Why Humans Evolved to Be Extraordinary Liars

And why those who can detect lies are considered “truth wizards”

Image licensed by mekkora

There are many misconceptions about the phenomenon of lying.

The first, and biggest, misconception is that lying is a purely learned behavior. It’s not. Humans learn to lie long before they learn how to talk. We simply get better at lying (or not lying) as we age.

The second misconception is that lying is unique to the human species. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Deception is a fundamental part of the natural world. From “bluffing” genetic mutations to faking injuries to outright scamming — lying is plentiful in nature. We, humans, are simply very good at it.

The third — and most important — misconception is that lying is always meant to deceive someone else. Psychologists are learning more and more that this is also not true. In fact, it is nowadays considered that self-deception is not only a beneficial psychological mechanism, but also a vital survival skill.

Natural Born Scammers

We usually consider children to be somewhat “pure” organisms. We use terms like “unspoiled” to describe well-mannered, well-adjusted kids. As if the parents’ only job is to avoid making a mistake, potentially “ruining” an otherwise…