Jenny - I am very intrigued by this theory, which, stated very simply, says that humans are bad at detecting lies. Mainly this is because, as Buller says, “receivers react to deceivers’ messages and these reactions alter the communication exchange and, perhaps, deception’s success.”

I find that this is very true. I have been told by many people that I am too good a liar. Not because I lie a lot. In fact, it is probably because I am so honest most of the time (resulting in a high truth bias in my relationships), that my lies go easily undetected. In one particular instance, I was playing a joke on my roommate. I told her that I had eaten a cake that our other roomie had made for a friend’s birthday. When roommate number one responded in a skeptical manner, I included more details to my story—eliminating characteristics of uncertainty and vagueness, which reflects strategic intent. When roommate number one still didn’t seem convinced, I involved myself more in the situation and started accepting responsibility for my actions—hereby eliminating two more strategic characteristics of withdrawal and disassociation. Several times I interrupted my roommate and did not try to “appear extra sincere,” breaking down the final strategic characteristic of image-protecting behavior. When I realized that my roommate fully believed me, and was even getting worried and upset, I couldn’t keep up the charade and I told her the truth. If humans really were good lie detectors, there would be no such thing as practical jokes. Nobody would believe them at the outset. Where would the fun be in that?