Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
07:36
An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Anatomy of deception: a behavioral contingency analysis.
1The Mechner Foundation, 200 Central Park South, 18E, New York, NY 10019, United States. fmechner@panix.com
Behavioural Processes
|February 16, 2010
Summary
Deception is a fundamental biological behavior with diverse forms. This study categorizes deception based on misperception and analyzes instances where deception benefits the deceiver, often seen in financial and property transactions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Biology
- Game Theory
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Deception is a widespread phenomenon across biological and social systems.
- Existing classifications of deception lack a unified analytical framework.
- Understanding deception is crucial in various domains, including economics and social interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a symbolic language for codifying and analyzing behavioral contingencies in deception.
- To categorize different forms of deception based on perceptual and predictive elements.
- To investigate instances of intentional deception and their impact.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a symbolic language for analyzing behavioral contingencies.
- Categorized deceptive acts based on misperception, misprediction, non-perception, or non-prediction.
- Examined specific cases of intentional deception and their outcomes.
Main Results:
- All deceptions stem from a misperception or non-perception by the deceived party.
- Intentional deception benefits the deceiver at the expense of the deceived.
- Deception is prevalent in property transfers like securitization and Ponzi schemes, involving obfuscation.
Conclusions:
- A systematic framework for understanding deception can be established through behavioral contingency analysis.
- Intentional deception represents a significant category with predictable negative consequences for the deceived.
- Financial and property-related deceptions exploit obfuscation of underlying property definitions.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Understanding Deception
Deception is a pervasive aspect of human communication. Empirical studies have shown that most individuals engage in some form of deceit on a daily basis, with approximately 20% of social exchanges involving deceptive elements. Lying follows a developmental trajectory, peaking during adolescence and declining with age, possibly due to the maturation of cognitive control and social accountability.Cognitive and Social Factors in Deception DetectionDespite its prevalence, accurately detecting...
01:21Behavior Modification
Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
01:29Dark Triad and Person Perception
Person perception is influenced by both external behaviors and the observer’s internal characteristics, including personality traits. Individuals with dark personality traits, comprising psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism — collectively known as the dark triad – exhibit manipulative and exploitative tendencies in social contexts. These traits affect how they perceive others and how they are perceived.The Role of Dark Personality Traits in Person PerceptionBlack et al. (2014) explored...
01:29Impression Management Techniques III: Aligning Actions
Aligning actions are communicative strategies individuals employ to maintain social harmony and preserve personal identity in the face of potential disruptions to social norms. These actions are particularly important in managing social impressions when one's behavior might be seen as inappropriate, incompetent, or morally questionable.Types of Aligning ActionsThe three principal types of aligning actions are disclaimers, accounts, and apologies.DisclaimersDisclaimers are preventive; they are...
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
00:57Deindividuation
Deindividuation is a form of social influence on an individual’s behavior such that the individual engages in unusual or non-normal behavior while in a group setting. Why? Because in these group settings, the individual no longer sees themselves as an individual anymore, disinhibiting their behavior and personal restraint.