Introduction: The Emotional Test for Detecting Lies
When you suspect someone is lying to you, there are subtle cues and reactions that can give them away. One effective way to test if someone is telling the truth is to ask an emotional question. This technique works because genuine emotions are hard to fake, especially when someone tries to mask or lie about their true feelings.

1. How Emotional Memories Work
When we recall a real emotional memory, our brain and body react naturally. For example, when asked about a happy childhood memory, people often look up and to the left as they mentally travel back in time. Their facial expressions soften or brighten as they relive a positive experience. This process is hard to fake because it taps into authentic memories and emotions stored deep within us.

Take the example of being asked about a favorite childhood memory. If you genuinely reflect on a happy time, such as walking in the botanical gardens with your mother, your face may brighten, your eyes might soften, and you’ll likely look to the left as your brain recalls this past event.

2. How Lies Unfold Under Emotional Pressure
Now, let’s contrast that with a lie. If someone is asked to lie about an emotional experience, their body and face struggle to display the “correct” emotion. This is because their mind knows the truth, and while they may try to craft a convincing story, their true feelings often leak out in subtle ways.

For instance, if you were asked to describe a positive feeling during a painful moment, like the first time someone lied or cheated on you, you might say, “It felt great, I was so happy about it.” But here’s the catch: your body can’t fake the real emotions attached to the experience. Your face might tense, you might pause as you try to fabricate the lie, and your expression could seem flat or strained because the actual memory triggers discomfort, not happiness.

3. The Face Never Lies
A person who is lying often struggles to control their facial expressions. While their words may attempt to convey a false narrative, their face can’t fully hide the truth. In the example of lying about a painful experience, their expression may become stiff or tense as they try to suppress the real emotions tied to the memory. This tension is a strong indicator that they’re not being truthful.

When people recall genuine memories, their emotions flow naturally and are reflected in their body language and expressions. But when they lie, there is often a disconnect between what they are saying and what they are feeling internally, and this disconnect is visible to the observer.

4. Using Emotional Questions to Detect Lies
The key to using emotional questions effectively is to observe how someone responds when asked about a genuine memory versus a fabricated one. When someone is truthful, their body and face will align with the emotion of the memory they are recalling. When they lie, however, their face may show tension or discomfort as they try to force a false emotion.

By comparing their reactions to both types of questions, you can often spot subtle differences that reveal the truth. The real emotional memory triggers a natural response, while the lie creates internal conflict that manifests in their facial expressions and body language.

Conclusion: The Truth in Emotion
Emotional questions tap into something deeper than words—they tap into memories and feelings that are difficult to fake. When someone is lying, their facial expressions and body language often betray them, showing signs of tension, discomfort, or incongruence with what they are saying. By observing these cues, you can better determine when someone is being truthful or deceptive. The face, after all, is one of the most honest indicators of what a person is truly feeling, even when they’re trying to hide it.