Showerthought: I read that a study tracked eye movement in apology videos and found a huge tell when stars are reading a script.

Found this old article from a communications journal. They had people watch apology clips and tracked where the celebs looked. When someone is reading a teleprompter off to the side, their eye movements are super regular, like a slow scan. But when they're speaking from memory or the heart, their gaze is all over the place. They looked at a bunch of videos from the past five years and the scripted ones had this pattern almost every time. Kinda makes you wonder how many of those 'heartfelt' moments are just well-rehearsed. Has anyone else noticed a specific video where the eyes totally give it away?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_alice12h agoTop Commenter

That's a cool study, but I'm not sure it's a perfect tell. Some people just have a nervous gaze pattern when they're being honest. The eye thing is a clue, not a full confession.

the_sean12h ago

Watch their hands too, @the_alice, liars often fidget more than usual.

richarddixon11h ago

Actually used to think the eye thing was overblown, but that study sounds pretty convincing. Good point from @the_sean about the hands too, it's usually a whole package of tells. Makes you watch those videos differently now.