CHILDREN AS LIARS AND TARGETS OF LIES

CHILDREN AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF LYING n 92% OF FIVE YEAR OLDS SAY IT IS ALWAYS WRONG TO LIE n 28% OF TEN YEAR OLDS SAY IT IS ALWAYS WRONG TO LIE

n 2/3 OF FIRST GRADERS SAID THEIR PARENTS COULD TELL IF THEY WERE LYING n LESS THAN HALF OF SEVENTH GRADERS SAID THEIR PARENTS COULD TELL IF THEY WERE LYING

CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENTAL DECEPTION SKILLS n EARLY PERIOD (APPROX. 2-6 YRS) –VERBAL FANTASY, PRETENSE PLAY, “THINGS YOU AREN’T SUPPOSED TO SAY LIKE “DIRTY” WORDS, ERRORS/MISTAKES –TRUTH BELIEVED TO MATCH REALITY WHILE LIES DON’T –LIE TO AVOID PUNISHMENT; NOT TO MISLEAD –HAVE LITTLE SENSE OF OTHER’S PERSPECTIVE

n MIDDLE CHILDHOOD (APPROX. 5-9 YRS) –SOME ATTEMPTS TO MANIPULATE BELIEFS, BUT COMMONLY ACT AS IF TARGET WILL SIMPLY ACCEPT THEIR MANIPULATION –OFTEN LACK UNDERSTANDING THAT TARGET MAY BE TRYING TO DETECT THEIR DECEPTION AND MAY EVEN TRY TO DECEIVE THEM

n LATER CHILDHOOD (APPROX YRS) –MORE CONVINCING LIARS –CAN MANIPULATE TARGET’S BELIEF ABOUT THEIR INTENTIONS--REALIZING TARGET IS TRYING TO PERCEIVE THEIR MOTIVES

n PRE-ADOLESCENCE (APPROX YRS) –USE MORE THAN ONE STRATEGY –CREATE MORE INTRICATE LIES –ACCOUNT FOR MORE CONTINGENCIES

n CHILDREN OFTEN ATTEMPT DECEPTION BEFORE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE EFFECTIVE ARE DEVELOPED. THESE SKILLS ARE: –PERSPECTIVE TAKING –LANGUAGE SKILLS –AN UNDERSTANDING OF INTENTIONALITY

–KNOWLEDGE THAT TARGET DOESN’T HAVE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE –KNOW WHAT WILL SWAY THEM –COMMUNICATE SO AS NOT TO REVEAL INTENT TO DECEIVE

WHY DO CHILDREN LIE? n THEY LIE WHEN THE MOTIVATIONAL STRUCTURE IS TILTED TOWARD THE NEED TO LIE--JUST LIKE ADULTS DO –YOUNG CHILDREN LIE TO AVOID PUNISHMENT –LATER THEY LIE TO GET REWARDS (E.G., CANDY)

–STILL LATER, THEY LIE TO GET LESS TANGIBLE REWARDS--E.G., THINGS WHICH WILL MAKE THEM MORE SOCIALLY ATTRACTIVE –PROBABLY THE LAST TO DEVELOP IS THE DESIRE TO LIE TO SAVE SOMEONE ELSE’S NECK

MICHAEL LEWIS’ STUDIES n STUDIED CHILDREN FROM ALMOST AGE 3 TO AGE 6 n IN HIS “DON’T PEEK” STUDIES, ABOUT 90% PEEKED. OF THOSE, 38% CONFESSED (MOSTLY BOYS) AND 38% LIED. 24% (MOSTLY GIRLS) HAD NO RESPONSE.

n WITH INCREASING AGE, MORE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO RESIST PEEKING n SKILL AT LYING VARIES GREATLY BUT, LIKE ADULTS, ABOUT 50% CAN LIE WITHOUT BEING DETECTED n A SAMPLE OF JAPANESE CHILDREN DISPLAYED THE SAME GENERAL PATTERN BUT MORE CHILDREN RESISTED PEEKING

QUESTION n IF A CHILD PEEKS AND LIES TO AVOID PUNISHMENT, BUT DOES NOT INTEND TO CREATE A FALSE BELIEF IN ANOTHER PERSON, IS HE/SHE LYING?