Language of Lying – Noah Zandan

Here’s an interesting animation from TED-Ed on the language of lies.

The underlying science is fascinating but I wonder a little about the usefulness of modern, high-profile examples.  The video uses comparisons of several well-known cases such as the cyclist Lance Armstrong, analysing their speech patterns before (when lying) and after (once caught and confessing).  The contrast is interesting but I can’t help feeling that the After cases will have been so rehearsed and so processed through the PR machine as to retain little of the “honest truth”.

Isn’t Rule One of PR Disaster Limitation that you must be heard to take responsibility?

Nonetheless, it’s a useful guide for what to look out for … or what to avoid.