Tuesday July 1, 2025
The human body betrays what the mind tries to conceal. From ancient Chinese techniques using rice to detect lies to modern statement analysis methods, our conversation with Eddie Pearson reveals the fascinating science behind deception detection.
When someone lies, their brain experiences increased cognitive load – the mental strain of fabricating details while suppressing truth. This triggers physiological responses impossible to control: dry mouth, changed blinking patterns, and subtle shifts in posture. These involuntary reactions have provided the foundation for lie detection throughout human history.
Pearson shares powerful interrogation techniques that leverage these responses. The strategic use of silence forces suspects to fill uncomfortable voids, often revealing more than they intended. Language analysis provides equally compelling insights – shifts in verb tense during narratives, dropped personal pronouns, and words ending in “-ly” often signal deception. Even the choice between articles (“a” versus “the”) can reveal someone’s true familiarity with people or situations they claim not to know.
“The first person to speak after a question is the person who loses,” Pearson notes, highlighting how patience becomes a powerful tool in uncovering truth. Through case examples, including a hit-and-run investigation where a single word (“directly”) unlocked crucial information, we explore how these techniques have solved real crimes and revealed hidden truths.
Whether you’re fascinated by criminal psychology, communication science, or simply interested in understanding human behavior better, this episode offers rare insights into how our words and bodies reveal what we try to hide. Subscribe now to hear the next installment in our series with Eddie Pearson, where we’ll continue exploring the science of detecting deception.