Dishonesty in young children

Dishonest behavior brings lasting social costs by undermining personal relationships as well as trust in larger social institutions. However, individuals who learn how to deceive skillfully and strategically will find that they can use this ability to manipulate the beliefs of other people and shape social interactions. This chapter describes how research conducted from a developmental psychology perspective can inform our understanding of how and why individuals engage in dishonesty, and how the social costs can be mitigated.