Is it okay to lie to protect yourself?

Asked by: Allie Jacobs  |  Last update: October 2, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (71 votes)

While honesty is usually the best policy, it is okay to lie to protect yourself or someone else. Such lies can help ensure your safety in the moment until you are in a safer situation.

Why do I lie to protect myself?

We lie to ourselves to protect our self-images, which allows us to act immorally while maintaining a clear conscience. According to the very latest research, self-deception may have even evolved to help us to persuade others; if we start believing our own lies, it's much easier to get other people to believe them, too.

Is it okay to lie to protect others?

If you're lying to spare others harm or pain, that's considered prosocial lying and is often a sign that you've got a well-developed sense of empathy and can choose to act compassionately toward others. If you're lying to keep yourself out of trouble, that's not exactly a testament to your altruism or kindness.

What is an example of lying to protect yourself?

Self-Protection

To protect yourself from being harmed even when you have not broken any rule is still another motive. The child home alone who tells the stranger knocking on the door “my father is taking a nap come back later”, has committed no misdeed that he or she is concealing; it is a self-protection lie.

What situations is lying acceptable?

Many deemed it acceptable to lie to people who were emotionally fragile, near death, or would be confused by the truth. They also found it more ethical to lie when doing so would help others save face in public or concentrate on something important.

Jordan Peterson - Side Effects of Telling Lies

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What is it called when you lie to protect others?

But sometimes lying is done for good purposes. People may lie to protect others—so-called altruistic lies, such as when a doctor tells a family that their father died a peaceful death when he in fact did not.

What are the benefits of lying?

Lying Can Improve Our Self-Esteem

Telling yourself a few small lies can boost your self-confidence, and may even be a self-fulfilling prophecy: when you feel more confident, you might just work that much harder because of it.

What does God say about lying on someone?

A person who lies hates the individual they are lying to (Proverbs 26:28). And if you hate another human being, God views the hater as a murderer (1 John 3:15; 1 John 4:20). God hates the sin of lying because it is deceptive. False prophets and teachers are equally condemned.

What mental health is it when you lie?

Sometimes referred to as mythomania or pseudologia fantastica, pathological lying generally manifests as lying for lying's sake. In some cases, individuals may lie to make themselves look better, but in others, they may have no good reason to lie or don't gain anything from the act of lying.

What is a self protective lie?

Self-oriented protective lies, on the other hand, are directed at avoiding a negative self-outcome (e.g., falsely denying that one has broken a valuable vase).

Why do liars get angry when confronted?

If they feel that someone closes in on their lies and raises questions, liars tend to get angry and defensive. Even if no one is outright accusing them, they have an overblown reaction due to their fear of being caught. It also acts as a distraction and helps take the spotlight off their lies.

Can lying be a defense mechanism?

Why do we lie? Lying allows a person to establish perceived control over a situation by manipulating it. It's a defence mechanism that (seemingly) prevents them from being vulnerable, that is, to not open up and reveal their true self to another person.

How to lie without feeling guilty?

Here are eight ways to make your lies more believable.
  1. DO: Maintain your baseline. Stay calm. ...
  2. DON'T: Swallow hard. Swallowing hard is a giveaway. ...
  3. DO: Breathe normally. Inhale, exhale. ...
  4. DON'T: Touch your skin. ...
  5. DO: Lean in. ...
  6. DON'T: Shorten the syntax of words. ...
  7. DO: Try not to sweat. ...
  8. DON'T: Say "I don't lie"

Is lying a sin in the Bible?

Biblical passages

One of the Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour"; for this reason, lying is generally considered a sin in Christianity.

Is lying a serious sin?

Objection 1: Psalm 5:7 says, “You will destroy everyone who tells a lie,” and Wisdom 1:11 says, “The mouth that lies kills the soul.” But the destruction and death of the soul come only from mortal sin. Therefore, every instance of lying is a mortal sin.

How do you repent after lying?

  1. 10 Steps to Seek Forgiveness & Repent. Home. ...
  2. Realise the grave consequences of sinning. ...
  3. Don't belittle a sin. ...
  4. Stop sinning & resolve to never return to the sin. ...
  5. Regret your sins and cry over them. ...
  6. Perform wudhū and pray two rak'ahs. ...
  7. Follow the bad with good & atone for your sins. ...
  8. Seek forgiveness during the best time.

Who in the Bible lied?

Ananias and Sapphira were a married couple who sold their land and gave the proceeds to the disciples – only they didn't give all of the money. They lied, telling Peter that it was all of the money when in fact they had saved some back for themselves. When Peter confronted them, they died!

What are 3 consequences of lying?

Some of the consequences of lying are:

Nobody will believe you. 2) If someone lies to you and you find out, you will be hurt. So, you should understand that in the same token if you tell a lie, it hurts others. 3) You may have to say more lies to cover up one lie.

Can lying be justified?

Utilitarians base their reasoning on the claim that actions, including lying, are morally acceptable when the resulting consequences maximize benefit or minimize harm. A lie, therefore, is not always immoral; in fact, when lying is necessary to maximize benefit or minimize harm, it may be immoral not to lie.

Why is it not OK to lie?

Getting caught in a lie often destroys relationships. Lying has consequences. When someone finds out you have lied, it affects how that person deals with you forever. If your spouse lies, you may be able to work it out in therapy, but an employer is not likely to forgive.

What is it called when someone lies to benefit themselves?

Researchers argue that while pathological lying may, in theory, occur in people with APD, those with this condition often lie for personal gain or pleasure. A person with BPD or NPD may lie to distort reality into something that fits with the emotions that they are feeling, rather than the facts.

What is a person who constantly lies called?

A pathological liar not only lies frequently, but may feel a compulsion to do so. Pathological liars can't stop lying even when it causes psychological distress, puts them in danger, and creates problems with relationships, work, or other aspects of daily life.

What is a red lie?

A red lie is about spite and revenge. It is driven by the motive to harm others even at the expense of harming oneself, out of an angry desire for retribution.

When people lie do they get defensive?

Someone who lies may also become verbally defensive if someone accuses them of lying. They may adamantly deny the accusation, or even try to make the other person feel guilty for calling them a liar. For example, you might hear things like, "How could you think I would ever lie to you?" or "How dare you?