A lie is an assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the purpose of deceiving or misleading someone.[1][2][3] The practice of communicating lies is called lying. A person who communicates a lie may be termed a liar. Lies can be interpreted as deliberately false statements or misleading statements, though not all statements that are literally false are considered lies – metaphors, hyperboles, and other figurative rhetoric are not intended to mislead, while lies are explicitly meant for literal interpretation by their audience. Lies may also serve a variety of instrumental, interpersonal, or psychological functions for the individuals who use them.
Generally, the term "lie" carries a negative connotation, and depending on the context a person who communicates a lie may be subject to social, legal, religious, or criminal sanctions; for instance, perjury, or the act of lying under oath, can result in criminal and civil charges being pressed against the perjurer.
Although people in many cultures believe that deception can be detected by observing nonverbal behaviors (e.g. not making eye contact, fidgeting, stuttering, smiling) research indicates that people overestimate both the significance of such cues and their ability to make accurate judgements about deception.[4][5] More generally, people's ability to make true judgments is affected by biases towards accepting incoming information and interpreting feelings as evidence of truth. People do not always check incoming assertions against their memory.[6]
- ^ Carson, Thomas L. (2012). Lying and deception : theory and practice. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199654802. OCLC 769544997.
- ^ Mahon, James Edwin (21 February 2008). "The Definition of Lying and Deception". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ Mahon, James Edwin (2008). "Two Definitions of Lying". International Journal of Applied Philosophy. 22 (2): 211–230. doi:10.5840/ijap200822216. ISSN 0739-098X.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Vrijwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Zimmermanwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Brashier, Nadia M.; Marsh, Elizabeth J. (4 January 2020). "Judging Truth". Annual Review of Psychology. 71 (1): 499–515. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010419-050807. ISSN 0066-4308. PMID 31514579. S2CID 202569061.