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Insight into children's prosocial lies: Comment on Warneken and Orlins.
Stephen J Ceci1, Kayla A Burd1, Rebecca K Helm1
1Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
The British Journal of Developmental Psychology
|June 23, 2015
Summary
Young children tell prosocial lies, or "white lies," to make others feel better. This developmental psychology finding has implications for understanding behavior in forensic settings.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Prosocial behavior is crucial for social development.
- Understanding the nuances of children's honesty and deception is an ongoing area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenomenon of prosocial lie-telling in young children.
- To determine if children tell "white lies" to improve others' moods.
Main Methods:
- The study, by Warneken and Orlins, analyzed children's prosocial lie-telling behaviors.
- Qualitative insights were gathered on the developmental trajectory of these lies.
Main Results:
- Young children demonstrate a capacity for prosocial lie-telling.
- These "white lies" are employed with the specific intention of enhancing the emotional state of others.
Conclusions:
- Children's prosocial lie-telling is a developmental phenomenon aimed at social-emotional regulation.
- The findings have significant relevance for forensic psychology and legal contexts involving children.
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