Study: Religious more likely to lie for financial gain [View all]

[DonViejo]

New research suggests people with certain personality traits are more prone to dishonesty

BY TOM JACOBS

“Everybody lies” was the mantra of Gregory House, the curmudgeonly physician so memorably portrayed by Hugh Laurie. But being a man of science, the brilliant doctor might want to rethink that philosophy in light of new research from Canada.

In an experiment where lying led directly to financial gain, just over 50 percent of the participants told an untruth. That figure is roughly consistent with previous research.

What’s new in this study by University of Regina economist Jason Childs is its breakdown of the personality traits of the liars. Unlike some previous research, he did not find men are more likely to lie than women.

However, he discovered other factors predicted a greater likelihood of telling an untruth—including the assertion that religion plays an important role in your life.

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http://www.salon.com/2013/10/22/study_religious_more_likely_to_lie_for_financial_gain_partner/