Lame Vs Truthful Denials in Deception

If you ask a yes or no question, listen to ensure you get a yes or no response.

If you get a response that does not directly answer your question, there is an attempt to mislead you (lie).

Here is another deception detection example of a denial that is trying to sound like a “no” but falls short.

In Season 2, Episode 3 of Breaking Bad, wife Skyler has reason to believe Walter has a second cell phone. He does have a second one, but has been hiding it from her and denies he has one. She questions him in the last scene of this episode, approximately 44 minutes in if you want to catch it on Netflix.

Skyler: “Walt, do you have a second cell phone?”

Walt, after a long pause: “A second cell phone?”

Skyler then goes on to explain the various reasons why she believes he has a second phone.

Walt: “Wow.” More pausing. “That is odd. I mean, I don’t remember any of that. But, one thing I am sure of is I … don’t have a second cell phone.”

He’s clearly stalling for time. Repeating the question, pausing, denying any memory of checking his phone, and eventually, after many extra words, says that he is sure he doesn’t have a second phone. He’s likely justifying it in his mind that at that very moment while chatting in bed, he does not have a second phone (on his person).

A truthful statement would have been an immediate response of, “No, I don’t have a second phone.”

Listen for the direct response. Just because he eventually said he doesn’t have one, doesn’t excuse all the initial tap dancing around.