With the finale of the BBC show The Traitors looming, many people may be questioning their ability to notice when someone is not telling the truth.
Tonight brings the conclusion of the highly popular reality TV show airing at 9 pm. The show features contestants who must determine which of their fellow players, initially thought to be innocent, is actually a traitor intending to sabotage them and win the prize money at the end of the series.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the contestants have closely observed body language, tone of voice, and overall behavior of their peers to gather clues about who the real traitor might be.
Despite their efforts, the loyal players have often guessed incorrectly, leading to the elimination of many innocent participants while the true traitors have managed to evade detection.
Spotting a liar is incredibly difficult at the best of times, but there are a few so-called ‘tells’ that might help the faithful make the right decision in the final to secure the five-figure prize pot, according to psychotherapist Susie Masterson.
Susie, based in Manchester, revealed her top tips on how to spot a liar – and offered her view on how the faithful can successfully weed out the saboteur among them to win the game in tonight’s grand finale.
She told FEMAIL: ‘I think their cliques and feeling of safety amongst who they perceived to be faithful, is preventing them from really focusing on who could be a traitor.’
The psychotherapist, who runs the Ultraliving Hub, added the group are making a mistake in attaching themselves too greatly to Winkleman in a game of individualism. Here, she reveals her top tips for identifying a liar…
Charlotte, a traitor, is seen smiling in a dark cloak on the BBC show where contestants can win a big cash prize
1. Inconsistent stories
The psychotherapist explained a key sign of deception is when you notice inconsistencies when you have a conversation with them.
Liars may contradict themselves multiple times without realising that they have said something different previously.
She said: ‘Liars may change their story or provide contradictory details over time.
‘If someone is telling the truth, their narrative is more likely to remain consistent, even when retold multiple times.’
2. Body language
Susie, who is the founder of ultraliving, a therapy hub, also says that contestants seem much too drawn to Claudia Winkleman (pictured), who presents the show
Susie explained body language can be a huge giveaway when a person is lying.
Susie said that some key signs that someone is lying is when they avoid eye contact or have excessive fidgeting and restlessness.
This could present in the form of shifting positions frequently, touching the face, or covering the mouth.
However, this could go the other way and the person could be unnaturally still, becoming too rigid.
3. Verbal cues
Susie explained there are a few verbal cues that can indicate someone is telling you a lie. These include:
Overly detailed stories – Liars may give too many unnecessary details to make their story sound more convincing.
Pauses and hesitations – Liars might pause or stumble more than usual as they try to fabricate their story.
Vague answers – They might be evasive or provide vague responses when asked for specifics.
Contradictory statements – Liars can inadvertently contradict themselves, providing conflicting information during their explanation.
4. Emotional mismatch
Contestant Leanne, a faithful, is pictured looking stressed on the Traitors as the season finale approaches
Susie says that there can often be a mismatch between words and emotions with liars.
She said: ‘A person’s verbal expression of emotions might not match their facial or body expressions.
‘For instance, they might say they’re happy, but their body language and facial expressions suggest otherwise.’
She added that they could also be overacting or displaying fake emotions, compensating for their lie.
However, someone who is not telling the truth may also seem too unbothered or indifferent when strong emotions would be expected, therefore not matching the social setting.
5. Discomfort when confronted
Susie said that deceivers could also feel uncomfortable when questioned directly, especially if they are asked the same question multiple times.
She added: ‘They might display defensiveness, become hostile, or attempt to deflect the conversation.
‘Psychological studies suggest that some liars exhibit changes in voice pitch, speaking either higher or lower than usual.
‘Nervousness can also lead to faster speech or more frequent throat clearing.
