Problem
White lies
Other Names:
Harmless liesTrivial lies
Nature:
Although a white lie may be a minor falsehood not meant to injure anyone, and is of little moral import, the accumulated effect of white lies may be confusion, misunderstandings and distress. White lies are rarely told just to be socially adept, they are rarely told in an isolated incidence, and they are rarely totally innocuous. Incidence:
A common example is the giving of a false excuse so as not to hurt the feelings of someone making the request or giving an invitation. They may also include exaggerated compliments, embellishment of gossip, the substitution of a quick lie for a lengthy explanation, gratitude expressed for unwanted gifts, inflated letters of recommendation, and the like. A leading authority on lying suggests that women tell four white lies every 15 minutes to men's three. These figures take into account social courtesies like pretending to be amused by bad jokes. Broader Problems:
Lying Narrower Problems:
ExaggerationParental lying Related Problems:
Grey liesBlack liesBeneficial lying Aggravates:
Corruption of the good in human nature Reduced By:
Loss of civilityStrategies:
LyingTrivializing liesTelling harmless lies Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST