If someone is wrong but sincere, is it a lie? The role of objective falsity, intention, and in children's understanding of lying
If someone is wrong but sincere, is it a lie? The role of objective falsity, intention, and in children's understanding of lying
StatusVoR
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Authors
Cantarero, Katarzyna
Król, Magdalena
Gruberska, Daria
Michalik, Maria
Sorsa, Gabriela
Zamejć, Julia
Moreno-Ríos, Sergio
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Date
2025-08-08
Publisher
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Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Issue
Volume
260
Pages
Pages
1-13
ISSN
0022-0965
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Access date
2025-08-08
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
This study investigates how objective reality (truth vs falsity), intention (honest vs dishonest) and motivation (prosocial vs self-serving) affect lie labelling and moral judgment of lies. Using a comic-based task, we conducted a study with 5–6-year-olds and 9–10-year-olds (N = 194). Participants were presented with scenarios where a protagonist made either prosocial or self-serving statements that were truthful or false, with honest or deceptive intent. Results showed that younger children were more likely to judge objectively false statements as lies, while older children placed greater emphasis on the protagonist’s intention. Prosocial lies were evaluated more positively than self-serving lies. However, contrary to prior research, prosocial lies were not less likely to be labeled as lies, but unlike in previous studies children were informed about the honest or dishonest intentions, which could prevent them from interpreting self-serving motivation as dishonest intentions. Additionally, lies were based on factual statements rather than opinions. Results of this research contribute to theory of mind, moral development, and social cognition research, offering insights into how children distinguish between truth and deception. The study also introduces a novel, language-independent tool for assessing children’s understanding of deception, which may have applications in cross-cultural research and educational settings.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Falsity
Dishonesty
Deception
Intentionality
Theory of mind
Moral judgment
Dishonesty
Deception
Intentionality
Theory of mind
Moral judgment
Keywords other
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The role of objective falsity in lie labeling
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