Science Proves it: Men Lie More Than Women

At least that's according to a survey commissioned by the Science Museum of London which quizzed three thousand people about their truthfulness.

According to the responses, on average, British men tell three lies everyday or roughly 1,092 every year. By comparison women, on average, said they only told two fibs a day which works out to 728 lies a year.

So who gets lied to the most? Moms, of course.

Twenty five percent of men said they've lied to the mothers, but only 20 percent of women admitted telling a tall one to mum. By comparison, only about 10 said they lied to their partner.

So what are the top lies? Well, it varies.

Men:
I didn't have that much to drink
Nothing's wrong, I'm fine
I had no signal (cell phone)
It wasn't that expensive
I'm on the way
I'm stuck in traffic
No, your butt doesn't look big in that
Sorry, I missed your call
You've lost weight
It's just what I've always wanted

Women:
Nothing's wrong, I'm fine
I don't know where it is, I haven't touched it
It wasn't that expensive
I didn't have that much to drink
I've got a headache
It was in the sale
I'm on my way
Oh, I've had this ages
No, I didn't throw it away
It's just what I've always wanted

According to the survey, British men lied to their partners most often about their drinking habits while women mostly lied to hide their true feelings.

While women were more likely to feel guilty after telling a lie, both sexes said there were such things as 'acceptable' lies; 75 percent said it was okay if it was done to spare someone's feelings.

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[babooph]

Did men do the study?-you know,the liars....

[rainmantic]

The focus in this comment as well as in the article is that men are liars. Good liars go undetected. How could one possibly know who lies more if one of the genders is predisposed to honesty and thus be a less successful liar. If one gender is caught lying more through lack of skill or through a self reported predisposition to honesty how likely is it that the same gender over utilizes this under developed skill? Think about it, liars lie. It is what they do. If a gender is predisposed to lying, a general tenet of the poll, then how could they possibly be more likely (statistically speaking) to be a reliable self reporter of fact. It isn't so much of a conundrum as it is an axiom.

guythingz.com

[Freedomforever88]

If women did not nag so much men would not have to lie.

[rondivoo]

Oh, this article is SO enlightening! ... I like p_syrus's remarks. His comments reveal how complicated the issue really is. :)

[culturechang]

Next week there will be a study that says the opposite. And likely both will be lies. Lies are the name of the game in business and politics in America. Is anyone surprised that people lie at home too?

[book_of_wally]

I think the women are lying about this.

[daffy64]

Exactly. I don't lie very often, but I'll admit I do sometimes to save people's feelings.

Women consider themselves to be super-virtuous. They'll never admit they're not. Yet they lie constantly, especially to each other.

Eg: meeting an old friend "Wow...you look amazing!!!" Then later when they're alone with you. "Oh she looks terrible."

[rwsmith29456]

I heard that you can say anything about somebody as long as you finish it with "Bless her/his heart.

[daffy64]

Men HAVE to lie to women.

"Does this dress make me look fat?"

"No honey. You look amazing in it!"

[erasmus111]

NO. You are CHOOSING to lie. Because it's easier. Because you are a wimp. You don't have the guts to tell her. Do you not think that a woman would rather know if she looked fat in a particular dress? I would, so I can then make another choice. I don't really want to go out in something that doesn't look nice on me, thank you very much!

[erasmus111]

by high_energy_laser May 20, 2010 6:26 PM EDT
by erasmus111 May 20, 2010 4:07 PM EDT says:

"NO. You are CHOOSING to lie. Because it's easier. Because you are a wimp."

It appears your retort and rant solidified daffy64's point. What you are so obviously missing is that it's not just easier, it's wisdom in the minds of all but the sadomasochist.

You may also want to take the effort to learn some conflict resolution skills to match yourself destructive bitterness.

You're dismissed.


You're an idiot. One of the wimps who aren't capable of telling it like it is because they are afraid of possible conflict.

[krusenjames]

So...let me get this straight...they asked liars how often they lied?

How do we know the men weren't lying just to win the title of top liars?

How do we know the lying women weren't...you know...lying just to take the moral high ground?

At least we know it wasn't a federal study...or do we...really?

[TVO1CITW]

Not my fault!

[dragon8me]

Hey, maybe the women are lying about how much they lie, lol.