…or is honesty always the best policy?
The truth (you don’t really like it) or do you just smile and nod?
A white lie is a lie that is considered harmless or trivial.
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Such lies are often told to spare hurting someone’s feelings.
But you could let yourself off the hook.
These were more like white lies.
With a real lie, the intent is malicious, and the consequence is serious.
White lies are often innocuous.
Some examples of white lies include:
Overall, white lies are for beneficial purposes.
Being totally honest in some cases would create unpleasantness or be offensive.
Some view white lies as a sign of civility.
Real lies tend to be moreself-serving.
They may result in negative consequences for yourself and others.
If we lie to benefit other people, these are considered white lies.
In this situation, he was thinking about other peoples feelings and was guided byempathyand kindness.
The second week he adjusted and was glad he didnt upset his parents prematurely.
Scientists call these well-intended falsehoodsprosociallies.
These differ fromantisociallies, which are told for personal gain.
According to research, prosocial lies can actually build trust and a sense of benevolence between people.
How Real Lies Can Be Bad for Us
With real lies, the intent is oftenselfish.
These are the most damaging kinds of lies.
When it comes to truth telling, deception and trust, real lies can be destructive.
If things dont add up orif you suspect someone of lying, there are ways to find out.
White lies usually benefit the person listening.
This is an example of prosocial lying and reflects empathy andcompassion.
It also takes into account what is age appropriate for your son.
Real lies tend to initially benefit the liar, too.
When his supervisor learned the truth, Dan was sent to human resources as a consequence.
Overall, it’s important to look at the morality and societal acceptance of the throw in of life.
White lies are acceptable and help our society function.
Real lies are deemed to be universally wrong.
Why Do People Lie?
There are many reasons why people lie.
You respond by saying that you love the plan to protect your job.
The more participants engaged in self-serving dishonesty, the more likely that behavior would increase with repetition.
Small acts escalated into bigger transgressions.
Thats as good a reason as ever to stop lying.
Even seemingly innocuous lies can become a habit, like second nature.
In fact, it may become easier than being honest.
You get to spare peoples feelings and pretend you are less flawed than you are.
That can be very enticing.
The second danger of telling too many lies might result in not getting the help you need.
Benefits of Honesty
You must always be honest with yourself about what youre doing and why.
We are all human, but that should be the goal.
So is it ever okay to lie to your significant other?
Telling lies, particularly those that involve serious deception, can erode thetrustandintimacyin your relationship.
You are not experiencing real intimacy then.
Intimacy demands vulnerability and honesty.
Another reason to strive to tell the truth and reduce lies?
Participants stopped making excuses for being late or not completing tasks.
They also figured out other ways to avoid lying and the results were significant.
When Its Necessary to Lie
So what is a good reason to lie?
Sometimes the stakes are high and lies are necessary to safeguard someones well-being.
While honesty is usually the best policy, it is okay to lie to protect yourself or someone else.
Such lies can help ensure your safety in the moment until you are in a safer situation.
Lying to Our Loved Ones
What if our relatives are grappling with mental health problems or impairment?
And its not an emergency situation, but its clear there is an ongoing problem.
Sometimes lies are necessary to help them.
Its a delicate, individual balance.
Takeaways
So while honesty is usually the best policy, there are exceptions.
Just about all religions and belief systems, however, extol the virtue of honesty.
So while its okay to lie, in most cases, its better to strive not to.
Columbia Journalism Review.The true origins of ‘white lies.’
Levine E, Schweitzer M.Prosocial lies: When deception breeds trust.Org Behav Hum Decis Process.
