Why do we lie? - CrowdScience podcast, BBC World Service

Why Do We Lie?

Key Concepts: Lying as a developmental milestone, types of lies (white, grey, blue, purple, red), Machiavellian theory of intelligence, moral codes against deceit, storytelling, brain activity during lying (frontal lobes, amygdala), emotion habituation, cultural differences in honesty (Honne vs. Tatemae).

The Development of Lying

• Early Onset: Children begin to lie around two and a half years old, coinciding with their ability to form sentences. (Professor Kang Lee)
• Cognitive Requirements: Lying requires understanding that others have different knowledge and the ability to inhibit the truth and create an alternative. (Professor Kang Lee)
• Developmental Milestone: Lying is a sign of cognitive development, indicating a child's understanding of different perspectives and ability to manipulate information. (Professor Kang Lee)
• Progression: Lying frequency increases from 30% at age two and a half to over 80% at age four, reaching almost 100% by age seven. (Professor Kang Lee)
• Teenage Honesty: Lying tends to decline during teenage years (around 12-16 years old), suggesting a more honest period of development. (Professor Kang Lee)
• Moral Licensing: Adults rationalize lies through moral licensing, justifying them with various reasons. (Professor Kang Lee)

Types of Lies

• Rainbow of Lies: Professor Kang Lee categorizes lies by color:
  • White Lies: Told to be polite and spare others' feelings.
  • Grey Lies: Told to cover up personal mistakes.
  • Blue Lies: Told in the interest of a collective or group.
  • Purple Lies: Told to be modest and remain low-key.
  • Red Lies: Told out of spite and revenge.

The Role of Lying in Society

• Central to Existence: Lying is more central to human existence and societies than commonly believed. (Ian Leslie)
• Frequency: People tell multiple white lies daily, integrating lying into daily life. (Ian Leslie)
• Machiavellian Theory of Intelligence: Early humans developed social intelligence to navigate large social groups, leading to an "arms race" of deception and detection. (Ian Leslie)
• Evolutionary Roots: Deception is observed in ape behavior, suggesting evolutionary roots of lying. (Ian Leslie)
• Brain Size Correlation: Larger frontal cortex size correlates with increased lying, with humans having the largest frontal cortex and engaging in the most lying. (Ian Leslie)
• Moral Codes: Despite the prevalence of lying, moral codes in almost every society punish or shame people for deceit. (Ian Leslie)
• Importance of Trust: Trust is essential for cooperation and organization within societies, necessitating mechanisms to minimize lying. (Ian Leslie)

The Neuroscience of Lying

• Brain Activity: Lying involves suppressing the truth and creating a new story, activating the frontal lobes. (Tali Sharot)
• Emotional Involvement: The amygdala, responsible for emotional arousal, is also active during lying, potentially due to feelings of guilt. (Tali Sharot)
• MRI Studies: Studies using MRI scanners show increased frontal lobe activity and amygdala activation when individuals lie for personal gain. (Tali Sharot)
• Escalation of Lying: The more people lie, the less active their amygdalas become, suggesting emotional desensitization. (Tali Sharot)
• Unconscious Escalation: Individuals are often unaware of the gradual increase in their lying behavior. (Tali Sharot)
• Emotion Habituation: Repeated lying leads to emotion habituation, where the brain becomes desensitized to the negative emotions associated with lying. (Tali Sharot)
• Adaptive Habituation: Habituation is an adaptive brain function that filters out unchanging and harmless stimuli to conserve resources. (Tali Sharot)

Cultural Perspectives on Honesty

• Cultural Variations: Different cultures have varying norms for direct truth-telling. (Ian Leslie)
• Dutch Directness: Dutch culture values truth and direct expression of thoughts and feelings. (Derek Scott)
• American Politeness: American culture often involves politeness and indirectness, contrasting with Dutch directness. (Derek Scott)
• Honne vs. Tatemae (Japan): Japanese culture distinguishes between "Honne" (true feelings) and "Tatemae" (public behavior and opinions).
• Purple Lies (China): In China, purple lies (modesty lies) are common.

Lying Competitions

• Vandalia Gathering: The Vandalia Gathering in West Virginia hosts a storytelling competition known as the "biggest liar event." (Ariana Kincaid)
• Oral Tradition: Lying competitions are seen as a way to preserve the oral tradition of history and storytelling. (Ariana Kincaid)
• Techniques: Believing in the lie and sticking close to the truth are key techniques for successful lying. (Ariana Kincaid)

Conclusion

The episode explores the multifaceted nature of lying, from its developmental origins and neurological underpinnings to its social and cultural implications. While often viewed negatively, lying is presented as a complex behavior with evolutionary roots, cognitive requirements, and social functions. The key takeaway is that lying is a pervasive aspect of human behavior, influenced by individual development, brain function, and cultural norms. While honesty is essential for societal trust, lying serves various purposes, from maintaining social harmony to achieving personal gain.