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Does lying come naturally?

Asked by Jeruba (55836points) July 15th, 2010

I don’t want to thrash the argument of whether “everybody” lies or not (if anyone doesn’t, not everybody does). What I’m wondering is which is the learned behavior, lying or telling the truth.

I know truth-telling can be taught and lying can be taught. And both can be modeled. But which is natural?

In primitive societies, do people grow up just naturally telling the truth because it would not occur to them to do otherwise, or does deceitful behavior appear virtually as soon as a child can speak?

Is there an important line between imaginative play and lying? between storytelling and lying? between religion/myth and lying?

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