What makes us lie?
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Almost every person is lying. And does it almost every day. Some lie to gain profit, others lie "for good", still others for some reason. But what are we really moving at this moment?
The results of research by scientists from the University of Amsterdam and the David Ben Gurion University in the Negev, which appeared in the journal Association for Psychological Science, shed light on the causes and circumstances that cause people to tell lies.
Previous studies in this area have identified the main cause of the lie - serving their own interests. It was also noted that a person can easily lie if he finds an excuse for his act.
Doctor of Psychology Shaul Shalvi and his colleagues who conducted this research, based on previous results, suggested that under pressure of circumstances, for example, when a monetary reward is at stake, and a time frame is set, people become more prone to lies. When there are no such "pressing" factors, then the need to lie does not disappear by itself.
"According to our theory, first a person cares about his own self-interest, and only then he considers all the social aspects of his behavior," experts say. - When a person has not enough time to think, he will do his best to take advantage of the situation. When a person has time to think everything over, he will try to avoid the lie if he does not, then at least reduce it ".
To participate in the experiment were invited 70 volunteers. They were offered to play dice and record the points scored, adding before that that those who gain the maximum amount will receive a monetary reward.
Participants were divided into two groups, one of which was to record points, investing in 20 seconds, and for the second, no time limits were set. All these operations the examinees conducted without witnesses. A degree of honesty, scientists evaluated, comparing the deviations of the average result of both teams.
It turned out that the participants, under pressure of time, fixed numbers that exceeded those recorded by the group, which had time to think.
However, comparing the average number of shots and scores computed by specialists, it was found that the second group also exaggerated its results, although not as frankly as the first.
The second experience of scientists, based on the same principle of time constraints, showed identical results: those who had a minimum time to think were cheated more often.
If we sum up, it turns out that a man cornered, will lie instinctively, it is inherent in nature. Therefore, if you want to achieve maximum honesty, it is better not to press on him and do not demand an immediate answer.