Pamela Meyer thinks we’re facing a pandemic of deception, but she’s arming people with tools that can help take back the truth.
Why you should listen
Working with a team of researchers over several years, Meyer, who is CEO of social networking company Simpatico Networks, collected and reviewed most of the research on deception that has been published, from such fields as law-enforcement, military, psychology and espionage. She then became an expert herself, receiving advanced training in deception detection, including multiple courses of advanced training in interrogation, microexpression analysis, statement analysis, behavior and body language interpretation, and emotion recognition. Her research is synthetized in her bestselling book Liespotting.
Pamela Meyer’s TED Talk
More news and ideas from Pamela Meyer
Live from TED2026
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April 14, 2026
At TED, we say that ideas change everything. And it’s the people behind these ideas who make TED the powerful community it is. Each talk sparks something: a new question, a shift in perspective, a feeling that lingers longer than expected. Those who hear the talk then forward along that nugget of insight, in a […]
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Books to help you answer big questions about yourself
May 6, 2015
Why in the world did I do that? How can I do better? Chances are you've asked yourself these questions at least once today. To understand how your mind works and how you can improve your decision-making, explore these six psychology and behavioral economics books, each one recommended by a renowned thinker.
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The truth about lies: a recommended reading list
March 31, 2015
"Lying is a cooperative act," says professional lie detector Pamela Meyer. "Think about it, a lie has no power whatsoever by its mere utterance. Its power emerges when someone else agrees to believe the lie." Here, Meyer shares 17 books about truth, dishonesty, and all the gray areas in between.
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