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According to a new study, young children do not tell the truth more by reflex than in a truly voluntary way.
We used to believe that children manipulate us with their tall tales. And yet: according to a study conducted by Polish researchers, toddlers can lie without realizing it.
250 children participated in the study
As part of this survey, the researchers followed 250 children aged one to two and a half years (the age of the first lies) in order to test their reaction to lies.
They first assessed their ability to concentrate (inhibitory control) then, at the age of two and a half, they gave them a test.
This was materialized by a simple box, placed in front of the child, with a rather simple instruction: “do not look inside this box”.
Inevitably, a certain number of children did not resist and opened the box… Then lied when they were asked whether or not they had respected the instructions.
Good in your body, good in your head!
A “pseudo-lie”
The researchers then discovered a link between children who lied and those with the most difficulty concentrating, that is to say the most impulsive.
Even more surprisingly, some children claimed that they had looked inside the box… when they had not.
For scientists, these tests show that young children respond spontaneously, without really being aware of the lie.
This is what some experts call a “pseudo-lie”.