4 of 22

Write now Article Tools

The question "Why do men lie?" seems to imply that men lie, and women do not.
Well I am not sure that the number of men who lie is higher than the number of women who lie, I think a more important question to ask is "Why do people lie?"

Normally people lie because they are either trying to protect themselves, are afraid of how others will view the truth, or are trying to get ahead in some other way, such as to impress someone, or to "advance" themselves in another way. Guilt and shame over something the person has done, or fear of the consequences the truth will bring, also contribute to the reasons some people lie.

People who have trust issues may lie because they are afraid to trust others with their "truths."
Hiding or concealing the truth from other people is a sign of low-esteem, and of fear of rejection. People who lie often have deep insecurity, which rooted in the idea that the truth about themselves is not good enough for others, or is not something they can ever share with another human being.

The saddest thing that I have come to discover through working with victims of abuse, is that they often carry dark secrets, which they believe are too horrific to share with anyone. This type of thinking contributes to feelings of isolation and loneliness, and keeps the person in a state of "separateness" from other people.

In presenting these ideas, I hope it will become more evident that many people who lie are doing so out of pain, fear and a sense of being "less perfect" than others.
Only when people find another person that they are able to trust completely, without fear of retribution or rejection, can a pattern of lying begin to be broken.

Learn more about this author, Randa Morris.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Why men lie?
We want to hear your view. Write now!