Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking

Why We Lie: The Evolutionary Roots of Deception and the Unconscious Mind

Deceit, lying, and falsehoods lie at the very heart of our cultural heritage. The ever-present possibility of deceit is a crucial dimension of all human relationships. Philosopher and evolutionary psychologist Smith elucidates the essential role that deception and self-deception have played in human—and animal—evolution and shows that the very structure of our minds has been shaped by the need to deceive. Smith shows that by examining the stories we tell and the unconscious signals we send, we can learn how our minds work.