Self-Presentation Perspective on Deception

What it is

Bella DePaulo's view treats most lies as part of the normal work of presenting oneself to others. Her diary study with Deborah Kashy and colleagues found that lies were common, mostly small and mostly self-centred, and that people rated them as minor and unplanned. Because liars and truth tellers are doing much the same social work, the view predicts few reliable behavioural differences between them.

In effect

In the article on why people lie, it explains why most lies are small shadings that ease an interaction rather than schemes for large gains.

What it does not say

It describes everyday, low-stakes lying. It does not cover serious or high-stakes deception, and it does not claim that lies are harmless to the people told them.

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