Have you ever been given a Christmas gift that you hate? Well, it seems that we have all been in that position and have faked delight and thanks for a present that we hate.
How To Spot A Fake Face This Christmas
Research by lastminute.com, revealed that of the average eight Christmas presents that Brits receive, they usually hate two. Of the 2000 adults who took part in the survey, Brits dread receiving Christmas jumpers, diet books, and vouchers for plastic surgery.
However, we are a country known for their manners and a whopping 96% admit that they would lie rather than admit that they do not like the gift that they have received.
Do you think you could spot those who are potentially lying about liking your gift?There are ways to catch a festive fibber as acclaimed psychologist Dr David Lewis has put together a 'fake face guide'. He commented: "When spotting a fake face of joy after giving someone a present, the key is to use your eyes rather than your ears.
"The same applies when thanking someone for the unwelcome gift you have just received. To avoid spoiling the festive mood you should learn how to lie as effectively with your body as with your lips."
How to spot a Fake Face:
- Head rub - People unsure of how to respond to a bad Christmas gift tend to smooth down the hair at the back of their head, which often turns into a head rub.
- Shrinking smiles - A fake smile uses only the muscles around the mouth while a genuine smile involves movement of the entire face including the jaw and the cheeks.
- Timely thank you - Pay attention to the timing of the smile: If someone smiles after telling you how much they 'love' your present - rather than at the same time - they are probably lying.
- Hidden twitches - A tightening of the jaw muscles often occurs when someone is lying - so be on the alert for increased tension in this area. Face-touching, nose scratching, ear tugging, mouth covering are also tell-tale signs.
- Petit pupils - True delight is reflected by a widening of the pupils - when they narrow when opening a gift it could be a sign of displeasure.
- Covered eyes and ears - Covering the eyes, however briefly, may indicate a reluctance to look at the gift any more than they have to while even briefly covering one ear suggests a disinclination to hear what the giver has to say.
- Frozen torso - People being deceptive tend to 'freeze' up; this is meant to prevent 'leaking' negative emotions and could well indicate fake gift joy.
- Crossed arms - People vary greatly in the extent to which they use their arms in conversations. When faking pleasure a person who normally had fairly relaxed arm movements may adopt a defensive posture by crossing their arms and locking them in place. This is the exact opposite of the open, palms-out stance associated with truth telling.
- Locked ankles - Legs are the hardest body parts to consciously control - making them good indicators of true feelings. A person faking delight may rub their thighs to sooth away any tension. Locked ankles and crossed legs (when seated) indicate discomfort and potential deception.
- Motionless hands - Hands create gestures, known as 'illustrators', when speaking the truth. A lack of hand gestures, clenched fists and folded palms could portray faked emotions, so too could exaggerated gestures.
So just how closely will you be watching friends and family this Christmas when you hand over your gifts? And will be able to convince those who have bought you a gift that you hate that you love it?
Tagged in Christmas