Our ability to deceive one another is linked to our high level of self-awareness. Deception is a unique trait that separates us from the animal kingdom. We lie to each other for personal gain; it’s a mechanism that monkeys use on a primal level.
Art of the State: Banksy
Monkeys usually call out to others when they find food so that they can share it; sometimes the monkey that finds the food will not call out to others and in a bid for self-preservation, it will hoard it all instead.
I suppose the reward is far greater than the risk; evidence suggests that our ability to recognise deception is about 53% accurate. Deception is a survival trait that we pass onto our babies; at its most basic level deception is self-preservation.
Ali x
New Scientist: The Truth About Lies
Filed under: Psychology | Tagged: Deception, Human behaviour, Lies, Monkey, Self-Preservation | Leave a comment »
Ali Cook 