Buzz
Written by Chris Gayomali
The question 'Why do we lie?' might seem straightforward: The truth is often complicated, inconvenient, and can take a lot of time to untangle. This is where small fibs come into play: 'I’m on my way!' when you’re actually still getting ready.
As it turns out, there is scientific research to support this idea. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B examines the act of lying from an evolutionary standpoint, suggesting that dishonesty has played a key role in facilitating human social interactions for centuries.
"Tactical deception," the study's authors assert, "[or] the distortion of the reality presented to another individual, can allow cheaters to take advantage of conditional cooperation."
After all, cooperation is one of those positive traits that truly defines humanity. It might even help explain why so few people are left-handed. By working together, we humans can achieve extraordinary feats, from constructing skyscrapers to mapping the neural pathways of the human brain.
"We often see cooperation as an obvious aspect of life, but reaping the long-term benefits of cooperation requires putting aside short-term selfish desires," writes Rob Brooks at PhysOrg. "And that doesn’t evolve easily."
In many societies—ranging from ants, bees, and dolphins to apes—cooperative behavior is rewarded. (You get to eat, hooray!) On the other hand, individuals who stray from the group to chase their own goals are punished. Nature has a variety of ways to ensure conformity.
This is why lying, as a means of self-preservation, might be crucial for maintaining a complex society based on relationships. More specifically, co-authors Luke McNally and Andrew L. Jackson from Trinity College Dublin discovered that apes and monkeys often use deception when a high level of cooperation is required. As shown in this chart, the two are linked—the more cooperative the primate group, the more likely a lie will be told:
According to the Daily Mail, misrepresenting the truth enables individuals to "form alliances, obtain food, and mate." This occurs frequently in nature. Deception "can be found in some spiders where males offer meaningless gifts to potential mates," McNally tells the Daily Mail. "It can also happen in bacteria, where they overproduce signals to encourage cooperation from others."
Consider how we use small lies every day to our benefit. We employ deceitful language to flatter others, gain the trust of peers, and present ourselves as more appealing to prospective employers, not to mention potential partners. (For example: Dating profiles.) More often than not, we lie to align ourselves with others.
"In the end," write the study's authors, "this most Machiavellian aspect of human behavior may stem from one of our most benevolent traits—our innate desire to seek mutually beneficial relationships."
(Via Phys.org, Proceedings of the Royal Society B)
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