Is it OK to lie to protect yourself?

Is it OK to lie to protect yourself? While honesty is usually the best policy, it is okay to lie to protect yourself or someone else. Such lies can help ensure your safety in the moment until you are in a safer situation.
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Why do I lie to defend myself?

Lying allows a person to establish perceived control over a situation by manipulating it. It's a defence mechanism that (seemingly) prevents them from being vulnerable, that is, to not open up and reveal their true self to another person.
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Is it OK to lie to protect feelings?

For example, you say “Of course, I'm not angry you were 40 minutes late.” Behavioral experts seem to agree that these lies told with the intention of not hurting someone's feelings are acceptable in moderation to preserve social harmony.
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What is an example of lying to protect yourself?

To protect yourself from being harmed even when you have not broken any rule is still another motive. The child home alone who tells the stranger knocking on the door “my father is taking a nap come back later”, has committed no misdeed that he or she is concealing; it is a self-protection lie.
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Is it OK to lie to protect your privacy?

However, although lying is often considered immoral, identity concealment to support privacy is viewed as a relatively acceptable form of deception [67]. Thus, privacy lies may also be seen as acceptable.
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Is it Always Wrong to Lie?

Is it okay to lie to protect myself?

While honesty is usually the best policy, it is okay to lie to protect yourself or someone else. Such lies can help ensure your safety in the moment until you are in a safer situation.
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What is it called when you lie to protect someone?

But sometimes lying is done for good purposes. People may lie to protect others—so-called altruistic lies, such as when a doctor tells a family that their father died a peaceful death when he in fact did not.
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What is a self protective lie?

These lies are told to obtain positive outcomes for oneself. For example, claiming that a sum of money found is one's own. Self-oriented protective lies. These lies are directed at avoiding a negative outcome or loss for oneself.
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Which type of lie is meant to protect yourself?

White lies are intended to be harmless. Most prefer white lies to unpleasant raw truths. A friend may not like your outfit and compliment your appearance. People tell face-saving fibs to evade blame: "Gee, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you.
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Is it okay to lie for a good reason?

Altruistic or noble lies, which specifically intend to benefit someone else, can also be considered morally acceptable by utilitarians. Picture the doctor telling her depressed patient that there is a 50 percent probability that he will recover, when in truth all tests confirm the man has only six months to live.
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Is lying bad psychology?

Lying affects self-esteem and emotions, leading to negative psychological consequences. Self-deception shapes reality, influencing choices and beliefs both positively and negatively. Awareness of the cost of lying can lead to more honest, healthier communication practices.
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What are the benefits of lying?

Avoiding confrontation. Getting the person doing the confronting pacified or calmed down. The person lying doesn't know or have the answers.
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Is it okay to lie to protect someone's feelings?

A behavioral scientist's advice for changing your life

It might not matter all that much if you tell a white lie to make a friend feel good occasionally. But when it comes to the most meaningful relationships in your life, protecting a friend's feelings at all costs can sometimes set them up for failure.
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Why do I feel guilty when I defend myself?

When you're not accustomed to standing up for yourself, you'll likely feel guilty for stating your needs when you do start to be more assertive. That's not a bad thing, but do not let the guilt take over. Simply acknowledge the feeling, put it aside and push through.
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In what situation is lying a good idea?

Many deemed it acceptable to lie to people who were emotionally fragile, near death, or would be confused by the truth. They also found it more ethical to lie when doing so would help others save face in public or concentrate on something important.
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Why do people lie to protect themselves?

We might lie to prevent ourselves from being embarrassed about behavior we regret or because we don't want to reveal private information that might be used against us. We may worry that public awareness of such information can cause us stress or anxiety. We might lie to avoid conflict.
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What are narcissistic lies?

Narcissists can be very cunning, sly, and resourceful in inventing lies. They are manipulative, deceitful, and unscrupulous to alienate their victims and influence observers. They start by lying about themselves, then move on to lying about their ex, their career, and their accomplishments.
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What is it called when you lie to benefit yourself?

Sometimes referred to as mythomania or pseudologia fantastica, pathological lying generally manifests as lying for lying's sake. In some cases, individuals may lie to make themselves look better, but in others, they may have no good reason to lie or gain nothing from the act of lying.
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What mental illness is associated with lying?

This behavior can be part of a personality disorder such as antisocial, narcissistic, and histrionic. Other conditions, such as borderline personality disorder, may also lead to frequent lies, but these aren't considered pathological. Also, some people simply lie pathologically but have no other conditions.
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What is an example of a protective lie?

Protect other: Lies told to protect the target or another person from harm or from distressing information. Examples: His mother told him that his dying grandfather was only going into the hospital for tests. Everyone in his family knew that his mother had cancer but waited 3 weeks to tell him.
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Why do liars get mad when caught?

When someone is caught in a lie, their initial reaction may be one of anger and embarrassment. This feeling can arise from the sense of being exposed to something that was meant to remain hidden. In this situation, the individual's knee-jerk response is to lash out to regain power or control.
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Why do I lie as a defense mechanism?

When people experience overwhelming anxiety (or fear) about letting themselves, or someone else down, one way to escape (flee) the perceived threatening or stressful situation is to lie, escape, or avoid. Once the stress response system is activated, it's difficult for rational decision making to take place.
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How to protect yourself from being deceived?

Cultivate self-awareness:

Another key aspect of protecting yourself from future deception is to develop a strong sense of self-awareness. Pay attention to your intuition and instincts when it comes to people and situations. If something feels off or doesn't add up, trust your gut.
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Is lying a sin?

Biblical passages

One of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour"; for this reason, lying is generally considered as a sin in Christianity. The story of Naboth in 1 Kings 21 provides an example where false witness leads to an unjust outcome.
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