Tiny Tricksters: Study Reveals Babies Under 1 Practice Deceit
Babies as young as 10 months old are found to engage in deceptive behaviors like hiding toys and ignoring parents. By age 3, children become more skilled liars, a new study suggests.
Contrary to the common belief that babies are innocent and incapable of deceit, a new study suggests that the littlest members of society are already honing their deceptive skills before their first birthday. The research, based on interviews with 750 parents, reveals that by the age of 10 months, about a quarter of children are practicing some form of rudimentary deception, such as pretending not to hear their parents, hiding toys, or eating forbidden foods out of view.
As children grow older, their ability to fabricate and execute lies only becomes more sophisticated. By the age of three, the study finds that young children are more proficient, creative, and frequent liars, as evidenced by parents' reports of their offspring telling tall tales, such as
Source: The Guardian
