Even before they can walk or speak clearly, children begin to show a surprising ability to deceive.
This finding challenges the long-held belief that lying requires advanced language skills.
The study, published on March 5 in Cognitive Development, examined children from over 750 families worldwide. It found that around 25% of babies show an understanding of deception by about ten months old.
Early Signs of Deception Emerge in Infancy
Some caregivers reported noticing such behavior as early as eight months, increasing to about half of children by 17 months. According to lead researcher Elena Hoicka, these results significantly expand our understanding of early human development.
She explained that it is striking how deception appears so early, suggesting that it does not depend on language but may serve as a basic strategy to avoid situations or get what a child wants.
Early forms of deception often involve simple actions, like ignoring parents or secretly taking forbidden items, without using words.
The researchers also drew on comparisons with chimpanzees and birds, indicating that deception may be instinctive and emerge before verbal communication.
From Simple Denials to Imaginative Lies
By around age two, children’s behavior becomes more intentional, including directly denying things verbally. By age three, this develops further, with children creating full stories and even blaming imaginary figures.
Altogether, the researchers identified 16 distinct forms of deception that emerge progressively in early childhood.
Although it may worry parents, this kind of sneaky behavior is common and a normal part of healthy development. The study also found that about half of the children capable of deception had told a small lie just the day before being interviewed.
In the end, philosopher and co-author Jennifer Saul suggests the findings highlight a level of complexity often overlooked, offering reassurance to adults that this is a natural stage of growth.
Read the original article on: aventurasnahistoria
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