Michael Angilletta, PhD BIO494

1. Module 5:
Why People Lie

2. Module 5: Day 1
Everyone Lies
Believe it or not, people rarely go a
day without telling a lie. And that’s no
lie. Today we explore the frequency
and nature of lying. You will learn how
lies differ from deception and how
humans use a theory of mind to
deceive.
“You sit on
a throne
of LIES!!”
Elf, 2003

3. Module 5: Day 2
How Does Deception
Evolve?
If everyone lied, people wouldn’t bother
to listen to one another. And yet we do
listen to other people. Today, we explore
how deception persists in evolutionarily
stable systems of communication. You will
learn that deception can occur when the
cost of calling a bluff exceeds the benefit
of discovering lies. Honest communication
evolves when organisms communicate
through costly signals that cannot be
faked.

4. Module 5: Day 3
No Truth in Advertising
They say there’s no such thing as bad press.
But advertisers spend countless hours,
calories, and dollars on perfecting their
message. Today, we explore how deception
enhances the way that people advertise,
whether they be selling merchandise or
selling themselves. You will learn how
deception plays a role in attracting mates
and securing parental care. You will also
learn how people use deception to
enhance trade with others—an practice
that we have come to call marketing.

5. Module 5: Day 4
How Brains Lie
When you lie, your body shows signs
that might be noted by keen observers.
Today, we explore the behavioral and
physiological changes during lying and
ways that people can detect lies. You
will learn about methods of lie
detection based on
psychological profiling,
cardiovascular responses,
voice analysis, and
brain scans.

6. Module 5: Day 5
Self Deception
If you’re like me you’re smarter and better looking than the
average person. But of course, neither of us are the best judge of
our own qualities. That’s because people tend to believe what we
want to believe, whether it’s true or not. Today, we explore the
concept of self-deception and see how lying to yourself can be
adaptive. You will learn that deceiving yourself and deceiving
others involve
similar processes.