Why Do We Lie? Part 1

I can’t say I never lied because that would be dishonest and isn’t my aim here. I can say that I would rather tell the truth and pay the price instead of lying to save my butt. I was lucky to grow up with these life lessons; not everyone is given that chance.

As an adult, I’m starting to learn that some of the assumptions and judgments I make, even if they are subconscious, aren’t always right. In my opinion, being aware of it helps me be more careful. This morning I saw an article on the art of lying, and I wanted to explore it and discuss it with you all.

The White and the Dark Lies:

In a journal of the psychology magazine of InMind, Janina Steinmetz and Ann-Christin Posten wrote an article on the science behind why we lie. They started things off by recognizing the difference between ‘black lies’ and ‘white lies’. White are the ones that we use not to hurt or offend the other person. The first example that comes to mind is when a friend gets a new haircut, and you don’t think that it suits them, but you say it does as a way to protect the feelings of the other person.

Black lies are on the other side of the coin. It’s when you lie with the aim of most likely hurting that person. In my opinion, it all depends on your perspective (the way you view the situation) and intent (what is the meaning behind what you are saying or doing). From my experience, I know that it could be a case of miscommunication.

How do you feel about white lies? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Alex

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