Lying: Pros and Antisocial Lies & How to Spot Them - Essay Sample

Introduction

Lying is an element of communication where the deceiver provides false information to the person being deceived. Lies are commonly found in exaggerated or omitted information. People tell lies because they usually believe they will benefit more from the lie, or the deceiver cannot discern the truth. There are two types of lies where the prosocial lies are made to help other people, while the antisocial lies are for selfish gain. It is not easy to determine whether someone is lying, and this enables the deceiver to fair slightly better. Lying begins at an early age through the lying behavior develops dramatically as the children grow up (Vitelli 2). Lying is, therefore, a developmental milestone. Thus, as humans, lying becomes something natural to us as our conscious tells us is wrong. Yet we still do it because it is the easiest way to go about life.

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Why People Lie

There are several reasons why humans lie. One of them is that they tend to think that lies are essential to them. Other people may view lies to be insignificant issues, while liars tend to believe in their lies on crucial matters (Kirk 1). It is not good to lie in this perspective because the issues individuals might think are necessary, in reality, they might be of little importance. Deceivers also lie to acquire control of a given situation. Lying enables liars to have control over a given situation, making it easy for decisions to be made in their favor. Through the lie, wrong choices can be made leading to failure; hence it is not a good idea to lie ("The Origins of Lying and Deception in Everyday Life"). Additionally, they lie to impress other individuals and avoid any chance of disappointing them. Hiding true definition through lies can lead to relationship bonds being broken if the truth about individuals is revealed. Also, telling one lie makes liars continue lying to cover the original lie. This situation produces a series of lies, and maintaining the lies is not easy. Moreover, people lie because they want their lies to be the truth that they desire. They believe that by continuous repetition of the lie, they can make it turn out to be the truth. However, in most cases, lies cannot turn out to be the truth. Lies remain to be lies while the truth will always be.

Different Types of Lies

There are different types of lies, and understanding them enables us to recognize the issues that the deceiver is experiencing. White lies are constructed to turn down someone's offer and also shows disrespect to the deceived (BBC - Ethics - Lying"). For instance, a white lie entails giving a false excuse for not going to party or appreciating unworthy presents. Conflicts may arise when the deceived discovers the deceiver's insincerity. Moreover, broken promises are also another type of lie where people fail to keep their spoken commitments. The deceived loses hope, and significant damage can occur, especially if people make a promise with an intension of not fulfilling it (BBC - Ethics - Lying"). Additionally, the lie of fabrication involves telling people information that no truth is known about it. Fabrication immensely hurts the receiver because they lead to the spread of rumors that destroy the reputation of other people. There is also the bald-faced lie where liars tell information that everyone knows s is not valid. These types of lies are disclosed by children when their parents or guardians have good evidence it is a lie. The receiver of lie thinks that it leads to a wastage of time and intelligence.

Identification of a Lie

Experts have several ways of identifying signs of dishonesty. To spot these signs, people need to have an idea of how someone acts when speaking the truth (Jalili 1). Body movement and facial expressions play a significant role in establishing untruthfulness. Fidgeting while sitting might imply dishonesty. Moreover, some people become nervous when lying, which may cause cracking of their voice. Additionally, people's perceptions can make them correctly interpret the signs of dishonesty (Mares and Brent 5). People who lie are likely to gesture with both of their hands (Jalili 1). Moreover, when individuals cock their head to the side or shuffle their feet, it is a clear sign of lying. Lying people tend to stare away or move their eyes around as they try to make up a story. Pursing lips when asked a question is also a sign of untruthfulness. Mostly, when people act differently from the way they should be working, it might imply that they are lying but also anxiety, and being unfamiliar with whatever they are asked to do can also make them act differently.

Minimizing Lying

Individuals may develop a habit of lying, and eventually, it turns out to be their nature. It is, therefore, essential to control the practice of lying by examining factors that trigger them to rest (DePaulo, Bella M., et al. 3). It is necessary to think of the types of lies they usually tell, as this enables them to understand the reasons behind their dishonesty deeply. Additionally, asking themselves what worst can happen after telling the truth can also help minimize cheating. Lying can as well be hurtful to the liars since they have to be conversant with the individuals they lied to, to act in conformity with their lies, and also to avoid damaging their integrity (Jalili 1). Moreover, people should bear in mind that lying can lead to so many limitations than the advantages they can have. Individuals should teach themselves the techniques of minimizing lying because it is very profitable since their reputation can be preserved.

Conclusion

The notion of information being true implies the presence of lies. It is hence, the reason behind many liars lying. People lie to avoid punishment from their undesirable acts. They also lie to get greater benefits, but at times, they may end up having disadvantages. It is, therefore, essential to develop tactics that can help individuals control their habit of lying. Those tactics include determining factors that contribute to their untruthful words. Moreover, understanding the kind of lies can also help people reduce the chances of lying. Individuals also need to know the effects of their lies to the deceived to avoid causing damages. Lying can also damage the reputation of people. The liar has to remember the individuals he lied to act in conformity with the lies to avoid damaging his reputation.

Works Cited

"BBC - Ethics - Lying." Bbc.Co.Uk, 2020, http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/lying/lying_1.shtml. Accessed 10 Apr 2020.

"The Origins of Lying and Deception in Everyday Life." American Scientist, 2020, https://www.americanscientist.org/article/the-origins-of-lying-and-deception-in-everyday-life. Accessed 10 Apr 2020.

DePaulo, Bella M., et al. "Lying in everyday life." Journal of personality and social psychology 70.5 (1996): 979.www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012505000021

Jalili, Candice. "How to Tell If Someone Is Lying To You, According To Body Language Experts." Time, 2020, https://time.com/5443204/signs-lying-body-language-experts/. Accessed 10 Apr 2020.

Kirk, Julie. "Psychology of Lying." Addiction.Lovetoknow.Com, 2020, https://addiction.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Psychology_of_Lying. Accessed 10 Apr 2020.

Mares, Aurelio Coronado, and Brent E. Turvey. "The Psychology of Lying." False Allegations. Academic Press, 2018. 21-36. www.psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-01753-006

Vitelli, Romeo. "When Does Lying Begin?" Psychology Today, 2020, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/media-spotlight/201311/when-does-lying-begin. Accessed 10 Apr 2020.