Recent Posts

What Makes Some People So Sneaky?

If deceivers want to change, these 3 steps can help.

If deceivers want to change, these 3 steps can help.

Might Mischief Mark the Misremembered Road Less Traveled?

"The Road Not Taken," one of the most famous and most misunderstood poems, may be a metaphor for reconciling life's choices but may also carry a message of cognitive dissonance.

"The Road Not Taken," one of the most famous and most misunderstood poems, may be a metaphor for reconciling life's choices but may also carry a message of cognitive dissonance.

Encourage Kids to Tell the Truth, Even With Santa Watching

Children are faced with conflicting demands: Truth-telling is promoted as a universally desirable behavior, yet also punished. We can help kids navigate through this dilemma.

Children are faced with conflicting demands: Truth-telling is promoted as a universally desirable behavior, yet also punished. We can help kids navigate through this dilemma.

Is Trump Using Psychological Biases in His Cabinet Picks?

The door-in-the-face tactic, though generally less effective than the foot-in-the-door, does work sometimes. Could it advance controversial political nominations toward approval?

The door-in-the-face tactic, though generally less effective than the foot-in-the-door, does work sometimes. Could it advance controversial political nominations toward approval?

Are There Good Lies?

We often view lying as immoral. And yet, certain kinds of lies are a vital part of human relations. Deception can even help us to reimagine what is possible for our lives.

We often view lying as immoral. And yet, certain kinds of lies are a vital part of human relations. Deception can even help us to reimagine what is possible for our lives.

I’m Not Lying: This Is the Worst Parenting Hack Ever

Using ChatGPT to lie to kids is the newest social media "parenting hack." Parenting by lying is always a bad idea—and it also deprives us of important teaching opportunities.

Using ChatGPT to lie to kids is the newest social media "parenting hack." Parenting by lying is always a bad idea—and it also deprives us of important teaching opportunities.

What is a Vicarious Identity?

When ontological security is low, social media encourages those threatened individuals to make fantasy a replacement identity for their real identity.

When ontological security is low, social media encourages those threatened individuals to make fantasy a replacement identity for their real identity.

A Lie Is a Lie Is a Lie

What we're learning about "the lying game."

What we're learning about "the lying game."

Lying: Protect Yourself From Deceptive People and Politics

Ancient in origin, deception persists and proves to be of great magnitude today. Discover how we fall for falsehoods, a liar's rhetoric, and how to spare its mental anguish.

Ancient in origin, deception persists and proves to be of great magnitude today. Discover how we fall for falsehoods, a liar's rhetoric, and how to spare its mental anguish.

Playing With Gaslighting and Other Newly Minted Words

The 1944 thriller 'Gaslight' gave rise to a useful new word that describes coercive, toxic relationships in personal life and politics.

The 1944 thriller 'Gaslight' gave rise to a useful new word that describes coercive, toxic relationships in personal life and politics.

Why Do Our Brains Embrace Lies So Easily?

Our brain can retain an unprovable “fact” even when presented with rational and substantial evidence that it is wrong. Liars can take advantage of this all-too-human glitch.

Our brain can retain an unprovable “fact” even when presented with rational and substantial evidence that it is wrong. Liars can take advantage of this all-too-human glitch.

Building Mental Muscles in the Age of AI

An AI simulation is still no match for a real writer, but uneasiness with the speed and effortlessness of machine creation remains.

An AI simulation is still no match for a real writer, but uneasiness with the speed and effortlessness of machine creation remains.

Why So Many People Get Away with Lying

Rationalization, excuses, and the power of doubling down.

Rationalization, excuses, and the power of doubling down.

How to (Not) Get Away with Murder

A recent double homicide staged as a double suicide had several known red flags for deception and manipulation.

A recent double homicide staged as a double suicide had several known red flags for deception and manipulation.

The Colorful Language of Subterfuge

English has many color-related terms to describe the deceptive practices of individuals and organizations.

English has many color-related terms to describe the deceptive practices of individuals and organizations.

How Following Gut Instincts Might Help Prevent Being Scammed

Becoming more attuned to our bodies may help older adults sniff out deception, which is especially important in the age of scammers.

Becoming more attuned to our bodies may help older adults sniff out deception, which is especially important in the age of scammers.

Are You Lying to Your Therapist? Are They Lying to You?

The request for total honesty in therapy is a tall order.

The request for total honesty in therapy is a tall order.

When Your Colleague Steals Your Ideas

Does your colleague steal your ideas? Learn how to protect yourself while remaining professional.

Does your colleague steal your ideas? Learn how to protect yourself while remaining professional.

The Paradox of Infidelity: Unveiling Why Happy Partners Cheat

Understanding the motivations that lead to affairs helps partners address underlying issues to strengthen their relationship.

Understanding the motivations that lead to affairs helps partners address underlying issues to strengthen their relationship.

A New and Better Way to Spot a Liar

They may say too much when they don't want to speak the truth.

They may say too much when they don't want to speak the truth.

Is Media Culture Priming the World for Bullies as Leaders?

There is a strong correlation between the rise of social media and smartphones, with the rise of autocratic governments around the world with bullies claiming to be heroes.

There is a strong correlation between the rise of social media and smartphones, with the rise of autocratic governments around the world with bullies claiming to be heroes.

What Happens When You Keep Secrets?

Keeping secrets isn’t just withholding information in the moment. Rather, secrets take up space and time in our minds, distracting us from more important tasks.

Keeping secrets isn’t just withholding information in the moment. Rather, secrets take up space and time in our minds, distracting us from more important tasks.

Shrinkflation, Downsizing, and the Destruction of Trust

Personal Perspective: Does the practice of diminishing the size of consumer products, but charging more, eventually erode trust in other areas of human life?

Personal Perspective: Does the practice of diminishing the size of consumer products, but charging more, eventually erode trust in other areas of human life?

5 Ways Your Trusted Memory Is Tricking You

Our memory can be a big cause of error that influences who and what we believe. Learn why it's risky to rely on this subtle source of misinformation.

Our memory can be a big cause of error that influences who and what we believe. Learn why it's risky to rely on this subtle source of misinformation.

What Does a Murder Staged as a Suicide Look Like?

Staging a murder as a suicide is one of the most common ways perpetrators disguise their guilt, especially in a violent relationship. What can be learned when one is missed?

Staging a murder as a suicide is one of the most common ways perpetrators disguise their guilt, especially in a violent relationship. What can be learned when one is missed?

You Are the Ultimate Lie Detector

People lie, but how do you know that they are? You may not be able to trust everyone, but trust yourself. You are the best lie detector on the planet.

People lie, but how do you know that they are? You may not be able to trust everyone, but trust yourself. You are the best lie detector on the planet.

Serial Killers, True Crime, and the Con Man

Stéphane Bourgoin falsely claimed to be an expert on serial killers. His fraud shows a need to explore the psychology of a culture that long accepted his fake credentials.

Stéphane Bourgoin falsely claimed to be an expert on serial killers. His fraud shows a need to explore the psychology of a culture that long accepted his fake credentials.

The Weight of a Guilty Secret

We pay a price for having a guilty secret—feeling “internally conflicted, socially isolated, and fatigued,” according to one group of researchers.

We pay a price for having a guilty secret—feeling “internally conflicted, socially isolated, and fatigued,” according to one group of researchers.

Are You Secretly Being Controlled by Tone or Nonverbal Cues?

Subtle shifts in tone of voice and nonverbal cues can turn communication into a tool of manipulation and control within relationships. Learn to spot the signs before it’s too late.

Subtle shifts in tone of voice and nonverbal cues can turn communication into a tool of manipulation and control within relationships. Learn to spot the signs before it’s too late.

How Good Are We at Detecting Liars?

One of the most debated areas of intent is decoding whether or not someone is lying. An enormous amount of human effort has gone into increasing our ability to detect liars.

One of the most debated areas of intent is decoding whether or not someone is lying. An enormous amount of human effort has gone into increasing our ability to detect liars.