A World of Lies

Abstract

This article reports two worldwide studies of stereotypes about liars. These studies are carried out in 75 different countries and 43 different languages. In Study 1, participants respond to the open-ended question "How can you tell when people are lying?" In Study 2, participants complete a questionnaire about lying. These two studies reveal a dominant pan-cultural stereotype: that liars avert gaze. The authors identify other common beliefs and offer a social control interpretation.

Children’s knowledge of deceptive gaze cues and its relation to their actual lying behavior

“…Extensive research has focused on the telltale signs of deception and identified a so-called “deceiver stereotype” or commonsense beliefs that laypeople have regarding the signs that reveal deceit (e.g., DePaulo et al, 1996; Ekman, O’Sullivan, & Frank, 1999; Global Deception Research Team, 2006; Leathers, 1997). For example, liars are commonly believed to have lags in speech, to fidget, to break eye contact and look down, and to smile inappropriately (Akehurst, Köhnken, Vrij, & Bull, 1996; Global Deception Research Team, 2006; Leathers, 1997; Vrij & Semin, 1996; Zuckerman, Koestner, & Driver, 1981).…”

“…For example, liars are commonly believed to have lags in speech, to fidget, to break eye contact and look down, and to smile inappropriately (Akehurst, Köhnken, Vrij, & Bull, 1996; Global Deception Research Team, 2006; Leathers, 1997; Vrij & Semin, 1996; Zuckerman, Koestner, & Driver, 1981). However, despite knowledge of this deceiver stereotype, trained observers are no better at detecting lies than are untrained observers (Ekman & O’Sullivan, 1991; Leach, Talwar, Lee, Bala, & Lindsay, 2004).…”

“…The deceiver stereotype is widely known among adults (e.g., Global Deception Research Team, 2006; Leathers, 1997). It is possible that adult lie-tellers use their knowledge of the deceiver stereotype to conceal deceptive behaviors that are consistent with this stereotype and simulate behaviors associated with honesty.…”

“…Unfortunately, a recent study involving participants from 75 countries on all continents of the world revealed that this deceiver stereotype is universally held (Global Deception Research Team, 2006), rendering this approach untenable. Another approach is to test this hypothesis by examining children’s beliefs about deception and their actual lying behavior because the deceiver stereotype is presumably acquired during socialization in childhood.…”

“…The current study tested this possibility. Specifically, we focused on one major component of the deceiver stereotype, namely, the universal belief that honest people maintain eye contact, whereas liars break eye contact and look down (Global Deception Research Team, 2006; Leathers, 1997). The reason to focus on this particular aspect of the deceiver stereotype is that this belief is the most widely and consistently held one by people around the world (Global Deception Research Team, 2006; Leathers, 1997).…”