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Signs of Deception 89

Such phrases are always an indication of deception, especially when the subject has made no
effort to access his memory. You should never let them succeed with this ruse.

It is a proven fact that liars claim to have more alleged memory failures than truthful people.
If someone genuinely does not remember, how does he know there was anything to forget?

Subjective truths

A liar will unconsciously try to reduce his anxiety when giving a false explanation and this
may be achieved by omission, deflection or other contrivances. Perhaps more importantly,
he will try to make sure that the precise words he utters are technically true or justifiable and
these are referred to as ‘subjective truths’ or ‘internalized definitions’.

TONY BLAIR AND THE SECRET UNDERSTANDING

Tony Blair was asked about a secret agreement take over as Prime Minister before the next
between him and Gordon Brown to the effect election. Blair said, ‘What Gordon and I say
that he would resign and let the Tartan Terror when we are asked this question is “no”.’

Think about it. What Mr Blair said is subjectively true in his own mind, even if there is an
agreement in blood, more so if it is not a ‘secret’. The wording is typical of a subjective truth
and, therefore, of deception. Time will tell whether Mr Blair and the Tartan Terror have such
an agreement, ‘secret’ or otherwise.

THE AFFIDAVIT to risk my job by doing anything underhand.
I do know the customer concerned and
John Smith was accused of taking bribes from time to time have played golf with its
from a customer and in his statement to the Managing Director, but I would like to repeat
Employment Tribunal he said: that I have never taken money, except for
‘I have been accused of taking money from small winnings on our games.’
a customer. I would like to state categorically
that I have never taken money. I know the
company’s policies and I would be stupid

There is no doubt that he ‘would like to state’ but he is not actually stating it. Equally, the
voluntary admission over golf winnings was a pre-emptive defence or a denial of an allegation
not made. The statements are typical of deception.

Bill Clinton also relied on subjective truths.

NOT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE

During an interview with Jim Lehrer of However, more careful reading shows that
PBS, Bill Clinton said: ‘There is not a single Mr Clinton did not deny acting dishonestly:
solitary shred of evidence of anything merely that there was no evidence of it. His
dishonest in my public life’. Most people further qualification concerning dishonesty
hearing this would understand it to be in his ‘public life’ suggests that the denial
a total denial of wrong-doing and Mr did not apply to his private life.
Clinton clearly intended this to be the case.