Lying And Deception In Everyday Life by Lewis/Saarni. (28-Apr-1993) Hardcover

by Michael Lewis

"I speak the truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare...."-- Montaigne"All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.'" -- Tennessee WilliamsTruth and deception--like good and evil--have long been viewed as diametrically opposed and unreconcilable. Yet, few people can honestly claim they never lie. In fact, deception is practiced habitually in day-to-day life--from the polite compliment that doesn't accurately relay one's true feelings, to self-deception about one's own motivations.What fuels the need for people to intricately construct lies and illusions about their own lives? If deceptions are unconscious, does it mean that we are not responsible for their consequences? Why does self-deception or the need for illusion make us feel uncomfortable? Taking into account the sheer ubiquity and ordinariness of deception, this interdisciplinary work moves away from the cut-and-dried notion of duplicity as evil and illuminates the ways in which deception can also be understood as a adaptive response to the demands of living with others.The book articulates the boundaries between unethical and adaptive deception demonstrating how some lies serve socially approved goals, while others provoke distrust and condemnation. Throughout, the volume focuses on the range of emotions--from feelings of shame, fear, or envy, to those of concern and compassion--that motivate our desire to deceive ourselves and others.Providing an interdisciplinary exploration of the widespread phenomenon of lying and deception, this volume promotes a more fully integrated understanding of how people function in their everyday lives. Case illustrations, humor and wit, concrete examples, and even a mock television sitcom script bring the ideas to life for clinical practitioners, behavioral scientists, and philosophers, and for students in these realms.

Genres: Psychology

Hardcover

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Research psychologist who studies emotional and intellectual development.

Reviews

[Karen Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. It offers a convincing argument (ch 2) regarding where the real harm lies in lying(!). The ideas presented in the book's 10 chapters will help you more realistically face up to what we all are, i.e. routinely dishonest beings when it suits our purposes and goals. Also that dishonesty is in fact not only sometimes positive, but also a necessary part of both individual emotional health, and that of every well-functioning society as well. An eye-opener.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't for everyone, but if you're interested in honesty/deception and enjoy psychology, I recommend it.