Who are you lying to?

Hey y'all, 

Image obtained from Google

Have you ever wondered just how often we lie in a day? It's awfully interesting when you stop to think at the amount of lying that takes place in our own conversations. According to a book I am reading (Lying and Deception in Human Interaction by Knapp et al,) it states "several studies have shown lies to be a common part of our daily intercourse. Turner, Edgley, & Olmstead (1975) asked 140 people to record and analyze their own statement in an important conversation in terms on honesty. Only 38.5% of the statements were labeled "completely honest." "Ain't that interesting?

A good number, if not all, of religious publications condemn lying and deception of all forms. I have read some Christian books both devotionals and non devotionals and even when they don't use the words lying or deception, they do use the word TRUTH a whole lot. 

The reason I'm bringing this up, is because I am taking a class called Lying and Deception and I have to read a book, articles and watch season 1 of Lie to Me, as part of syllabus requirements! I remember when the show first came out back in 2009, I used my boyfriend as a test subject to detect when he lied to me and guess what I found, whenever he lied, his tone changed (how universal).

I'm excited about this class, not only because I'll get to learn to detect when someone lies to me or when I am being deceived, but I will be able to catch myself when I indulge in self-deception. Fun fact; did you know self deception includes things like procrastination, impulse buying, acting brave when we are actually scared??? I wonder how the people that claim 'to not lie' feel about that info.

One of the notes I read said that men lie to boost their ego by uplifting themselves while women would lie to protect others/emotions. By the way, exaggeration is a form of lying as well. This may come as a shock to those who tend to add sugar and spice to anything and everything they say. My argument though, as much as we may want truth to be universal, I honestly doubt if that is possible. I say that because there are people who come from cultures where exaggerating is a norm and perhaps they honestly believe themselves to be telling the truth..so how does that work? I think if we want to be surrounded by people that tell us the truth then we should reward them for telling the truth instead of punishing them (yes, even when truth hurts). 

I do hope there exists such classes in Tanzania for everyone not just the Intelligence department. And if it's too soon for such a class to be offered in colleges, then there is no harm in having Tanzania educational publishers offer such books in Swahili. I remember asking a famous Psychologist in Tanzania to write a book about Narcissism in Swahili, I am yet to see that happen. But I do hope something can be written about detecting lies and deception.

Oh well, I can't wait to learn more and share the TRUTH with y'all (in my opinion). But as far as lying goes, we can't overcome without first having the knowledge, so help us GOD.

Xoxo

Mamatembo Safari.