O.T. "Can this be a clue to part of our problem????

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Study Links Teen Popularity, Lying Lying a Social Skill That Can Help Some Teens Get Along

By JEFF DONN .c The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Dec. 16) - Whether Pinocchio or a president, a liar can remain a pretty beloved figure. In fact, a new study suggests the best teen-age liars are often the most popular kids.

''Politicians have known for a very long time that telling people what they want to hear is a very good social tactic,'' said Robert Feldman, the University of Massachusetts psychologist who did the research.

The study in this month's Journal of Nonverbal Behavior bolsters a widespread view among researchers that lying is a social skill that can help a person get along. Other researchers looking at adults have made similar findings, but this study was said to be the first to focus on teens.

The study led by Feldman looked at the nonverbal behavior of 32 young people ages 11 to 16. They were first evaluated for their social skills from information on friends, interests, and school performance - yielding an assessment of their popularity.

They were then videotaped both lying and telling the truth about whether they liked a drink they were given. Then, 58 college students were asked to watch the videotapes and judge how much each teen-ager really liked the drink.

The results show a strong link between the socially adept teen-agers and the best deceivers at all ages, researchers said. Both groups get better at lying as they get older.

Possibly thanks to stronger nonverbal skills, girls were better at lying than boys. Nonverbal cues of lying can include a blank expression, blinking, little or excessive eye contact, shrugs, scratching or rubbing, and even dilated pupils in the eyes.

''Lying is in some ways a social skill,'' Feldman said. ''If we were always totally honest with other people, we would get ourselves in lots of unpleasant situations. Nobody wants to hear that you don't like the gift you just gave them.''

Psychologist Bella DePaulo of the University of Virginia, who studies lying, said the study doesn't indicate if better liars are apt to lie more often.

Another psychologist of deception, Ronald Riggio of Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif., said research findings give little guidance to parents except this: ''People are pretty good liars, and they're fairly poor detectors.''

AP-NY-12-16-99 0104EST

I guess the web doesnt get tangled anymore!! No accountability anymore for lying. If I'm good at it I will be more successful.

SO THATS MY PROBLEM!!!!

-- d----- (dciinc@aol.com), December 16, 1999

Answers

The inability to state the plain truth is indeed a core issue of our present concerns, Y2K or otherwise. Truth, like Morality has become civilization's disposable commodities. Think about it. If we as a nation and a society, REALLY treasured truth, why have we tolerated the likes of John Koskinen and Bill Clinton for so long? I'm not a religious man, but there surely is a special corner in Hell waiting for these two.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 16, 1999.

"Possibly thanks to stronger nonverbal skills, girls were better at lying than boys. Nonverbal cues of lying can include a blank expression, blinking, little or excessive eye contact, shrugs, scratching or rubbing, and even dilated pupils in the eyes."

No wonder we on the web think we getting more of the truth than the ones who are still deceived by the...non-verbal body language. We have no bodies to worry about!

-- eubie (eubie@youbelieveme?.com), December 16, 1999.


Everything I say is the truth. I am a Liar. That is a Lie so it is the truth.

-- Satanta (LiarLiarPantsOnFire@Truelies.com), December 16, 1999.

This article is frightening. No wonder old timers see shrinks as a bunch of shiesters.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 16, 1999.

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