Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
07:36
An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
9.1K
Promises and lies: can observers detect deception in written messages
1Economics Department, Business School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Experimental Economics
|May 30, 2017
Summary
Observers can distinguish between promises and empty talk in written messages, but struggle to predict if specific promises will be kept. Trust in messages depends on length and type, not just content.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Social Psychology
- Game Theory
Background:
- Trust and trustworthiness are crucial in social and economic interactions.
- Predicting adherence to commitments, especially in novel contexts, remains a challenge.
- Written communication introduces unique cues for assessing message sincerity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate observers' ability to predict trustworthiness in a three-person trust game.
- To identify factors influencing observers' perceptions of message trustworthiness.
- To determine if observers can differentiate between genuine promises and 'empty talk'.
Main Methods:
- A laboratory experiment using a novel three-person trust game.
- Observers evaluated handwritten messages for trustworthiness and predicted sender behavior.
- Analysis of message features (mention of money, encompassing words, length) and their correlation with adherence and perception.
Main Results:
- Observers trusted longer messages and messages classified as 'promises' more than 'empty talk'.
- Promises mentioning money were significantly more likely to be broken.
- Observers performed slightly better than chance in predicting message adherence, driven by distinguishing promises from empty talk.
Conclusions:
- Observers can differentiate between promises and empty talk, and tend to trust promises more.
- While observers can categorize messages, they cannot reliably predict adherence within message categories (promises or empty talk).
- The mention of money in promises paradoxically increases the likelihood of them being broken.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Understanding Deception
205
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...
205
01:23Actor-Observer Effect
449
The actor-observer effect, a cognitive bias closely linked to the fundamental attribution error, refers to the tendency for individuals to attribute their behavior to external, situational factors while explaining others’ behavior in terms of internal, dispositional traits. This asymmetry in attribution significantly influences social perception and judgment.Cognitive Mechanisms Behind the EffectTwo primary psychological mechanisms contribute to the actor-observer effect: differences in...
449
02:30Naturalistic Observations
17.9K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
17.9K
01:17Correspondence Bias
270
Correspondence bias, also referred to as the fundamental attribution error, describes the tendency to attribute another person’s behavior to internal characteristics rather than situational influences. This cognitive bias leads individuals to overlook external factors that may be influencing actions, thereby fostering potentially inaccurate assessments of others’ intentions and dispositions.Empirical Evidence for Correspondence BiasResearch has consistently demonstrated the...
270
01:17Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification
223
Self-verification is a fundamental psychological drive wherein individuals seek affirmation of their self-concept from others, striving for consistency between their internal self-view and external perceptions. This drive operates even when the self-concept is negative, influencing interpersonal behavior and feedback preferences in complex and often counterintuitive ways. Unlike the self-enhancement motive, which seeks positive evaluations, self-verification prioritizes coherence and...
223
01:15Theory of Attribution I: Correspondent Inference Theory
683
Correspondent inference theory, proposed by Jones and Davis in 1965, seeks to explain how individuals infer stable personality traits from observed behaviors. It suggests that people attribute actions to underlying dispositions rather than external circumstances, particularly when the behavior appears intentional and socially significant.Voluntary Behavior and Dispositional AttributionAccording to this theory, individuals are more likely to attribute behavior to personal traits when it appears...
683