Why Do We Lie? An Explanatory View for Lie-Telling Behaviors of University Students and Adults

Abstract

It is known that studies are carried out in certain societies regarding the reasons for the occurrence of lie-telling behavior, which is one of the most important parts of human sociability. Nevertheless, studies on the reasons for lying of adults in Turkey appear to be insufficient. For this reason, the present study aimed to reveal the reasons for lying of adults in Turkey. A total of 75 people aging between 19 and 46 (Mage= 26.84) participated in this study. Participants were given a question form that had four open-ended questions prepared to reveal the reasons for self-benefiting and other-benefiting lying. The content analysis method, one of the qualitative analysis techniques, was used to analyze data. Findings showed that privacy, interference in autonomy, face-saving, fruition, avoiding a negative situation, hiding the truth and evading were the most common reasons for the self-benefiting lying. On the other hand, preventing harm, protecting others, making others happy, politeness, and preventing relationship breakdown were the most common reasons for the other-benefiting lying. Each reason for lying was discussed in comparison with the international literature and suggestions for future studies to be conducted in Turkey on this issue were presented. Keywords: Lie, deception, lie-telling behavior, reasons of lying, content analysis