Factors in why we lie

I don't often cite psychology in my blog because, frankly, I don't read much about it. But this report summary struck a nerve. It discusses why people lie and that fact that we (the "royal we," See the movie The Big Lebowski) are more inclined to lie to co-workers or friends than to strangers.

"We found that consumer’s willingness to lie is related to not only a desire to protect their public selves, or the impressions they convey to others, but also [their] private selves, or their sense of self worth," explain Jennifer J. Argo (University of Alberta), Katherine White (University of Calgary), and Darren W. Dahl (University of British Columbia).

The first study to use social comparison theory to explain why and when we lie, the researchers argue that our willingness to lie is directly related to perceived threats to our self-esteem and self-image. People feel threatened by the possibility of being suckers and lie more readily when they overpaid for an item. However, people are less likely to lie if they know that a better deal is attainable, say, with a short-term gym membership.

"When public self image is threatened, individuals are often motivated to engage in impression management tactics such as lying," explain the authors.