5 talks that are all about lying

5 talks that are all about lying

The average person lies once or twice a day. And as Cornell psychology professor Jeff Hancock shares in today’s fascinating talk, given at TEDxWinnipeg, the anonymity and ambiguity of technology give us a whole new arsenal of ways to fib. He and his team have identified three new types of lies made possible by text messages, email and online comments.

1. The Butler. These are lies that draw lines in the 24/7 nature of our relationships, while maintaining friendships. For example: “I’m on my way” or “Sorry I didn’t respond earlier. I didn’t see the message.”
2. The Sock Puppet. These are lies that preserve identity, like when someone idealizes themselves in their online dating profile.
3. The Chinese Water Army. These are lies which seek to build a reputation en masse, like when a company posts hundreds of positive ratings of their own product.

But Hancock has noticed something even more interesting — that people are actually far more honest online than they are face-to-face. Studies show that very few people gild the lily on online resumes. Even in online dating profiles, when people lie, the fibs are small — a person rounding up an inch or down 10 pounds, but giving a number close to the truth. In fact, in Hancock’s studies, people were found to tell more lies over the phone than in email. Why? It may be because communication mediated by technology leaves a record, one that is both searchable and verifiable.