To a greater or lesser extent, but many people lie. Someone is misleading in order to hide or obtain information, someone - for the sake of someone else's benefit, which is also called altruistic lies or lies for good. Others are deceiving themselves; for others, lying has become an integral part of life. They constantly lie for no apparent reason. In psychology, several types of lies are distinguished; there is a classification depending on various aspects.
What it is
A lie is a person’s informed statement that is not true. In other words, the deliberate transmission of distorted, untrue information. Even silence in certain situations can be considered a lie. For example, when a person intentionally tries to hide or withhold some information.
At one time, Benjamin Disraeli said: “There are three types of lies: statistics, lies and blatant lies.” This expression is considered rather humorous, but, as everyone knows, there is some truth in every joke. Then these words were repeatedly paraphrased, and their authorship was attributed to different people. Today one can often hear modern interpretations. For example: "There are 3 types of lies: lies, blatant lies and advertisements," or "... lies, blatant lies and campaign promises."
Untruth, lies and deceit
In psychotherapy, there are three types of lies: untruth, falsehood and deception. To this day, scientists are trying to understand whether there is a difference between these concepts. Falsehood is an error, a person believes in what he says, but his opinion is erroneous. That is, a person does not realize that he is wrong and unintentionally deceives. This may be due to a lack of knowledge or a misinterpretation of a situation.
A deliberate distortion of information is considered to be a lie. In everyday life, jokes and metaphors cannot be considered a lie. So, for example, it would be wrong to literally take a proverb:
The tale is a lie, but a hint in it! Good fellows a lesson.
A fairy tale is not a lie due to the fact that the author is not trying to pass off what was written as truth. But is always a lie a negative phenomenon? There are situations in which words depend more on circumstances than on people. For example, should a crash pilot tell the passengers the truth? Does a son need to tell a mother who has cancer that he himself is terminally ill?
Half-truth can be called deception when a person does not report all the facts known to him with the expectation that the second person will draw incorrect conclusions (but those that are beneficial to the deceiver). Not always half truth can be called a hoax. If a girl honestly admits to her friend that she cannot give out all the information about a particular case, this will not be considered a hoax.
So, we can distinguish the following types of lies in psychology: untruth, falsehood and deceit.
Lies like gossip
People constantly transmit information to each other. At the same time, everyone perceives it in their own way, some embellish it, some forget the details and substitute invented ones in their place. During a conversation, someone often “hears something”, then tells another, adding his own, and he will fantasize, add something else, and by the third the information will be already half distorted. So gossip is born.
Example: "Alina said that Masha said that Nadia saw him with her mistress!" In fact, Nadia saw the guy leaving the cafe holding the girl’s door, and then they went in one direction, keeping a distance of several meters.
Lies like a dodge
“Sorry, I'm late because there are terrible traffic jams,” says Andrei. But he thinks: "In fact, I was late, because yesterday I was late with friends at the bar, and in the morning I did not hear the alarm clock."
"I did not come on the first couple, because Masha told me that there would be no classes," says Albina. But he thinks: "In fact, I did not come, because Masha told me that she and her friend would not go to the first couple, so I also wanted to take a walk."
Lying as an evasion is the most common type of lie. People are telling a lie, because otherwise they will have trouble. They are pushed by the instinct of self-preservation.
Politeness lies
“How glad I am to see you, it’s very good that we met” - a typical phrase of old acquaintances. Most likely, no one is happy to see anyone, everyone wants to quickly end this conversation in order to go about their business.
It often happens that once in a school / institute the guys were not spilled water. The roads diverged, now everyone has their own family, completely different interests and social circle. There were no quarrels, it just happened. But you cannot say to a person with whom you were once close: "I absolutely do not care if you are in my life or not, I never remembered you."
This type of lie can also include a lie as empathy.
“Don’t worry, he’s not worth your tears at all, he was just drunk that night, and after a couple of days he’ll crawl up to you on your knees, it’s also with me, believe me,” is a phrase that every girl throws by a guy hears. Of course, he was not drunk at all and is now happy with his new girlfriend, and he is unlikely to ask for forgiveness. You can’t say this to your friend. Over time, everything will work out, but now a person just needs support.
Lies as self-deception
The most dangerous kind of lie is lying to oneself. When a person refuses to face the truth, even though it is obvious. It’s easier to justify oneself, justify other people, come up with a reason for some act, rather than admit a problem. You cannot build a world of illusions and go into it with your head.
"He does not pick up the phone because he does not hear / is busy / at the meeting," the girl says to herself, although she knows very well that he is cheating on her. No need to be afraid to make decisions, change yourself and change your life. Everything that is done is for the best.