Which of the following is listed as a nonverbal indicator of deception?

• A. Tapping
• B. Avoiding eye contact
• C. Smiling
• D. Standing still

Answer: (A)

Nonverbal indicators of deception focus on how someone behaves rather than what they say. A key cue is gaze aversion—avoiding eye contact during a conversation or when responding to questions. This can occur as a person tries to manage nervousness and suppress emotions that might reveal a lie, so avoiding eye contact is the nonverbal signal most commonly linked to deception in many contexts.

Tapping, while it can signal nervous energy, isn’t a reliable deception cue on its own. Smiling and standing still are not typically indicators of deception; smiles can be genuine or polite, and standing still doesn’t inherently reflect dishonesty.