Psychology of Lying

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LYING Some lies are harmless and some can be damaging. But why do we lie? And how often are we lied to? Let's look at the how's and why's of deception... Who Lies? On average, men lie 6 times a day to their partner, boss, or colleagues 12% of 60% of people lie at least once during adults admit to telling lies "sometimes" a 10-minute conversation or "often" 30% of 31% of patients have lied about their people admit to lying on their On average, women lie 3 times a day to their partner, boss, or colleagues diet and exercise resumes 13% of patients lie to their regiments doctor How Often Do People Lie? A Journal of Basic and Applied Psychology study found that 60% of people lied at least once during a 10-minute conversation with a stranger. A study called "Lying in Everyday Life" had 77 college students & 70 community residents keep a diary of each lie they told. Students lied an average of twice a day, while the residents lied about once a day. Lying was more common in phone calls than face-to-face. Residents lied in 1 out of 5 of 1 in 7 lies was discovered -as far as the liars could tell. their social interactions. Students in 1 out of 3. 1 in 10 of the lies was a mere () More than 70% of liars exaggeration. 60% were outright deceptions. would tell their lies again What Do People Lie About? People lie about: Their feelings and opinions Their actions, Their Explanations for their Facts and plans, and whereabouts knowledge, achievements, personal possessions behaviors and failures Men lie about... Women lie about... Nothing's wrong, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong, I'm fine. I had no signal [on my phone]. No, I didn't throw it It wasn't that I'm stuck I'm on I'm on the way. in traffic. I don't know where it expensive. away. my No, your butt doesn't look big in that. way. is, I haven't touched it. It's just what I've always I've got a headache. wanted! I didn't have I didn't have that much to that much to drink. drink. Why Do We Lie? We find that as soon as people feel that their self-esteem is threatened, they immediately begin to lie at higher levels. - Psychologist Robert Feldman Why do people lie in relationships? • Reciprocity: I should return the favor. • Avoiding punishment: my partner will be mad if I tell the truth. • Intimacy needs: my needs for intimacy & closeness differ from my partner's. People experience the most positive outcomes in their relationships when they avoid lying and deceiving their partners and believe their partners do the same. Sources: http://www.statisticbrain.com/lying-statistics/ I http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lying-why.php I http://smg.media.mit.edu/library/DePauloEtAl.LyingEveryday- Life.pdf I http://smg.media.mit.edu/library/DePaulo.ManyFacesOfLies.pdf I http://www.cbsnews.com/news/science-proves-it-men-lie-more-than-women/ I http://condor.depaul.edu/tcole/lying.pdf eLearnerS.com