THERE is much written on this subject, especially along the lines of actual human behavior. Straight-forward examples are many: Husbands and wives cheat on each other by seeing others, and students find ways of acquiring the correct answers for required tests. More subtle kinds of dishonesty become almost basic in advertising and selling products (Vance Packard's, The Hidden Persuaders, 1957).

A new book by Professor Dan Ariely, entitled “The (Honestly) Truth About Dishonesty,” with the subtitle "How we lie to everyone – especially to ourselves," aptly suggests a great insight into human nature. Yes, we do it all too frequently. We cheat for our own personal gain and manage to maintain a positive view of ourselves.

Author and Duke University professor Ariely (pronounced: air-ee-ELL-ee) offers explanations by writing about his experiments, often from his classroom experience. His students are asked to stage simple experiments with their own college friends. One such experiment requires the shared refrigerator containing several cans of a popular soda and several one-dollar bills. Which would disappear faster? As it turns out, the drinks go first. (College students do not normally perceive themselves as thieves to take the cash, but they are frequently thirsty!)

Professor Ariely also shares his own personal anecdotes. Often to reinforce sections of the book and to illustrate a main point, he offers a story from his own life. In his youth and traveling in Europe on a slightly forged Eurail Pass, he and his friends might offer the train conductor a gift to distract or smooth over any suspicion about the validity of the Pass.

In addition to the youthful example of dishonesty, Dan Ariely wrote about his own painful burn experience, the hospital trauma, and how grateful he was that his medical doctor was optimistic. Being told he would recover, someday, was good for him psychologically – even though the medical evidence was doubtful at the time.

Much of the book deals with the downside of cheating and lying. And, of course, it is contagious – just look at the contentious partisan politics of our nation. Candidates who are sighting misleading data on their opponents, and Super-PACs making political ads that present falsehoods of the enemy politician. The big question is what to do about it?

Significant solutions are not found in this book. Besides providing more supervision over testing (of students), honor code education, more accountability laws, etc., there is no match for rationalization, fuzzy ethics, and self-deception. All are a basic part of lying behavior.

Bruce G. Karolle,
Tamuning