Why Some People Lie? Psychology of Lying.

Lying, deception, and unethical behaviour are part of human life. People often engage in such behaviour and are unaware of the societal consequences such behaviour may hold.

The act of lying, the factors that influence it, the brain activity subsequent to it, and how to detect a lie accurately, is rapidly becoming a major field of research in the scientific community.

Trying to figure out when people engage in lying, what pushes them to lie, and what makes them lie less is thus of great importance.


Most people lie to gain access to tangible or intangible benefits. Once they manage to get the opportunity, it acts as a positive reinforcement strengthening their beliefs about the act of lying or deceit.


Even some people are apt to try deceit at the workplace too by taking credit for work they are not entitled to and use unfair means to climb up the professional ladder.


Some people start with small lies and then it becomes a series of lies which leave them with an illusion of who they are.


People with low self-esteem and trust deficits are prone to lie as they try to fill the gap between the 'real self and the 'ideal self'.


People with personality disorders could lie in order to manipulate and deceive others without much hesitation as the act of lying gives them a sense of control and power. They do not require any specific reason to lie.


They are instances of school-children lying to school teachers and parents. Parents got surprised and could not believe that their children are capable of such manipulation.


Deception (a trick or scheme used to get what one wants), has become a social behaviour in which a person persuades another person(s) to accept as true though the person deceiving knows it is not.


People's tendency to lie is more, when forced to react quickly to any situation. But if they get time to think, they lie less.


People's automatic behaviour is to serve self-interest by lying, and with time they can reflect on what society will deem reasonable and appropriate behaviour.