Interesting article on Medmagic.net (
http://medicmagic.net/children-who-often-lies-will-later-be-successful.html):
Parents may worry if their children starts to be dishonest or often lying. But recent studies have found the earlier a child starts lying, he would more likely be successful in the future.
Researchers have found that the ability of children to lie when they are two years old marks the rapid growing of the brain, and means that it is more likely to have a successful life in the future.
Researchers found that lying is more plausible. The sooner the child begins to lie to the faster brain develop intelligence in the years later and thinking skills would be better.
This also means that the child has developed the ‘executive function’, like the ability to create a lie to maintain confidence in the back of his mind.
“Parents do not need to worry if their children tell a lie,” said Dr. Kang Lee, director of the Institute of Child Study in Toronto University, who conducted the study, as reported by the Telegraph.
According to Dr Lee, almost all children lie. Children who have better cognitive development will lie better, because the child is able to cover his tracks.
Lying involves several processes of the brain, such as integrating data sources and manipulate information to his advantage.
This is related to the development of brain regions that allows ‘executive function’ and the use of higher-order thinking and reasoning.
In his research, Dr. Lee studied 1200 children aged 2-16 years.
The majority of children are lying, but children with better cognitive ability will become a better liar, too.
Percentage of lying in children is:
1. At the age of 2 years, 20 percent of children are going to lie.
2. Percentage will increase to 50 percent in children aged 3 years
3. Almost 90 per cent at the age of four years.
4. The most clever age is 12 years, for which nearly every child are lying.
5. Propensity to lie will decrease to 70 percent at 16-year-old child.
Approaching maturity, adolescents or young adults will learn to use a ‘white lie’ that is not dangerous, to avoid hurting the feelings of others.
Researchers say there is no relationship between the lies done in childhood with a tendency for people to cheat in exams or being a fraud in the future.
“Parents who found her son lying, should not be treating their children badly, but should serve as the ‘moment of educating’”, said Dr Lee.
Dr Lee said, parents should not spank or yell their kids, but must tell them gently and patiently about the importance of honesty and how lying is a negative behavior.
At the age of 8 years, opportunities for children to lie would be getting smaller and infrequent.
