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Deception

Lying, Self-Deception

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Deception refers to the act-big or small, cruel or kind-of encouraging people to believe information that is not true. Lying is a common form of deception-stating something known to be untrue with the intent to deceive.

While most people are generally honest, even those who subscribe to honesty engage in deception sometimes. Studies show that the average person lies several times a day. Some of those lies are big (“I’ve never cheated on you!”) but more often, they are little white lies (“That dress looks fine”) deployed to avoid uncomfortable situations or spare someone's feelings.

Trust is the bedrock of social life at all levels, from romance and parenting to national government. Deception always undermines it. Because truth is so essential to the human enterprise, which relies on a shared view of reality, the default assumption most people have is that others are truthful in their communications and dealings. Most cultures have powerful social sanctions against lying.

Contents

The Many Forms of Deception

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There are sins of commission and sins of omission; omitting information and concealing the truth are considered lies when they are done with an intent to deceive. In addition to statements that are false, deception encompasses statements that misrepresent or distort facts as well as the withholding of information. People can lie through outright statements or by strategic silence.

What kinds of lies do people tell?

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People may deliberately create false information or fabricate a story. But most often, sheer invention is not the soul of lying. Rather, people deceive by omitting information, denying the truth, or exaggerating information. Or they might agree with others when in fact they don’t, in order to preserve a relationship. Self-serving lies, on the other hand, help liars get what they want, make them look better, or spare them blame or embarrassment.

How do I lie to myself?

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Deception isn’t always an outward-facing act. There are also the lies people tell themselves, for reasons ranging from maintenance of self-esteem to serious delusions beyond their control. While lying to oneself is generally perceived as harmful, some experts argue that certain kinds of self-deception-like believing one can accomplish a difficult goal even if evidence exists to the contrary-can have a positive effect on overall well-being.

What is gaslighting?

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Gaslighting is a pernicious form of manipulation in which someone is deliberately told false information with an intent to harm-specifically to undermine their sense of reality. Lies are used as weapons in an effort by one person to exert control over another. The tactic is commonly deployed by abusers, narcissists, cult leaders, and dictators.

How are delusions different from lies?

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Delusions are an extreme, pathological form of self-deception. They are false beliefs that contradict reality but which a person is convinced are true-and may go to great lengths to convince others are true. Delusions are typically a symptom of impaired reality perception, common to mental disorders such as mania and psychosis.

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How to Spot Deception

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Researchers have long searched for ways to definitively detect when someone is lying. They know that some people are better at lying than others; their visual and verbal cues are in sync with what they are saying. But studies consistently show that most people are terrible at detecting deception, performing no better than chance. There’s evidence that many people have inaccurate beliefs about signals of lying-for example, that fidgeting is always a giveaway.

How do I know when I’m being lied to?

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Many experts propose that liars reveal themselves in "tells," major and minor changes in body language or facial expressions. But observable signs of lying can be unreliable. Researchers do find that some people lie more than others. Studies show that children under two never lie and that lying peaks in adolescence, when social relationships take on heightened importance.

How do I know when I’m lying to myself?

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Most people are not aware of the ways they fool themselves. But psychologist ha

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