• Minimal self-reference: "Absolutely no party took place at this house" instead of "I didn't host a party here."
• Negative language: "Sorry, my stupid phone battery died. I hate that thing."
• Simple explanations: A US President once famously insisted, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."
• Convoluted phrasing: "I can say, categorically, that this investigation indicates that no one on the White House staff, no one in this administration presently employed was involved in this very bizarre incident."

On a psychological level, we lie in part to paint a better picture of ourselves. We connect our fantasies to the person we wish we were.

Our conscious mind only controls about 5% of our cognitive function. The other 95% is beyond our awareness. While our brain is dreaming about who we wish...