Little White Lies:
Why Do We Tell Them?
A new study shows that we are more likely to lie to people we know than to total strangers. We tell little white lies to make ourselves look better.
In the study, people were to act out situations such as buying cars, gym memberships and other items. One person bought a car for $2,000 less or a gym membership for $200 less than a co-worker.
When one person compared how much they paid with how much another person paid, they thought they were a bad shopper. They lied to cover their story and look like a better shopper.
The study suggests we don’t like feeling another person is smarter, and we lie more easily when we realize we overpaid.
The study showed that people were willing to lie to friends, even over an amount as small as $200.
The study found that people were more likely to tell a fib about how much they saved while shopping.
People were more willing to lie to protect other people’s good impressions of them. People frequently lie when they pay too much for the same item as their friend bought.
The problem is this. Once you lie, you have to remember what that lie is and who you have told the lie to. The chance that you will get caught lying is quite high. Every time you see the person you lied to, you have to remember what lie you told.
The professor conducting the study says that when you are busy recalling everything you have told a lie about, your energy goes down. She says, in the long run, it's not worth lying because your relationships suffer. In the end, nobody wants to see themselves as a liar.
Vocabulary List
Gym - A gymnasium
Impressions-first things you think
Lies-telling something not true
Recalling-remembering
Shopping-buying things
Strangers-people you do not know
Study-read to learn
Threatened-in danger
Idioms
Little white lies - telling something almost true, a ‘Small lie.’
Fib - lie
Cover their story -invent a reason that the story is true
In the long run -at the end of everything someone did
Listening Comprehension Exercise
1. A new study shows that we are more likely to lie to people we know than to total _________________. We tell little _________________ lies to make ourselves look better.
2. In the study, people were to _________________ out a situation such as buying cars, _________________ memberships and other items. One person bought a car for $2,000 less or a gym _________________ for $200 less than a co-worker.
3. When one _________________ compared how much they paid with how much another person paid, they thought they were a bad shopper. They lied to _________________ their story and look like a better shopper.
4. The study _________________ we don’t like feeling another person is smarter, and we lie more _________________ when we realize we overpaid.
5. The study showed that people were _________________ to lie to friends, even over an amount as small as $200.
6. The study found that people were more likely to tell a fib about how much they _________________ while shopping.
7. People were more willing to lie to _________________ other people’s good impressions of them. People _________________ lie when they pay too much for the same item as their friend bought
8. The problem is this. Once you lie, you have to _________________ what that lie is and who you have told the lie to.
9. The chance that you will _________________ _________________ lying is quite high. Every time you see the person you lied to, you have to remember what lie you told.
10. The professor conducting the study says that when you are busy recalling everything you have told a lie about, your _________________ goes down. She says In the long run, it's not worth lying because your _________________ suffer. It's draining and you'll ruin your self-worth if you see yourself as a liar.
Fill in the Blanks Answers:
- strangers, lies
- act, gym, membership
- consumer, cover
- suggests, easily
- willing
- saved
- protect, frequently
- remember
- get caught
- energy, relationships
Warm up Discussions
In your pair or group, decide which of the topics below is the most interesting. Chat about the topics you liked, and knew about, then chat about the ones you didn’t like or know about. Change topics and partners often.
1. Telling Lies to protect your image: In pairs or groups, tell why you would tell a small lie to someone to make you look good to them. Write down how people benefit from these types of lies, and how these lies can be a problem. Share your answers with your partner or other group. Switch partners.
2. You are a shopper. You have gone shopping for a car, and later found out your neighbor paid $2000 less than you did for the same car. Talk to the other car buyers about having your purchases. What lies did you tell the other buyers? Does anyone get hurt telling these lies? What are the benefits and problems in the telling of lies? Ask questions that other car buyers would ask.
3. Talk about different times that you have had told a little white lie in your life. How did feel? What would be different had you not told the lie?
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