Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Communication, Professional

Date of Award

5-2014

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Carrie M. Oliveira

Committee Members

Stephen Marshall, John Whitehead

Abstract

In this study the goal was to determine if there was a shift in the extent to which children’s attitudes toward deception change as they age. Participants (N=278) enrolled in grades 3-12 completed a survey assessing their lie acceptability and other factors as potential variables associated with a prodeception attitude. Results indicated that greater lie acceptability was correlated with male children who had self-reported acts of bad behavior. Results also suggest that nontraditional family environments may increase one’s perception of the acceptability of lying. These findings provide potential predictors of the acceptability of lying in children and adolescents that offer insight into the development of antisocial attitudes, which may have practical implications regarding the timing of crucial interventions as to prevent the continuance and escalation of such behaviors in the future.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

Share

COinS