Situational determinants of the acceptability of telling lies

Determined whether the same factors people take into account when involved in the decision to lie would apply to the evaluation of lies presented in scenarios. The scenarios represented 12 different situation categories formed by the crossing of the motive for lying (social, individualistic, egoistic), the relative importance of the situation (important matter, unimportant matter), and the closeness of the relation between the S and the receiver of the lie (best friend, acquaintance). The acceptability of lying was evaluated from 2 perspectives (self, other) by 180 women (aged 30-40 yrs). Motive, situation, and relation were found to influence the judgment of lies from the Ss' own perspective. Ss appeared to weigh the role of motive of the liar in combination with the relative importance of the situation when judging the acceptability of telling a lie. When the interest of the person that is lied to becomes greater, lying becomes more acceptable. As the interest of the liar becomes greater, lying becomes less acceptable