Context Over Cues

Someone who is sweating and avoiding eye contact might be lying — or might have social anxiety, or feel too warm in a hot room, or be stressed about something that has nothing to do with you. Always ask whether there's an innocent explanation before reading the behavior as deception.

Never act on a single cue. The cluster principle requires at least three simultaneous behavioral changes before considering deception. One cue is noise. Two are interesting. Three are a pattern — explore through follow-up, not accusation.