A. Classifications of liars
B. Everyone lies, more or less
C. Gender impacts ways of lying
D. Purposes of telling lies
E. Reason why men lie more
F. Women, more careful liars |
1. _____
It's been said that "everybody lies sometimes." And it's true. Everyone does lie from time to time. Men
lie; women lie. Husbands lie, friends lie, wives lie, and believe it or not, your mother might lie. A recent
study showed that 91% of all people lie on a regular basis, and people tell at least 13 major lies a week.
2. _____
The first thing one has to understand about lying is that there are at least five different types of liars:
the model of absolute integrity, the real straight-shooter, the pragmatic fibber, a real Pinocchio and the
compulsive liar, according to sociologist - anthropologist Dr. Gina Graham Scott.
3. _____
Dr. Robert G. Newby, the professor of sociology at Central Michigan University, believes that men
are more likely to tell lies than women. "Men are more concerned about how they present themselves in
public, the impression they make on people and things like that," he says. "Men are always trying to
impress people in the work and want to make sure that their presentation of self is one that makes them
look good." Women, on the other hand, Dr. Newby believes, are more private people and their
relationship tends to be more interpersonal, as opposed to having to put on a public face. Women are
more vulnerable and they are not as likely to try to pull the wool over someone's eyes like men.
4. _____
Dr Ronn Elmore, Los Angeles-based relationship counselor, does not believe that lying is based on
gender. "But I believe when women lie it tends to be verbal, plain old-fashioned lies with words. But
when men lie, it is often nonverbal, as in doing what he says he would not do or not doing what he
promised he would do. Either way, it's a lie, male version or female version. It is the opposite of integrity."
5. _____
Vesta Callender, psychotherapist in New York City, also agrees that one's gender does not play a
role in lying, but men and women do lie differently. "Women concern more while lying. They plan better," Callender notes. "They create a history around the lie, and they try to project into the future what might
happen if the lie is detected. With a woman, a lie has a beginning, a middle and an end. It's a real
entanglement." Callender believes that men "tend to lie for the moment or to get out of a situation. Men
think less about how the lie can be detected." |