While deceptive practices such as instrumental lies, utilized by parents to instigate behavioral modifications, may induce compliance in children, a recent investigation conducted by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) reveals a potential correlation between such lies and increased dishonesty exhibited by children towards their parents.
The research, involving 564 parent-child pairs in Singapore, unearthed that exposure to white lies—another form of parental deception aimed at fostering positive emotions in children, like offering praise for subpar performance—could also elevate the likelihood of children being untruthful to their parents. Nonetheless, unlike instrumental lies, this impact is contingent on the children’s awareness of being deceived.
Published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology in January, these findings shed light on the cognitive processes through which children assimilate various forms of parental deceit during their formative years. The study underscores the importance of comprehending the role of lying in parenting and its implications on children’s behavioral outcomes, as articulated by the researchers led by Associate Professor Setoh Peipei from NTU’s School of Social Sciences Psychology division.
Associate Professor Setoh, who also heads NTU’s Early Cognition Lab, emphasized, “Our research demonstrates that while both instrumental and white lies by parents can lead to children deceiving their parents, the impact of white lies manifests only when children are cognizant of the deception. This suggests that children’s development of deceptive behaviors may hinge on their comprehension and processing of different types of falsehoods conveyed to them.”
She further elaborated, “Considering that parents serve as role models and educators for their children, parental dishonesty could inadvertently shape children’s attitudes towards lying. These findings underscore the need for parents to reconsider the use of deception in parenting, even if the lies are perceived as harmless.”
The study team also comprises NTU Ph.D. candidate and principal investigator Petrina Low, along with Dr. Yena Kyeong, a visiting academic at NTU’s Early Cognition Lab.
Parental Deception Strategies for Child Socialization
The NTU researchers concentrated on instrumental and white lies in their analysis, noting the prevalence of these deceptive tactics across diverse cultural contexts.
Instrumental lies encompass fabricated warnings (“I will call the police if you misbehave further”) or deceitful pledges (“I will take you to Disneyland if you complete your homework”).
Conversely, white lies are employed to evoke positive sentiments in children, such as praising a child for an accomplishment, even if undeserved.
Methodology of the Study
To explore the impact of parental deception on children’s honesty, the NTU researchers surveyed 1,128 participants drawn from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study, a comprehensive birth cohort initiative aimed at fostering a healthier future generation in Singapore.
This participant pool comprised 564 children aged 11 to 12 alongside one of their parents, chosen due to the age group’s advancing cognitive grasp of deceit.
Through independent questionnaires, data on deceptive behaviors were collected from both children and parents.
In the initial questionnaire on parental deception, participants rated the resemblance of listed instrumental and white lies to their own experiences on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
Children indicated their belief in these lies using the same five-point scale. Subsequently, a second questionnaire gauged children’s dishonesty levels towards their parents, with responses ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Parents also reported the frequency of their children’s deceit.
The collected scores were then analyzed to ascertain the relationship between parental deception and children’s dishonesty, considering the impact of children’s belief in these falsehoods.
Influence of Parental Deception on Children
Drawing from the data on parental deception reported by children and parents, the NTU study suggests a positive association between exposure to instrumental lies and children’s deceit towards their parents, irrespective of the children’s awareness of the deception.
The researchers postulate that children exposed to instrumental lies may perceive deceit as an effective strategy, potentially normalizing deceptive practices.
Alternatively, the coercive nature of instrumental lies could evoke negative emotions in children, straining parent-child rapport and consequently fostering a proclivity for dishonesty in children.
In the case of white lies, children were more inclined to deceive their parents, particularly when cognizant of being deceived.
The research team remarked, “Our findings indicate that when children are conscious of white lies and their appropriateness, they may internalize the acceptance of deceptive behaviors, thereby resorting to more falsehoods in their interactions with parents.”
This study pioneers an exploration into children’s perception and awareness of parental deceit, offering distinctive insights into the ramifications of parental deception on children’s honesty. It builds upon Assoc Prof Setoh’s endeavors to expand the knowledge base on parental deception and its repercussions on children.
Assoc Prof Setoh proposed advancing this research domain through longitudinal studies to delineate the developmental trajectory of children’s socialization regarding deceit. While the current study delved into children’s belief in parental lies, future investigations could delve deeper into children’s interpretations of parental deceit and how diverse forms of parental deception shape children’s socio-emotional development.