Incongruence and the Shadow of Deception

Cognitive load and behavioral "leakage".

Although it is popularly believed that there are specific nonverbal cues for detecting lies, there is no single gesture that proves deception.

However, the act of deception often imposes an additional cognitive load on the brain.

This load can lead to subtle behavioral "leaks," as the person concentrates on controlling his or her words and may neglect to fully control his or her body language.

These leaks are often deviations from their normal (baseline) behavior and can manifest in a variety of ways.

Cues for avoidance: Facial touches, withdrawn posture

Some possible nonverbal cues that might be associated with avoidance or discomfort caused by deception (although they should be interpreted with extreme caution and always in context) include: touching the face or covering the mouth, gestures that are sometimes interpreted as unconscious attempts to suppress or leak the truth ; a withdrawn or cowering posture, as if the person is trying to reduce his or her physical presence ; and a noticeable incongruence between the verbal and nonverbal message, such as saying "I am excited" with a flat tone and expressionless face.

Leadership: React with curiosity, not confrontation.

When a leader suspects possible evasion or incongruence, the best strategy is not direct confrontation.

Instead of accusing, a more productive approach is to create a safe space where the truth can emerge.

Asking an open-ended, neutral question such as "Can you explain your reasoning again?" gives the person the opportunity to clarify, reconsider or align his or her message without feeling attacked.

The leader's reaction should be one of empathetic curiosity, seeking to better understand the situation, rath