Study: How to tell if someone is lying

According to this article on a recent UCLA psychological study, the indications of deception include:

• When questioned, deceptive people generally want to say as little as possible. Geiselman initially thought they would tell an elaborate story, but the vast majority give only the bare-bones. Studies with college students, as well as prisoners, show this. Geiselman’s investigative interviewing techniques are designed to get people to talk.

• Although deceptive people do not say much, they tend to spontaneously give a justification for what little they are saying, without being prompted.

• They tend to repeat questions before answering them, perhaps to give themselves time to concoct an answer.

• They often monitor the listener’s reaction to what they are saying. “They try to read you to see if you are buying their story,” Geiselman said.

• They often initially slow down their speech because they have to create their story and monitor your reaction, and when they have it straight “will spew it out faster,” Geiselman said. Truthful people are not bothered if they speak slowly, but deceptive people often think slowing their speech down may look suspicious. “Truthful people will not dramatically alter their speech rate within a single sentence,” he said.

• They tend to use sentence fragments more frequently than truthful people; often, they will start an answer, back up and not complete the sentence.

• They are more likely to press their lips when asked a sensitive question and are more likely to play with their hair or engage in other “grooming” behaviors. Gesturing toward one’s self with the hands tends to be a sign of deception; gesturing outwardly is not.

• Truthful people, if challenged about details, will often deny that they are lying and explain even more, while deceptive people generally will not provide more specifics.

• When asked a difficult question, truthful people will often look away because the question requires concentration, while dishonest people will look away only briefly, if at all, unless it is a question that should require intense concentration.

While we’re at it, for good measure, check out what the Catholic Encyclopedia has to say about lying and mental reservation.

 

Behold the world’s biggest tiny airport

This is cool. Check out the super-sleek, miniature “Knuffingen Airport” on display in Hamburg Germany’s Miniatur Wunderland. As this video shows, the mini airport features all the moving parts you’d see at any real airport: planes, trucks, passenger ramps, and so forth, all built to scale. Now, if only scientists could find a way to miniaturize airfare down to this level.

Lifenews.com: Steven Tyler of Aerosmith Haunted by Girlfriend’s Abortion

Long before he won accolades as an American Idol judge, Steven Tyler was a bona-fide rock star, with all that that implied. In 1975, when he was in his late 20s and the lead singer for the band Aerosmith, Tyler persuaded the parents of his 14-year-old girlfriend, Julia Holcomb, to make him her legal guardian so that they could live together in Boston.

When Miss Holcomb and Tyler conceived a child, his longtime friend Ray Tabano convinced Tyler that abortion was the only solution. In the Aerosmith “autobiography,” Walk This Way (in which recollections by all the band members, and their friends and lovers, were assembled by the author Stephen Davis), Tabano says: “So they had the abortion, and it really messed Steven up because it was a boy. He … saw the whole thing and it [messed] him up big time.”

Tyler also reflects on his abortion experience in the autobiography. “It was a big crisis. It’s a major thing when you’re growing something with a woman, but they convinced us that it would never work out and would ruin our lives. … You go to the doctor and they put the needle in her belly and they squeeze the stuff in and you watch. And it comes out dead. I was pretty devastated. In my mind, I’m going, Jesus, what have I done?”

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines a traumatic event as follows: “1. The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others. 2. The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.”

Those who support abortion rights assure us that post-abortion complications are a myth. But Steven Tyler cuts through this fog of denial and lays it on the line: Jesus, what have I done? . . . (continue reading)

 

 

Hello?

A view to a kill? No. I’m going to pass on seeing Bin Laden’s corpse pics

I don’t plan to look at the pictures of Bin Laden’s corpse when they are released publicly. I’d be curious to know what you folks think about that subject.

Personally, I don’t want any additional gory images permanently embedded in my mind. For example, I wish that I had never seen the JFK morgue pictures. One news report I saw described the Bin Laden pictures as “very bloody and gory.”

“The Cross and the Switchblade” author, David Wilkerson, R.I.P.

The Protestant minister, perhaps most famous for his best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade, died in a head-on car crash on Wednesday. May he rest in peace. One news report says,

Wilkerson was driving east on U.S. 175 in Texas Wednesday afternoon, and moved into the opposite lane where a tractor trailer was driving westbound. The truck driver saw the car and tried to move out of the way, but still collided with the pastor’s car head on, according to Public Safety Trooper Eric Long. It’s unclear what caused Wilkerson to veer into the other lane. His wife Gwen was also involved in the crash and rushed to the hospital, along with the truck driver.

I read his book in the early 70s and enjoyed its dramatic depiction of how a committed Christian confronted violent gang members with the message of Christ. I didn’t hear much about Wilkerson over the years until just recently, when I read a “prophecy” he gave regarding the destruction of New York City which, thus far, as not come to pass.

Look at the little bunny rabbit who graced our family this Easter

Say hello to my 10th grandchild, the lovely Veronica Elizabeth-Marie, who was born last Wednesday to my daughter Bridget and her husband Al. She’s happy and healthy and just doing her job, 24/7, being a splendid little burrito of joy for la Familia Madrid. Nancy and I will meet her for the very first time on Friday, when Bridget and Al and their (now) three kiddos visit for the occasion of our daughter Hillary’s wedding this weekend. Can’t wait! Good times.

Jason Scheff Sings “Peg”

One of my all-time favorite bass player-vocalists, Jason Scheff, who helps front the legendary band Chicago, nails this Steely Dan song that was part of the soundtrack of my senior year in high school. Enjoy . . .

Oh Lord, when I look at Thy heavens . . .

“When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

“Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel” (Exodus 24:17).

(Courtesy of New Advent)

St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s message to those entering the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil

The prologue of St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s magnificent 4th-century Catechetical Lectures to catechumens (i.e., the elect) under his care  concludes with this proviso:

“These [lectures] are for those who are to be enlightened. You may lend [them] to candidates for baptism and to believers who are already baptized, to read, but give not at all , neither to catechumens, nor to any others who are not Christians, as you shall answer to the Lord. And if you make a copy, write this in the beginning, as in the sight of the Lord.”

Even though the Catholic Church has long since permitted the publication of the great saint’s pre-baptismal catechesis, I add St. Cyril’s stipulation here in recognition of the earnest seriousness with which he took the Lord’s command in Matthew 7:6.  The splendor of the Holy Mysteries of baptism, chrismation, and Holy Eucharist, which Cyril discoursed upon so eloquently to those who were preparing to enter the Catholic Church on those long-ago Easter vigils, were not intended to be disclosed to scoffers and those of profane mind.

Here are several relevant sections of the prologue. I post them here for those, prayerfully in mind, who, all around the world, will be entering the Catholic Church tonight at the Easter vigil Mass. Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Body of Christ, the Church He established as the ark of our salvation!

Already there is an odour of blessedness upon you, O you who are soon to be enlightened: already you are gathering the spiritual flowers, to weave heavenly crowns: already the fragrance of the Holy Spirit has breathed upon you: already you have gathered round the vestibule of the King’s palace ; may you be led in also by the King! For blossoms now have appeared upon the trees ; may the fruit also be found perfect!

Thus far, there has been an inscription of your names , and a call to service, and torches of the bridal train, and a longing for heavenly citizenship, and a good purpose, and hope attendant thereon. For he lies not who said, that to them that love God all things work together for good. God is lavish in beneficence, yet He waits for each man’s genuine will: therefore the Apostle added and said, to them that are called according to a purpose. The honesty of purpose makes you called: for if your body be here but not your mind, it profits you nothing. . . .

See, I pray you, how great a dignity Jesus bestows on you. You were called a catechumen, while the word echoed round you from without; hearing of hope, and knowing it not; hearing mysteries, and not understanding them; hearing Scriptures, and not knowing their depth. The echo is no longer around you, but within you; for the indwelling Spirit henceforth makes your mind a house of God.

When you shall have heard what is written concerning the mysteries, then will you understand things which thou knew not. And think not that you receive a small thing: though a miserable man, you receive one of God’s titles. Hear St. Paul saying, God is faithful.

Hear another Scripture saying, God is faithful and just. Foreseeing this, the Psalmist, because men are to receive a title of God, spoke thus in the person of God: I said, You are Gods, and are all sons of the Most High. But beware lest thou have the title of faithful, but the will of the faithless.

You have entered into a contest, toil on through the race: another such opportunity you cannot have. Were it your wedding day before you, would you not have disregarded all else, and set about the preparation for the feast? And on the eve of consecrating your soul to the heavenly Bridegroom, will you not cease from carnal things, that you may win spiritual? . . .

Great is the baptism that lies before you: a ransom to captives; a remission of offenses; a death of sin; a new-birth of the soul; a garment of light; a holy indissoluble seal; a chariot to heaven; the delight of paradise; a welcome into the kingdom; the gift of adoption!

But there is a serpent by the wayside watching those who pass by: beware lest he bite you with unbelief. He sees so many receiving salvation, and is seeking whom he may devour. You are coming in unto the Father of Spirits, but you are going past that serpent.

How then may you pass him? Have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; that even if he bite, he may not hurt you. Have faith in-dwelling, stedfast hope, a strong sandal, that you may pass the enemy, and enter the presence of your Lord. Prepare your own heart for reception of doctrine, for fellowship in holy mysteries. Pray more frequently, that God may make you worthy of the heavenly and immortal mysteries.

Cease not day nor night: but when sleep is banished from your eyes, then let your mind be free for prayer. And if you find any shameful thought rise up in your mind, turn to meditation upon Judgment to remind you of Salvation. Give your mind wholly to study, that it may forget base things. If you find any one saying to you, Are you then going in, to descend into the water? Has the city just now no baths?

Take notice that it is the dragon of the sea who is laying these plots against you. Attend not to the lips of the talker, but to God who works in you. Guard your own soul, that thou be not ensnared, to the end that abiding in hope you may become an heir of everlasting salvation. . . . (continue reading)

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