Apr 15 2017

SYSK Selects: Lying Liars: How Lying Works, Liar

Selects 51 min 9 movies discussed
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In this week's SYSK Select episode, studies find that absolutely everyone lies - some have found as much as a quarter of our daily interactions involve lies. What gives with everyone fudging? Chuck and Josh explore the philosophy, psychology and reality of lying and what constitutes a liar.

AI Summary

In this episode from June 2012, Josh and Chuck dive deep into the science and psychology of lying, exploring everything from how we learn to lie as children to the different types of liars and their behaviors. They break down the philosophical definition of a lie, explain why people lie (from covering up misdeeds to manipulating others), and discuss various personality types prone to lying, including pathological, compulsive, and narcissistic liars. The hosts also reveal the verbal and nonverbal cues that might tip you off to a lie—like forced smiles and avoiding contractions—and teach listeners the five-step process experts use to detect deception, all while making it clear that not every fidget or blink is a sure sign someone's being dishonest.


Movies Discussed

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
2012 1h 45m
★ 5.8
"Although I have to say Abe Lincoln, vampire hunter, looks awesome. — Josh expresses enthusiasm for the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter film after criticizing the Poe movie." — Josh
‌Beretta
‌Beretta
2025
★ 5.0
"He was Beretta. That's right. — Chuck clarifies that Robert Blake starred in Beretta, not Columbo, after Josh confused the actors." — Chuck
Columbo
Columbo
1971 TV-PG
★ 8.1
"Or you can do the Colombo method. Let them off the hook. Let them calm down. And then turn around and be like, one more question. — Chuck explains how the detective Columbo would catch suspects by using the technique of leaving and then returning with another question." — Chuck
Law & Order
Law & Order
1990
★ 7.3
"Or on Law and Order, the great shows. — Josh mentions Law & Order as an example of shows where establishing baselines in interrogations is relevant." — Josh
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Me and You and Everyone We Know
2005 R 1h 31m
★ 7.0
"They'll turn into like Miranda July on that videotape and you, me, and everyone we know. — Chuck references Miranda July's indie film to describe how a nervous liar might act when paused during questioning." — Chuck
The Raven
The Raven
2012 1h 51m
★ 6.3
"Yeah, boy, that John Cusack movie about Poe looks like one of the worst pieces of garbage ever made. — Josh criticizes the John Cusack film about Edgar Allan Poe as a murderous hunter, calling it terrible." — Josh
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
1974 TV-PG
★ 7.6
"But not with the Rockford files. — Josh mentions The Rockford Files while discussing which show Robert Blake and Peter Falk appeared in." — Josh
The Tell Tale Heart
The Tell Tale Heart
2005 10m
★ 6.0
"The telltale heart, I think, and that would happen in that. — Josh mentions the psychological aspect of questioning breaking down a liar, comparing it to the tension in Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart story." — Josh
The Truman Show
The Truman Show
1998 1h 43m
★ 8.2
"If you don't lie at all today, they'll make a movie about you. — Josh references movies about people who cannot lie, mentioning Jim Carrey's case in The Truman Show as an example of a film plot." — Josh

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