A study conducted at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has revealed that white lies, which are often considered harmless, can encourage children to lie.
According to the research published in The Sun, children, in particular, may be more inclined to lie when they realize they are being lied to, even if it is a white lie. The study examined the relationship of 564 children aged 11-12 with honesty and the role of their families in this relationship. Dr. Setoh Pei Pei stated, "White lies may be told with good intentions, but if children realize that their parents are lying to them, the children may also start to lie." Previous studies have also found that parents lying encourages children to lie as well.
In a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, researchers investigated how children are affected by their parents' lies. Lies were categorized as "white lies" and "instrumental" lies. Instrumental lies were defined as lies told by parents to guide or change their children's behavior. For example, when a child asks for a new toy, the parent saying "we don't have any money." White lies, on the other hand, were defined as lies told to improve or protect children's feelings. For example, telling their children they are "wonderful" at playing the piano even when it sounds "terrible."
As part of the study, 564 children were asked how much they lied and how much their families lied to them. The results showed that "instrumental" lies encouraged children to lie more. Dr. Pei Pei stated, "Instrumental lies are lies used when children are being naughty, such as 'If you don't behave, I will call the police.' However, these types of lies, which have a low degree of reality, cause children to lie more to their parents."
News Source: 12punto
