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CHILDREN AS LIARS AND TARGETS OF LIES. CHILDREN AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF LYING. 92% OF FIVE YEAR OLDS SAY IT IS ALWAYS WRONG TO LIE 28% OF TEN YEAR OLDS SAY IT IS ALWAYS WRONG TO LIE. 2/3 OF FIRST GRADERS SAID THEIR PARENTS COULD TELL IF THEY WERE LYING
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CHILDREN AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF LYING • 92% OF FIVE YEAR OLDS SAY IT IS ALWAYS WRONG TO LIE • 28% OF TEN YEAR OLDS SAY IT IS ALWAYS WRONG TO LIE
2/3 OF FIRST GRADERS SAID THEIR PARENTS COULD TELL IF THEY WERE LYING • LESS THAN HALF OF SEVENTH GRADERS SAID THEIR PARENTS COULD TELL IF THEY WERE LYING
CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENTAL DECEPTION SKILLS • 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
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
LATER CHILDHOOD (APPROX. 7-12 YRS) • MORE CONVINCING LIARS • CAN MANIPULATE TARGET’S BELIEF ABOUT THEIR INTENTIONS--REALIZING TARGET IS TRYING TO PERCEIVE THEIR MOTIVES
PRE-ADOLESCENCE (APPROX. 10-15 YRS) • USE MORE THAN ONE STRATEGY • CREATE MORE INTRICATE LIES • ACCOUNT FOR MORE CONTINGENCIES
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? • 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 • STUDIED CHILDREN FROM ALMOST AGE 3 TO AGE 6 • IN HIS “DON’T PEEK” STUDIES, ABOUT 90% PEEKED. OF THOSE, 38% CONFESSED (MOSTLY BOYS) AND 38% LIED. 24% (MOSTLY GIRLS) HAD NO RESPONSE.
WITH INCREASING AGE, MORE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO RESIST PEEKING • SKILL AT LYING VARIES GREATLY BUT, LIKE ADULTS, ABOUT 50% CAN LIE WITHOUT BEING DETECTED • A SAMPLE OF JAPANESE CHILDREN DISPLAYED THE SAME GENERAL PATTERN BUT MORE CHILDREN RESISTED PEEKING
QUESTION • 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?