Lying is a common phenomenon in everyday life but the problem can become a big headache for researchers.

A new study suggests clues to help determine if you’re being manipulated into believing the unbelievable.

By listening to certain key words and phrases you can find the people who not just seem but can be trusted.

The idea that everyone lies is generally well-accepted in the behavioral sciences. Plenty of evidence shows that, even without much incentive, people will avoid telling the truth. This is true when people are asked to provide information about themselves. Think about the last time you filled out a form for a medical visit. Did you honestly report the number of alcoholic beverages you have weekly or even your current weight?

This tendency to bend or completely avoid the truth may be a problem if you develop an illness that relies on this information. But it can also be problematic for psychology researchers whose evidence is based on self-report tests.

The Universal Tendency to Lie on Psychological Tests

Because it’s widely acknowledged that people will distort their responses on a self-report questionnaire, there is a way to check the degree to which this is occurring. Going back to the 1950s, social desirability scales ask people to state whether they would engage in a variety of common white lie situations, such as trying to get something for free or always checking the credentials of everyone they vote for.

But according to the University of Rotterdam’s Natacha Henriquez and colleagues (2026), lying in psychological tests may be even more extreme. “Supernormality” is the tendency to portray yourself as “someone completely free of anything that is remotely related to........

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