The Liar in Your Life describes the surprising and sobering reality of lying in everyday life, based on nearly three decades of research by author Robert Feldman. One of his most striking findings, that has been tested repeatedly, is that new acquaintances will lie to each other about three times in the course of a ten minute conversation. These may seem to be so-called "little white lies"—innocent evasions like "I feel fine" or "I like your dress" or "You were amazing"—but those lies exact a cost. When we know we’re being dishonest, we feel less trusting about our environment and the people around us. And those little lies create a climate for greater deceptions, leading to "a culture of lies" that pervades today’s society.
Robert S. Feldman, Ph.D., a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and Association for Psychological Science, has examined lying and everyday deception for over 25 years.
Most often, the lies we are exposed to are not venal, but rather ways to make social interactions proceed more smoothly. People lie to be agreeable or to make us feel better about ourselves. Of course, people also lie to build themselves up or to gain some advantage over us. And many of us lie to ourselves as much as we are lied to by others.
Liar, Liar, Hard Drive on Fire Published in JASP.
A new study by Robert Feldman and Mattityahu Zimbler, a graduate student, published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology (October 2011), finds that communication using computers for instant messaging and e-mail increases lying compared to face-to-face conversations, with e-mail messages containing the most lies.
October 2011.
Feldman Discusses Sex and Lying with Brian Lehrer.
On the Brian Lehrer Show (WNYC Radio) Feldman offers commentary to the question: Are men are more likely to lie about sex than women?
July 29, 2011.
Feldman Comments in USA Today on Casey Anthony Lying Conviction.
"Once you lie, it's very easy for it to become habitual," says Feldman. "The more often you do it, the more likely you're going to do it in the future."
July 6, 2011.