Enacting Deception: ‘Bad’ Lying

Deception is a nuanced art, a dance of subtlety and finesse that requires a deep understanding of human psychology. One counterintuitive but highly effective strategy for deception involves deliberately appearing to be a bad liar.

This tactic, akin to a judo maneuver where one uses an opponent’s strength against them, uses a person’s inherent tendency to form patterns and make predictions based on past events. This intel regards how to master this tactic for manipulation, control and misdirection – for the purpose of plausible deniability and maintaining trust while enacting strategic deception.

          I.   Laying the Foundation

1)   Choosing the Right Lie:   Start with a harmless lie that won’t damage the trust between you and the other party if discovered. The lie should be inconsequential enough that its unmasking doesn’t cause any disruption or suspicion.

2)   Delivery:   Deliver the lie poorly. Be obvious. Stumble over your words, avoid eye contact, exhibit classic ‘lying’ tells and body language – fidgeting, touching your face, etc. You want to portray yourself as an inept liar.

3)   The Unmasking:   Allow yourself to be caught in the lie, but make sure it seems inadvertent. The discovery should appear as a natural outcome of your poor lying skills, not a voluntary confession.

          II.   Establishing the Baseline

1)   Perception Building:   Once caught, show embarrassment or friendly and playful remorse but not actual guilt, more like a joke. This display reinforces the perception of you as a ‘bad liar,’ someone who is easily read and caught in a lie.

2)   Confirmation Bias:   Over time, people will tend to confirm this initial impression of you, solidifying their belief that they can easily detect your lies. This is known as ‘confirmation bias,’ a powerful psychological principle you can leverage.

          III.   Deception in Action

Deception is a tricky business, and one must always use these skills responsibly. The strategy of posing as a ‘bad liar’ can be a powerful tool in the art of deception, but it relies heavily on understanding human psychology and maintaining trust.

The best deceptions are the ones never discovered.