Toddlers who lie 'will do better', research suggests
The little dears...
Toddlers who tell lies early on are more likely to do well later, researchers claim.
The complex brain processes involved in formulating a lie are an indicator of a child's early intelligence, they add.
Maybe this is one of those things where being shocked or offended just shows a certain naivete, a lack of sophistication. I know I've seen "sophistication" cover a multitude of sins. Still this sets me back a bit... Is lying a truly desirable skill like making conversation and knowing which fork to use?
I do understand the intelligence part where the researcher says that this shows the children
had developed the ability to carry out a complex juggling act which involves keeping the truth at the back of their brains.
But is this really "development?" You know, a milestone like toilet training, walking or first words? Doesn't development still imply progress?
I know I've met some weasels in my time but I still can't imagine that we're ready for "lies readily, easily and effectively about relatively insignificant details" on a resume!
Can't you picture video of that heartwarming moment when parents first realize their child has reached the level of deciding they should put their own self-interest (in satisfying their curiosity and in not getting caught at it) above honesty and obedience to authority?
"Doctor, we're worried. our daughter hasn't told her first lie yet...
She's not even showing any signs of slight prevarication.
Is she... normal?"
Maybe there's a Hallmark lab somewhere prepping a "baby's first lie" card for market...
Look, I know that children all experience enough of life that soon enough they realize all these gory details (and more.) It's just that seeing it described as a developmental milestone seems like passive acceptance. In fact, reading this among today's other headlines kinda makes me wonder if we need to redefine "doing well."
And, in what I'm sure is a totally unrelated detail, the researcher adds
"They even make bankers in later life."
Probably just a coincidence, right?
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