People lie for a variety of reasons. According to a study conducted by Dr. Bella DePaulo, the average person lies once or twice a day and over the course of a week, deceives about 30 of the people they interact with. This does not include the lies we tell ourselves. Some of the reasons people lie are to:
- gain power
- gain status or improve one’s position (impress others)
- avoid conflict
- avoid an unpleasant truth about themselves
- avoid admitting mistakes
- diminish or suppress someone else
- avoid hurting someone’s feelings
- avoid anger
- avoid responsibility
- gain respect or admiration
- gain self-worth
- be liked
- maintain the status-quo, hoping everything will pass unnoticed
- gain something of value
Leadership Advocate and Co-Founder of the Goldzone Group. I help leaders to master the new rules of leadership for the new economy. Over the past 30 years, I have visited more than 500 cities in 54 countries to explore, learn from, and help many of the world’s leading companies, leaders, and luminaries in science, technology, health, finance, and entrepreneurship.