Lies part B

Telling Lies B

This is the second part of the article about telling lies. Researchers found that there are two types of lies. The first type is the "self-centered" lie. This is a lie that we tell to help ourselves or to make ourselves look important.

We also tell self-centered lies because we're embarrassed. For example, let's say you borrowed your friend's bicycle and you accidentally broke something on it. When you return the bike to your friend, you tell your friend that part of the bike was broken before you got it. This is a self-centered lie; you told it because you were embarrassed, or because you didn't want to pay for the repairs. In general, the self-centered lie is one of the most common types people tell.

The second type of lie is most common among women. It's called the "polite" lie. We tell this lie to make another person feel good. For example, let's say you hate snow and cold weather. One day there's a snowstorm in your town. You meet your friend who loves skiing, and she says, "Isn't this snow wonderful!" You answer by saying, "Yes, it's great," even though you think it's awful. This is an example of a "polite" lie.

Questions

Why do people tell self-centered lies?

Are self-centered lies uncommon?

What type of lie is the most common among women?

Give an example of a polite lie?