meyer says that pupil dilation can be an indication of deception and arousal, but an addict to sex would also have pupils dilated, right? A person occasionally using substances would have their pupils dilated, no? Does this automatically turn them into deceptive people at the workplace? Just asking! > Some of the verbal clues that Meyer mention as signalling deception are actually things that I would say and do, honestly and sincerely, to voice my innocence!
Kindle edition
The
kindle rendering is well done, with hyper-linked notes.
However, one of the links in the book does not work, the one directing to
Artanatomy; however, the site is still up, just with another URL.
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