Mark Frank on the Psychology Behind Iraq’s Most Deceptive Game
Mark Frank, a professor of communication and expert in nonverbal deception, was quoted in The Atlantic's article titled "The World’s Hardest Bluffing Game" by Jason Anthony. The piece explores the intense psychological challenge of mheibes, a traditional Iraqi sport played during Ramadan.
In mheibes, teams of dozens compete to identify which opponent is hiding a silver ring in one of his clenched fists—using only facial expressions and subtle physical cues. The article follows Qaid al-Sheikhli, captain of Baghdad’s al-Sa’doun team, as he navigates the high-stakes pressure of a championship match against Najaf. The game demands exceptional skill in reading micro expressions and concealing one’s own tells—abilities developed through both cultural experience and competitive play in Iraq.
Frank’s commentary highlights the intricate deception and lie detection involved, affirming mheibes as a uniquely demanding test of human perception and psychological performance.
