While many parents want to believe that their children are truthful, the statistics do not support that. How many children lie? A study reveals the startling number.
Reasons Change As Children Get Older
ABC News featured a research video on lying this month on "Primetime." How many kids lie? A study at Oberlin College in Ohio found that by the time children are teenagers, 98% have lied. What do they lie about?
- drugs
- dating
- friends
Reasons for lying?
- to avoid an argument with parents
- to protect parents from worrying
Younger children? They tend to lie to avoid punishment.
The Study
Oberlin College in Ohio gave bitter, unsweetened chocolate to children of various ages and told them to say the chocolate was good when asked. Younger children as well as older children state the chocolate was good. What was the difference between the younger and older children's statements? The older children were more believable.
Where Do They Learn It?
Some think that children learn to lie from parents. New York Magazine writer Po Bronson writes that adults will lie approximately once a day. Children hear this and pick up on it. A child receives a not too cool sweater for Christmas from Aunt Betty. On the way to the next family dinner, the child is wearing the sweater and is told, "You let Aunt Betty know how much you like this sweater." Or, children hear parents tell a neighbor how delicious her cookies were that ended up in the garbage.
Suggestion
Experts suggest we praise children for telling the truth instead of punishing them for lying.
[Juju Chang, Chris Strathmann, Linda Owens and Imaeyen Ibanga, ABC News, abcnews.go.com, Feb. 12, 2008]
Related article: Cheating Is On The Rise
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
