When it comes to lying, Americans don’t just rely on words — they make snap judgments based on faces alone.
As part of The Action Network’s nationwide Poker Face Survey, more than 3,000 U.S. adults were shown a set of randomly generated human faces and asked a simple question:
“Which of these people looks like a stereotypical liar?”
No background information.
No expressions explained.
Just pure gut instinct.
And the results say a lot — about what kind of faces Americans distrust, what traits they associate with dishonesty, and, apparently, the surprising trust-building power of a cowboy hat. Next time you find yourself on the other side of a poker table in a casino, trust the person in a cowboy hat!
Click on the tiles below for more insights into why respondents may have selected the image they did!
Men: The ‘I Swear I’m Telling the Truth’ Face-Off
Among the five male faces shown, one image dominated.
Man 3 was voted the most deceptive-looking male (32%)Respondents pointed to his serious expression and skeptical eyebrows — a combination that apparently screams “I’m hiding something.”
Runner-up: Man 1 (28%)
This face got nearly a third of the vote, with many respondents saying his expression looked “too controlled” or “secretive.”
Least suspicious: Man 2 — the Cowboy Hat (9%)
In one of the funniest outcomes of the survey, the cowboy hat became an instant badge of trustworthiness. Only 9% of Americans thought he looked like a liar.
If you ever need plausible deniability, statistically speaking… wear a hat.
Full Men’s Rankings
| Male Image | % Who Said He “Looks Like a Liar” |
| Man 3 | 32% |
| Man 1 | 28% |
| Man 4 | 18% |
| Man (Neutral) | 13% |
| Man 2 (Cowboy Hat) | 9% |
Regional Results: Which Man's Face Looks Like a ‘Liar’ in Each State?
Judging a face is one thing — but judging it by state? That’s where it gets fun.
When we break down the votes for the “most stereotypical liar” by state, Man 3 still dominates, but plenty of regions show their own personality quirks… and suspicions.
A few standout patterns:
Man 3: America’s National Liar
Most states picked Man 3 as the top liar — and some states really leaned in.
- Missouri leads the nation, with 45% choosing Man 3.
- Massachusetts (42%), Wisconsin (41%), Georgia (38%), and Louisiana (38%) also gave Man 3 the side-eye.
If you look anything like him… maybe avoid playing poker in these states.
Man 1: The Runner-Up Liar
Some states see the “disappointed dad energy” in Man 1 and just don’t trust it.
- Maryland (39%), Arizona (34%), New Jersey (34%), and Virginia (34%) were especially suspicious of him.
Apparently, the mid-Atlantic region has him figured out.
Man 4: Quiet but Questionable
Man 4 didn’t win many states outright, but he pulled unusually high votes in:
- Tennessee (26%),
- Kentucky (23%),
- Massachusetts (23%),
- New York (22%).
He has “I swear it wasn’t me” energy, and some states are buying none of it.
Man (the neutral face): The Wild Card
The neutral-expression male was most distrusted in:
- Wisconsin (24%),
- South Carolina (16%),
- Pennsylvania (18%).
Maybe he’s too calm. Maybe he’s too symmetrical. America wants answers.
Man 2: Cowboy Hat = Trustworthy
As seen in the national results, the cowboy hat remains the symbol of truth.
Still, a few states were a bit more skeptical:
- South Carolina (13%),
- Colorado (13%),
- New York (10%),
- California (10%).
But overall, the hat continues to outperform every other face in trustworthiness.
Women: The ‘She Knows Something’ Vibe
The female faces produced a slightly wider spread — with one clear leader.
Woman 1 was voted the most suspicious-looking (33%)
Her subtle frown and intense expression made her the top pick for “least trustworthy.”
Second place: Woman 4 (20%)
Respondents said she looked like she was “thinking of a cover story.”
The other three images split the remaining votes evenly
Full Women’s Rankings
| Female Image | % Who Said She “Looks Like a Liar” |
| Woman 1 | 33% |
| Woman 4 | 20% |
| Woman 3 | 17% |
| Woman 5 | 15% |
| Woman 2 | 15% |
Regional Results: Which Woman Looks Like a ‘Stereotypical Liar’ in Each State?
When Americans judged the female faces, the results were just as entertaining — and even more varied. While the national vote crowned Woman 1 as the most “liar-ish,” the state-by-state breakdown shows some regions trust (or distrust) very different faces.
Here are the standout patterns:
Woman 1: The Clear Nationwide “Most Suspicious”
Just like in the national numbers, Woman 1 dominates across many states.
- Wisconsin leads the entire country with a massive 49% choosing her as the biggest liar.
- Missouri (41%), California (37%), Maryland (36%), Colorado (35%), Pennsylvania (35%), and Florida (34%) also cast serious doubt on her expression.
If America ever built a “human lie detector,” she might be the test subject.
Woman 4: The Runner-Up Liar — Especially on the Coasts
Some states strongly prefer Woman 4 as their go-to “untrustworthy” pick:
- Washington (31%) — the highest in the nation
- Maryland (28%), Kentucky (27%), North Carolina (26%), and New Jersey (24%)
Coastal states seem especially suspicious of her “I know something you don’t” stare.
Woman 3: The Silent Suspect
Several states see Woman 3 as quietly deceptive:
- Missouri (23%)
- Louisiana (28%)
- Indiana (24%)
- Arizona (22%)
- Michigan (22%)
She’s less expressive, more mysterious — and apparently, that’s all some states need to cast a vote.
Woman 5: The ‘Sleeper Liar’ in Some States
While Woman 5 doesn’t top many lists nationally, certain states find her suspicious:
- Colorado (26%)
- Tennessee (22%)
- Virginia (19%)
- Pennsylvania (21%)
- South Carolina (19%)
Her numbers jump most in states that were also skeptical of the neutral-faced male — maybe they just don’t trust calm energy.
Woman 2: The Wild Card
Though last nationally, Woman 2 still pulls strong votes regionally:
- Massachusetts (23%)
- South Carolina (21%)
- Tennessee (19%)
- New Jersey (19%)
- Michigan (18%)
Cowboy hats saved Man 2 — but nothing seems to save Woman 2.
So… What Do Americans Think a “Liar” Looks Like?
Based on these judgments, respondents associated dishonesty and bad poker faces with:
- Serious or tense expressions
- Furrowed brows
- Lack of an obvious smile
- “Guarded” or “calculating” eye contact
Meanwhile, traits associated with honesty included:
- Neutral expressions
- Relaxed eyes
- Approachable or friendly demeanor
- Apparently… cowboy hats
Of course, this tells us nothing about who actually is lying — only who Americans think looks the part.
But in a world of poker tables, negotiation rooms, and everyday white lies, these perceptions matter. Your face might be revealing more than you think. Reckon your poker skills are up to scratch? Take a look at these DraftKings Casino Promo Code and Caesars Palace Promo Code pages.
Methodology
The Action Network commissioned a nationwide survey of 3,019 U.S. adults.
Respondents were shown a series of randomly generated human faces and asked which one “looked like a stereotypical liar.”
All research was carried out online by Research Without Barriers (RWB) between November 4–7, 2025, following MRS and ICC/ESOMAR standards.
You can find the full data set here.
