Reasons to Lie

People lie for at least five reasons. People lie in order to obtain personal advantage. Sometimes, business people conceal the true financial state of their companies in order not to deter shareholders. People lie in order to avoid punishment. Guilty suspects sometimes lie about their involvement in the crime during police interviews to avoid a possible conviction. People lie to make a positive impression on others or to protect themselves from embarrassment or disapproval. Sometimes people do not wish to admit they have made a stupid mistake.The lies mentioned so far are self-oriented, and are intended to make the liar appear better or to gain personal advantage . People also lie to make others appear better, or lies are told for another person’s benefit. An innocent mother may tell the police that she committed the crime in order to save her guilty son from a conviction . Such a lie is other-oriented. Unsurprisingly, many other-oriented lies are told to people to whom the liar feels close and are meant to protect people to whom the liar feels close . Finally, people may lie for the sake of social relationships. Goffman pointed out that life is like a theater and that people often act as actors and put on a show. Conversations could become awkward and unnecessarily rude, and social interactions could easily become disturbed if people told each other the truth all the time (‘‘I didn’t like the food you prepared’’, ‘‘I don’t like the present you gave me’’, and so on). Social relationships may depend upon people paying each other compliments now and again. Most people will probably appreciate it when others make positive comments about their latest haircut. Making deceptive but flattering remarks might therefore benefit mutual relations. Social lies serve both self-interest and the interest of others. For example, liars may be pleased with themselves when they please other people, or might tell a lie to avoid an awkward situation or discussion.