A strategic lie is designed to grab media attention with an initial, deliberate lie. This shifts the news agenda onto a politician’s preferred territory.
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Articles on Lying
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‘Vranyo’ is the Russian word for a lie that you tell to make yourself look good, whether people believe it or not.
A political philosopher argues that while all American presidents may lie, those who appear to lie for the public good are often celebrated.
Social influencers vie for public attention in a crowded market place. This makes the bold and the ruthless even more likely to opt for strategic dishonesty if it will further their interests.
Since the French president accused the prime minister of lying, his trustworthiness has been increasingly under the media spotlight. If the tag sticks, it could wound him at next year’s poll.
Communication scholars have long wondered not just who lies the most, but also whether people tend to lie more online, in person or over the phone.
Understanding sarcasm is related to the ability to recognize the thoughts and emotions of others, to empathize and to consider two things being simultaneously true.
It turns out liars and truth-tellers behave very differently when questioned.
Lying can be more than just telling a few fibs. It can also be used to communicate social status and make a person appear loyal to a particular group.
Because dramatic tension fuels attention, Trump’s words work to generate tension, anxiety and conflict. We need to react with civility, care and calm to undo the cycle of attention and persuasion.
Understanding the distinction between bullshit and lying is essential. We can reveal a lie by uncovering the truth, but dealing effectively with bullshit is more complicated.
The UK government is introducing polygraph tests for convicted terrorists on probation.
When a person or agency backed by the power and resources of the government tells a lie, it sometimes causes harm that only the government can inflict.
Ethology, social psychology and criminology can help us understand why humans lie and why scammer scam.
‘They might be a liar but at least they’re honest.’
From Boris Johnson to Donald Trump, a new breed of bullshitting politicians is flourishing.
What makes an action ‘good’ or ‘evil’? And are there situations under which lying for a job interview might be justified?
To tell a lie, a child must first understand that other people can have different beliefs and knowledge than they do, and that these beliefs can be false.
Why do even the rich cheat on their taxes? New research suggests some people may be genetically predisposed to break the rules for their own financial gain.
Online lies can often be easy to detect, by searching for images and phone numbers and exploring social media profiles. Some people lie anyway – and countless others take the bait.
Top contributors
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Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Lancaster University
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Professor of Philosophy, Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington
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Assistant Professor of Social Media Data Analytics, University of Oregon
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Adjunct associate professor, Southern Cross University
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Chair of Cognitive Psychology, University of Bristol
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Scientia Professor of Evolutionary Ecology; Academic Lead of UNSW's Grand Challenges Program, UNSW Sydney
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Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Journalism, University of Sussex
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PhD Student in Communication and Social Interaction, The University of Queensland
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Education; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland
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Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics & CyberSecurity, Griffith University
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Senior Lecturer in Education, Queensland University of Technology
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Professor, Southern Cross University
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Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience, Southern Cross University
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Associate Professor of Narratology, University of Sydney
