What is the VERIFY model?
Protecting yourself from deception by relying on verification, strategic questioning, and incentive analysis rather than mythical lie-detection instincts. Its core process is: V = Verify the claim, not the face
E = Examine incentives and stakes
R = Request specifics, timelines, and details
I = Inconsistency-check across versions and evidence
F = Force commitment or falsifiable statements
Y = Yield only after verification
What problem is the VERIFY model designed to solve?
Protecting yourself from deception by relying on verification, strategic questioning, and incentive analysis rather than mythical lie-detection instincts.
What are the steps of the VERIFY model?
V = Verify the claim, not the face
E = Examine incentives and stakes
R = Request specifics, timelines, and details
I = Inconsistency-check across versions and evidence
F = Force commitment or falsifiable statements
Y = Yield only after verification
What is the master question for the VERIFY model?
What is being claimed, what incentives shape the claim, what details can be checked, and what would make this account verifiably true or false?
When should I use the VERIFY model?
Use it in hiring, negotiation, sales, due diligence, conflict, interviews, online claims, and any situation where being deceived would be costly.
What mistake does the VERIFY model try to prevent?
It prevents relying on body-language myths, overconfidence in lie detection, and trusting vague stories without verification.
What is the one-line rule of the VERIFY model?
Do not read minds. Check claims, incentives, specifics, consistency, and commitment.
How do I know I am using the VERIFY model correctly?
You are using it correctly if you rely less on hunches, ask better questions, and catch weak or unverifiable claims earlier.