Lie to Me

A procedural genre crime drama, Lie to Me portrays a psychological researcher investigating and solving crimes by using his knowledge of emotion and human expression to become a “human lie detector.” Lie detection methods used in this television show are based on the theoretical work of Paul Ekman, and the fictional Lightman Group is loosely modeled on Ekman's training and consulting practice. The program ran on the Fox Network in the United States from 2009 to 2011 (49 episodes) and has been aired internationally in more than 65 countries. The program was generally well received by audiences but has generated controversy among scholars for promoting a single detection perspective in light of unsettled theory.

The principal character of Lie to Me is Dr. Cal Lightman (British actor Tim Roth) who, patterned after Ekman, is an expert at detecting deception by reading facial microexpressions and body language. To analyze suspects, Lightman employs the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) developed by Ekman and colleague Wallace Friesen in the 1970s. Lightman's character is brilliant but abrasive and frequently lies to achieve his objectives. Business partner and moral foil Dr. Gillian Foster (actress Kelli Williams) is based on Ekman's former research associate Maureen O'Sullivan. Assistant Eli Loker (actor Brendan Hines) may be based on nonverbal deception researcher Mark Frank, who did postdoctoral work with Ekman. Loker practices “radical honesty,” demonstrating that without the social lubricant of white lies individuals often appear insensitive or rude.

In the first episode, Lightman adds Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security agent Ria Torres (actress Monica Raymund) to his team. Lightman recognizes her as a natural deception detector and hires her as his protégé. Her background and ability are patterned on characteristics described by Ekman and O'Sullivan in their research on truth wizards.

A typical Lie to Me episode includes intersecting plot lines in which the Lightman Group is hired by a law enforcement agency to help solve a murder, investigate threats, catch a thief or spy, find a missing person, or untangle a forensic mystery.

[Page 601]Lightman and his colleagues interview and videotape witnesses and informants in the field or bring them to a laboratory equipped with extensive audio and video recording devices. The dramatic development of an episode often has Lightman using his lie detection skills to determine that someone other than the suspect is lying in order to hide his or her motives or throw off the investigation. The procedural element involves reviewing and analyzing recordings to find the microexpressions, gestures, and other behaviors that will reveal the liar. These reviews are presented in a manner intended to instruct the audience on how to read affective cues. For emphasis, the procedural review of a story character is juxtaposed with media images of familiar politicians, celebrities, or criminals exhibiting the same expressions and behaviors.