Lying

What do the scholars say about lying?
The New Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a lie as an untrue statement with intent to deceive (1989). Lying is the act of telling a lie, and is defined by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology as “intentionally (trying) to mislead someone” (DePaulo et. al, 1998 p. 63). Lying is by definition an inauthentic communication; as such cannot serve the need for genuine relatedness (DePaulo, et. al., 1998). Furthermore, it violates the openness and authenticity that people value in their close relationships. In addition, social interactions where lies were told were found to be less pleasant and less intimate than those in which no lies were told (DePaulo et. al., 1996).
In “Lying in Everyday Life,” authors argue that lying is often seen and or described as a selfish act, and that lies are often told to benefit the self rather than benefit others. They conclude that people lie to get jobs, promotions, raises, good grades, an...