EPISODE · Nov 2, 2013 · 17 MIN
The Lie
from The Why Factor · host BBC World Service
We all do it… don’t we? If your answer is no perhaps you’re doing it right now. Many psychologists argue that learning to lie is an important stage for children. As early as two, children who are more developmentally advanced are much better liars. For some people, lying is something they can’t stop doing. We hear from someone whose life spiralled out of control due to her addiction to lying. But is every lie bad? The concept of a ‘white lie’ is one we teach our children from an early age but different societies socialise their children to tell different sorts of lies. East Asian societies might be more aware of a ‘blue lie’ for example.Mike Williams explore how different cultures define telling the truth and what that shows us about our societies.(Image of a hand held on top of a bible.Credit: AFP/Getty Images)
What this episode covers
We all do it… don’t we? If your answer is no perhaps you’re doing it right now. Many psychologists argue that learning to lie is an important stage for children. As early as two, children who are more developmentally advanced are much better liars. For some people, lying is something they can’t stop doing. We hear from someone whose life spiralled out of control due to her addiction to lying. But is every lie bad? The concept of a ‘white lie’ is one we teach our children from an early age but different societies socialise their children to tell different sorts of lies. East Asian societies might be more aware of a ‘blue lie’ for example.Mike Williams explore how different cultures define telling the truth and what that shows us about our societies.(Image of a hand held on top of a bible.Credit: AFP/Getty Images)
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The Lie
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