The Truth About Lying Research Paper

The Truth About Lying If you make the claim that you have never told a lie in your life, then you are a liar. Even if you do not try to make that claim, you are still a liar. This statement may seem harsh and uncomfortable, but often times, the truth is not a warm and fuzzy place.

Whether it was a nearly insignificant “half-truth” or a ploy to cover up a monumental mistake, chances are, you have lied. As humans, we have a strong desire to think of ourselves as good people, but our evolutionary instinct of personal gain and alpha-status is equally powerful. We lie knowing that we may be digging ourselves a deep, dark hole, however, we often choose to ignore the twisted feeling in our guts, pick up our shovels with hesitation, and carry on with our digging. What compels us to do this? Why do we intentionally put ourselves in vexatious, yet preventable, situations by choosing the path of dishonesty? Is there ever a time or place when it is acceptable to lie?

Whether it be to preserve our social status or to maintain emotional stability, lying can become its own form of procrastination that many of us are all too familiar with. In the heat of the moment, the consequences of being dishonest may seem like a more pleasant alternative to the embarrassment or awkwardness brought about by telling the truth, and naturally we aim to avoid that. Telling the truth means that we must face reality and come to terms with our decisions and the decisions of others. However, lying is nothing but a temporary fix for problems that may never be resolved without some attention. Avoiding the actuality of the cold hard truth only pours salt on our wounds and delays the healing