Honesty and Lying

When individuals lie, they make statements they do not actually believe with the intention of making others believe these statements. People lie for a wide range of reasons: to avoid getting into trouble, to look more impressive, or to avoid hurting the feelings of others. The reality is that individuals all over the world engage in lying; this behavior occurs starting as young as 2 years of age and continues throughout the lifespan. This poses numerous challenges as individuals figure out when lying is appropriate and how to lie effectively, as well how to detect and determine the implications of others’ lies. With an emphasis on children, this entry describes how studies on lying are conducted, factors that influence how often people lie, connections between ...