The role of theory of mind, executive function and language on children's lying behaviour

ABSTRACT Lying behaviour has two facets, lie telling and lie detecting. The present study examined (1) the developmental pattern across children aged 4, 5, and 7 years on lie telling, lie detecting, theory of mind (ToM), executive function (EF), and verbal ability. (2) the relationship of lie telling and lie detecting with ToM, EF and verbal ability. A total of 75 children, 25 each from the age groups of 4, 5, and 7 years, participated in the research. It was found that children became significantly better at these abilities with age. A significant relationship between lie telling, lie detecting, ToM, verbal ability, and EF was also observed, where only ToM, not EF and verbal ability, predicted the lie telling and lie detecting abilities of children. The study has implications for child psychologists and parents by making them aware that, just like other abilities, lying behaviour also has a developmental trajectory.