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Deception as a Derived Function of Language
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford Oxford, UK.
Frontiers in Psychology
|October 13, 2016
Summary
Human language, a key differentiator, may serve to deceive, but evidence suggests it also fosters social bonds. Deception in language is often used for prosocial purposes, not just antisocial manipulation.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Animal Behavior
- Linguistics
Background:
- The primary function of human language is debated, with theories ranging from deception to social bonding.
- The deception hypothesis posits language evolved for manipulating social competitors.
- The social bonding hypothesis suggests language evolved to strengthen group cohesion.
Approach:
- This review analyzes theoretical and empirical evidence from human social behavior, comparative animal behavior, and developmental psychology.
- It critically examines arguments supporting the deception hypothesis for language function.
- The study evaluates the prevalence and context of deceptive language use across species.
Key Points:
- Deception appears to be a derived function of language, not its primary evolutionary purpose.
- Deceptive language is used infrequently across most human and non-human animal contexts.
- Deception serves both prosocial (social bonding) and antisocial functions.
Conclusions:
- While deception is a function of language, it is not the primary one.
- Language's role in social bonding is significant, with deception often serving this purpose.
- Future research should investigate the interplay between deceptive and honest language in social bonding contexts.
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