Bill's Notebook

After several studies on why lying is an important advantage in personal mental development, we have research that describes how cooperation evolved from our social need to punish cheaters.  To me, this is a great example of game theory in that what benefits us personally would not benefit society if adopted by everyone.  So, we are willing to tolerate leaders who lie well as long as the society benefits but we curb the leader’s self-interest once society suffers.  Fascinating dynamic tension in play here.

“After studying 1,200 children, researchers from the Institute of Child Study at Toronto University, found that kids can be confirmed to have developed ‘executive functioning‘, when they are able to keep the truth at the back of their mind so their fib sounds more convincing.”

Thanks to Henry Brown from GovLoop.

People with Power are Better Liars
Dana R. Carney, Andy J. Yap, Brian J. Lucas, & Pranjal H. Mehta
Columbia University

Abstract:  “Telling a lie is costly: emotionally, cognitively, and physiologically. Lie-tellers experience
negative emotions, cognitive impairment, physiological stress, and reveal this through nonverbal
cues. The emotional, cognitive, and physiological resources taxed by lying are enhanced by the
experience of social power. Power-holders enjoy positive emotions, increases in cognitive
function, and physiological resilience. This research tested and found that holding power buffers
individuals from the stressful event of telling a lie and leads to easy and effective deception. In
situations of high (vs. low) power, lie-tellers appear like truth-tellers emotionally, cognitively,
physiologically, and nonverbally.”

My guess on why this is true is that the leader may feel that his or her deception is for the good of the group and thus their sense of altruism prevents the expected stress of telling a lie.