Most people lie, and sometimes, their reasons are well-intentioned. After all, who hasn’t deployed a polite lie upon receiving a terrible gift? Most lies, though, not only risk a negative social impact, but are also a great burden on our brains.
People may intend to tell only one lie, but instead end up telling a series of them. The web of falsehoods created in this process is intended to make the initial lie more believable. This turns out to be quite a workout for our memory, though. Telling these extra lies engages our brain’s executive function, which is involved in planning and problem-solving, to preserve order in our made-up story.
A study by Jennifer Vendemia of the University of South Carolina showed that this scramble for consistency makes our mental workload heavier. For this reason, lying also makes our reaction times longer.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock 照片：Shutterstock 提供
Tali Sharot, a researcher at University College London, also studies lying. Based on her experiments, she has an interesting theory about why people keep lying until they stumble or get caught. The concept is called emotional adaptation. As soon as we do something bad for the first time, our brain is flooded with guilt, fear and anxiety. Ideally, these unpleasant feelings keep us from repeating this kind of conduct. However, through emotional adaptation, the more we persist in lying, the less it bothers us.
Sharot says that since there’s less guilt or fear holding you back, “you might be lying more.” Take care to not slip into this trap!
大多數人都會說謊，且有時，是出於善意。畢竟，誰沒有在收到糟糕的禮物時運用禮貌性的謊言呢？然而，大多數謊言不僅會帶來負面的社會影響，還會對我們的大腦造成很大的負擔。
人們可能只打算說一個謊，但最終卻會說出一連串的謊言。在此過程中創建出的謊言之網，旨在使最初的謊言更有可信度。結果，這對我們的記憶力來說是一種鍛煉。說這些額外的謊言會佔用我們大腦的執行功能，該功能涉及規劃能力與解決問題，以維持我們編造故事的條理。
南卡羅萊納大學的珍妮佛文德米亞博士的一項研究表明，這種為了保持一致性的慌亂行為使我們的腦力工作量變得更重。因此,說謊也會讓我們的反應時間變長。
倫敦大學學院的研究員塔利夏洛也研究說謊。根據她的實驗，她提出了一個有趣的理論有關為什麼人們會一直說謊直到他們支吾其詞或被揭穿。這種概念被稱為情緒適應。一旦我們第一次做壞事，我們的大腦就會充滿愧疚、恐懼和焦慮。理想情況下，這些不愉快的感覺會阻止我們重複這種行為。然而，透過情緒適應，我們越執意於說謊，就越不會感到困擾。
夏洛說，既然能阻礙你的愧疚或恐懼感減少了，「你就有可能說更多謊」。請注意不要掉入這個陷阱！
MORE INFORMATION
well-intentioned adj. 出於善意的
falsehood n. 謊言；謬誤
workout n. 鍛鍊；訓練
executive function 執行功能
made-up adj. 編造的；虛構的
scramble n. 慌亂行為
consistency n 一致性；連貫性
KEY VOCABULARY
1. lead to 導致；引起
Lillian hurt her ankle, which led to her being unable to participate in the dance competition last night.
莉莉安腳踝受傷，這導致她無法參加昨晚的舞蹈比賽。
2. deploy v. 運用；部署
When the kids wouldn’t sleep, their father deployed their favorite quiet song in hopes it would calm them. 當孩子們睡不著時，他們的父親會播放他們最喜歡的安眠曲希望能安撫他們。
3. end up 最終…；結果…
Conrad never explained how he ended up working in our sad little office.
康拉德從未解釋過他為何最終會在我們可憐狹小的辦公室工作。
4. series n. 一連串；一系列
a series of 一連串的；一系列的
Larry made a series of wrong investment decisions that caused him to lose his life savings.
賴瑞做了一連串錯誤的投資決策，致使他血本無歸。
5. turn out 結果變成……
Many people were excited about the movie, but it turned out to be a bit disappointing.
許多人原本對這部片感到很興奮，但它結果有點令人失望。
6. stumble v. 出錯；支吾其詞
I wanted to make friends with Hubert, but I stumbled by asking him about his parents.
我想和休伯特當朋友，但我犯了錯，我不該問起他的父母。
7. concept n. 概念；原則
Shopping online was a new concept years ago, but now it is a common part of our lives.
網路購物在幾年前還是個很新的概念，如今卻是我們日常生活中常見的一部分。
8. adaptation n. 適應（能力）
Animals that live in the desert have developed specific adaptations that allow them to deal with the harsh climate.
居住在沙漠的動物已發展出特殊的適應能力來讓牠們應付嚴峻的氣候。
9. persist vi. 堅持；執意
persist in V-ing / with N 堅持做…；執意於…
Since you persisted in asking this question, I will tell you the answer, though you have annoyed me.
既然你執意要問這個問題，我會告訴你答案，雖然你讓我很惱火。
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