The truth is, we all lie—probably several times a day. Our lies range from excuses and white lies to breaking promises, boasting, hypocrisy, schemes, and even major deceptions. One study showed that 84% of people lie, especially during job interviews. Even children don’t always tell the truth; they start lying deliberately around the age of four. There are indeed some fascinating facts about lying.
Experts have determined that adults lie an average of 200 times a day. But why do we lie?
This question has been asked since ancient times—by Aristotle, Augustine, Immanuel Kant, and others—who all considered lying immoral and reprehensible. All the Abrahamic religions classify it as a sin.
Why Do We Lie?
On average, people lie every eight minutes. Psychologist Gerald Jellison from the University of Southern Carolina once found that during a 10-minute conversation, 60% of participants lied three times.
Based on this, we face an unimaginable amount of lies, exaggerations, and other forms of deception daily. And we, too, lie quite often, don’t we?
The Main Reasons People Lie
Basic Motivations for Lying:
41% lie to save themselves and avoid problems (e.g., telling their mother-in-law, “Yes, your food is delicious”).
14% lie to make their lives more comfortable (“I can’t come with you tomorrow; I have to work late”).
8.5% lie to be liked (“I can’t think of anyone but you”).
6% lie to cover up laziness or negligence (“Yes, I already did that”).
Reasons for Lying Online:
A British study at Nottingham Trent University examined the behavior of Facebook users to understand why people lie online:
Some lied mainly to create a good impression and improve their reputation, while others lied to strengthen and develop their relationships.
Online liars often appear as though they have split personalities, but in reality, their lies are often effective.
In most cases, liars justify their lies to themselves and continue as long as the lie works.
White Lies:
Sometimes, people believe they have the right to lie and even consider it the “right” or “good” thing to do.
51% of women and 59% of men lie to help friends.
28% of women and 41% of men lie to save relationships.
Less than 12% of women and 25% of men lie to evade taxes.
12% of women and 22% of men lie to improve their professional position.
7% of women and 22% of men lie to protect themselves from punishment.
22% of women and 14% of men believe there’s no such thing as a “white lie.”
Most people refer to this type of lying as “excuses,” and they generally accept it. But of course, despite our justifications, a lie is still a lie.
It’s clear that the world prefers to be lied to—six out of ten people are convinced that honesty doesn’t pay off.
Most people, if not all, believe that telling the truth makes them look naive or foolish. One in three people believes that anyone seeking a job has to lie.
Lying has become a part of our daily lives, like brushing our teeth or combing our hair.
Pathological Lying :
As we mentioned, everyone lies from time to time—but pathological lying is on a whole different level.
There’s something called Imposter Syndrome—a person with deep feelings of inadequacy who invents elaborate stories about themselves. Some may contain a kernel of truth, but they are greatly exaggerated until the whole narrative becomes a pure lie.
Habitual liars are often skilled storytellers, able to weave detailed and eloquent tales that aren’t immediately recognized as lies.
In psychology, this disorder (Imposter Syndrome) is often linked to narcissistic personalities.
Types of Pathological Lying:
Feigning Illness: These individuals constantly pretend to suffer from serious or chronic illnesses, such as cancer or diabetes.
Fame: Some lie to tarnish their own reputation to stir controversy and draw attention—for example, claiming to be the illegitimate children of celebrities.
Disasters: Some pathological liars portray themselves as victims of natural disasters or complex family situations.
Titles: They claim noble or academic titles, such as “Doctor,” to assert their importance and superiority.
How to Identify Pathological Liars (Narcissists):
Drama: A pathological liar needs an audience (often well-meaning or naive people) to portray themselves as a victim. They involve others in complicated dramatic narratives and painful stories, creating sequential events that appeal to emotions and thoughts.
Contradiction: Their stories often contradict themselves. They say one thing and then the opposite. Their actions often don’t align with their words, revealing hypocrisy.
Lack of Evidence: They usually have no proof or witnesses to support their claims. Often, they insist that the matter is “secret” and that you’re the only one who knows the truth.
Lack of Logic: Instead of responding logically and clearly during discussions, they dodge questions and evade. Lies suffocate over time as contradictions accumulate.
Fascinating Facts About Lying
Lying, as we’ve seen, is part of daily life. But there are several surprising facts about lying that many don’t know. For example, frequent lying makes your nose grow, people who boast about their honesty are often liars, and testosterone actually increases honesty.
Here are those facts:
Frequent Liars’ Noses Get Bigger: This is the real reason behind the so-called “Pinocchio Effect,” discovered by scientists at the University of Granada in Spain.
After lying, blood flows to the nose, especially when the liar relaxes and recalls what happened. As the nose becomes warmer and redder, the face turns cooler and slightly pale, making the nose more prominent.
This is due to the mental exhaustion liars experience when telling their lies. It may not be as obvious as in the Pinocchio story, but thermal imaging reveals it clearly.
People Who Boast About Their Honesty Are Liars: Some people share bold truths—like publicly confessing to a mistake to save others—but then go on to lie about everything else.
In fact, 41% of people who boast about being honest are actual “lie barons.”
Testosterone Makes You More Honest: Many believe this male hormone only increases aggression, but in reality, it makes men more honest.
A study by economist Armin Falk at the University of Bonn found that when participants were injected with testosterone, their honesty levels increased compared to those who didn’t receive the hormone.
Eye Contact Reduces the Ability to Lie: That’s why it’s always recommended to have important, serious discussions face-to-face. People tend to lie more on the phone or through electronic messages. When face-to-face, eye contact reduces the ability to lie and fake.
So always look people in the eye; if someone constantly avoids your gaze, it might be a red flag, and you should verify their story.
Our Instincts Are Excellent Lie Detectors: When it comes to detecting lies, trust your gut. According to Pieranca from the University of California, Berkeley, our subconscious mind is one of the best lie detectors.
43% of people detect lies through investigation and analysis, while 48% rely on intuition.
Liars Are Creative: It might sound like a positive trait, but lying is the dark side of creativity. Creative people often feel insecure. According to Francesca Gino from Harvard Business School, creativity is an indicator of the less ethical side of intelligence.
Their creativity and intelligence help them craft convincing false stories and sometimes even support them with evidence, allowing them to get away with their lies.
Men Lie More Than Women: A market research survey by OnePoll involving 3,000 adults found that men lie 30% more than women.
75% of men believe lying is acceptable as long as it doesn’t hurt the other person.
However, when looking at the top 10 lies told by men and women, the claim that lying doesn’t hurt anyone doesn’t hold true.
The Top 10 Lies Told by Men:
I didn’t eat anything, I just had a drink.
Everything’s fine, I’m fine.
No one was here.
It wasn’t expensive.
I’m on my way.
I’m stuck in traffic.
You don’t look fat.
I didn’t hear your call.
Did you lose weight?
That’s exactly what I wanted.
The Top 10 Lies Told by Women:
Everything’s fine, I’m fine.
I have no idea what you’re looking for—I don’t even know it.
It wasn’t expensive.
I didn’t eat, I was waiting for you.
I have a headache.
It was such a great deal.
I’m on my way.
I’ve had this for ages.
I didn’t throw anything out—look properly.
That’s exactly what I wished for.
Conclusion : Lying is a complex and deeply ingrained part of human behavior. From small white lies to more elaborate deceptions, people lie for countless reasons—whether to protect themselves, impress others, or navigate social situations. By exploring the psychology behind lying, we gain valuable insight into human nature, communication, and the subtle cues that reveal when someone may not be telling the truth.
Understanding these patterns doesn’t just make us better lie detectors; it helps us build stronger, more honest relationships in every area of life. Whether it’s in personal interactions, professional environments, or online spaces, honesty remains a cornerstone of trust. Recognizing and addressing deception is the first step toward creating a more transparent and authentic world.
