The invention of lying probably dates back to the invention
of communication itself. It can be said that lying is, in fact,
a basic need for social existence.
A lie can serve a lot of purposes. We take a look upon the
most common reasons for which people resort to lying.
1. To Please
In order to maintain the pleasantness of any social situation,
people have to lie. Questions like ‘How do I look?’, ‘Am I
getting Fat?’ or ‘Did you like my gift?’ are bound to fetch
lies.
2. To Save Your Own Face
You have got to accept that there are certain truths about
everyone that are best kept hidden. It is much easier to
simply lie than to share embarrassing truths about oneself.
3. To Avoid Favours
The percentage of people who are always on the ready to
help is fairly low. Most of the population would simply lie
rather than actually be of use to somebody else.
4. To Avoid Long Conversations
Sometime truth can invite a long discourse of unneeded
advice, further questions or criticism. The crisis of time is
universal to all people and some people have no other
option than lying to avoid long conversations.
5. To Boast
Though these lies are more or less harmless, they are way
too common. Some people have this need to feel better
about themselves which they try to suffice by painting a
better picture of themselves in front of others.
6. To Get Benefits
It is no secret that everyone lies a little bit in an interview
or to get an interview. The lure of other worldly things and
benefits can also prompt people to lie.
7. To Evade Punishment
This point needs no explanation as we all lied to our
teachers in school to avoid punishment. People lie to their
superiors, parents or spouse to avoid any kind of
punishment or penalty.
8. To Gel In
The social needs of people often make them tell lies. Many
people succumb to peer pressure and fabricate lies about
themselves just to fit in better.
9. To Prove a Point
Some adamant people may easily resort to lying just to
prove their point. This adamant class of people can also get
quite creative when it comes to lying.
10. To Influence
Lies can be a small part of big schemes of conniving
people. People can get really elaborate with lies in order to
change an opinion of someone.
Lying is so common that some people even lie just for the
sake of it. The reasons for lying are as vast as the human
imagination and no list can possibly encompass all the
reasons for which humans lie.