Lying is not gender exclusive; it's part of human nature.  But, the way in which men and women go about lying and the reasons for doing so are as different as the genders themselves.  It's been said that women tell a better story but that men lie more often.  So where do the respective lies or stories come from?  What are the signs and symptoms of lying?

Women often times lie to themselves.  They try to convince themselves of things that are not true, especially when it comes to love.  So, what are the signs she's not being so truthy?  She gets angry when accused of lying, pouts, withholds sex, throws a tantrum?you've seen the show before.  Or the exact opposite response: she gets gushy and covers up the lie with an abundance of affection.  

What do men lie about and why?  Also love-related, men often try to cover up infidelity.  Cheating, gambling and other addictions rank in the top reasons men lie.  Many times the goal is to make themselves look good or keep their image intact?which leads to lies about achievements or accomplishments.  How can you tell he's lying?  Well, often times, the story isn't convincing.  

The big signs that someone (again, gender regardless) is lying are: the voice and body language.  Many times people look at the other person's face for signs of deceit.  But this is what the liar anticipates, so they will maintain eye contact and a poker face to keep their bluff concealed.  Instead, look at the body for signs of lying?nervous twitches or clenching.  The way someone goes about telling the lie will also give it away.  Lies are typically stories constructed with far too much detail.  Instead of saying, "Hi, so sorry I'm running late, I got a flat tire," they will say, "You won't believe what happened!  I was on the freeway and a table fell out of the truck in front of me, so now I'm stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck?but the guy's running late and I don't know if I can make it tonight!"  

So there you have it.  When you sense you're being lied to, confront the person without being confrontational.  Often times men and women lie to each other because they don't want to disappoint one another, or they just don't know how to come out and say what they need to say.  Remember, communication is key!