Lie to me* Aspergism?

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Is the deception detection specialist Dr. Cal Lightman on the TV show: Lie to me* more Aspie or less Aspie, precisely because of his ability? He'd be considered far from Aspie at all, given his high acuity in reading people via the Facial Action Coding System and body language, but on the other hand, and even by the same token, he is self consciously ever vigilant in observation, facile, manipulative and even unpleasant, entirely without genuine spontaneity. Indeed, his ex-wife even complains that she wanted a man who doesn't study her eyebrows when she stands before him in as thong! So which is it? More Aspie or less, because of his gift?

actually, I would like to see the good doctor 'read' an Aspie when they are lying. I'll bet that would give him a pause or two! We are expert at concealing our thoughts with our body and facial language!

I wonder if they will try to 'read' an Aspie or Autie on the show?

and as for Dr. Cal, I don't think he is on the Spectrum

TV show? What's that?

Strange. Most the time I lie, which I rarely do, I don't think it could be more obvious. But typically it's over petty things that wouldn't have really mattered had I lied or not, plus most the time I'm almost purposly unconvincing because I'm usually just kidding around. The only times I can be really convincing however, is when my lying could help me or anybody else avoid being unnecessarily harrased. I don't think I could ever lie for personal gain however, especially if it could potentially hurt someone else.

Anyways, I don't think Dr. Cal is autistic. Though it is clear there is something "different" about him.

Is Dr. Cal Lightman socially skilled or socially inept?

I sometimes completely forget I did something. Some one will ask me if I did and I will simply search my memory and if I don't remember doing it, I say 'no'. I am not being deceitful, I am not trying to pull the wool over someone's eyes. I just have a segment in my memory where the action I performed did not stick to my rememberer. My understanding of a 'lie detector' test is if you think you are telling the truth, then it registers as the truth.

but it was my idea that our 'flatness' our (lack of) expression or our voices that don't give that 'micro' expression before we can remember to surpress it that I think would confuse at least and deceive Dr. Cal at best.

Not me or any Aspie that I know. One thing that makes social interaction difficult for me (and every other Aspie that I know, but of course anecdotes are worthless ) is that I am so easily readable so cannot do the white lies if I am upset with someone or hide boredom and so on. I have an expressive voice and face though. What makes you say that Aspies are experts at concealing their feelings?

You couldn't tell if I was lying or not, as I have no readable facial expressions or mannerisms when I converse to everyone but my mother (emotional inflection too).

One could say the lack of eye contact could be a sign of guilt, but that's only for "normal" people; I [always] lack eye contact due to the ASD.

I would say he is more aspie. It was mentioned in the show that body language and facial expressions do not come naturally to him. It took him years to study it. He mastered it only through tearing it apart intellectually. In fact it is noted in the show there is a big difference between him and the "naturals". So if he is not aspie...I don't know who is.

I should not its not like folks with ASD intentionally conceal body language, its more like we are sending false signals. This may be why early in our life socialization is difficult. We don't have the normal ingrained coding in terms of body language...we have something else.

Is Dr. Cal Lightman socially skilled or socially inept?

because my face can stare into another's and not twich a muscle. Even today, my trainer at work said "Did I answer your question? your face didn't change." when I thought I was smiling my face off..
Maybe it is just me. . no, wait, my friend that started the Aspie meetup in Medford had that same 'flat' look, her face didn't change much, robotic voice, no flutter of eyelids or even blinking often. It's not just me. I have to actually think about it to make my facial expressions.

I am not the only one, I know that.

Ok now I understand. I am expressive (too expressive I guess) and so are most of the aspies I know (not a great number I have to say). So your first statement was confusing to me. I am very transparent with all of my emotions so it is difficult for me to conceal feelings from others and am always caught out whenever I am untruthful.

I am watching episode 2 of Lie To Me and I can across a very interesting quote:

Torres: You’re saying I can’t learn the science?

Loker: I’m saying you didn’t have to… it's got to be irritating for a guy (referring to Lightman) who spent two decades trying to see what you (Torres) were born seeing.

I don't know if this quote helps the OP's idea or not, I just figured I'd post it.

I enjoy this show too and question the writers portrayal of him.

I don't know what exactly I am. I show many signs of ASD, but I can read people very well. I just can't react like I should. I tend to pick apart every action and word after an encounter takes place. I have done this all my life by instinct, maybe perpetually training myself to one day be able to act intuitively. But this has given me a sense I can relate with this show In most cases I know what people are feeling and the motives of their actions, but I rarely make it known. Very little is by facial recog though, I can hardly remember a face 10 minutes later but I know a person by their presence and atmosphere. I'm sort of a friendly sociopath, I can use it to my advantage but rarely do.

The show is based on some semi-factual practices and possibly an aspy writer putting some of himself into the character, blended with the fantastic.

I've seen this show. I was watching it quite regularly during the first season, but I had to stop. I spent a lot of time and effort trying to learn how to read nonverbal cues (aka kinesics) and I was worried I would start picking up bad habits from watching the show.

There is one concept that I don't believe was ever given much screen time. When you're reading body language to detect deception, you can't really go by specific gestures. In order to be accurate an investigator has to know what the context of that gesture is. Deception is usually detected because the subject does something out of context. Someone rubbing his nose may indicate deception, but if the same person has been sneezing and has red, puffy eyes, it is more probable the person is experiencing allergies. I posted a couple of video clips in another forum as an example (http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp2388131.html#2388131 if you're interested). Of course, the same can be said for reading body language in general; it's all about the context.

By the way, a lack of expression can mean just as much as an expression. Again, it goes back to context.

As far as Dr. Lightman possibly being on the spectrum, I couldn't hazard a guess.

FYI, his character was based on an actual person, Paul Ekman, one of the researchers who developed the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). I believe he's a consultant for the show. He's been studying nonverbal communication, with an emphasis on facial expressions, since the 1950s. I believe he was the one who discovered the existence of microexpressions, but I'm not completely sure about that.

I better stop before I bore everyone more than I probably already have.

my problem seems to be that i dont know how to smile probebly so i end up like this trying to smile i dont like making emotions anyway ok i was maybe drunk but it looks like im on drugs -.-