We’ve all told a lie at some point or another, and if you’re a parent, you’ve probably gone through a stage in life where your kids try to pass lies off as the truth. Lying is a perfectly normal behavior pattern for children and teens who are still growing, learning and pushing the boundaries of what is and isn’t acceptable at home and in society. That said, certain traits associated with their lying patterns can predict whether or not they may be more likely to pursue a life of crime down the road. In today’s blog, we explain when lying is normal and when it may be a sign of bigger issues with your child.
The Normalcy Of Lying
We’re not advocating for lying, and in fact the truth is one thing we absolutely need from all of our clients, even if you believe it may make you look bad. Researchers recently wanted to determine if lying patterns in a person’s youth could predict whether or not they were more likely to turn to crime later in life.
The study, which was conducted by researchers from McGill University, Université de Montréal and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children. 2,000 children were randomly selected, and lies were reported to researchers by parents and teachers. This allowed researchers to group children into lie frequency groups:
- Occasionally lie
- Frequently lie
- Increasingly lie
Researchers then tracked whether any other behavioral patterns were associated with specific lying trajectories. They found that children who lied frequently or whose lies increased over time were more likely to show early aggression and impulsivity, and to later show anti-social personality symptoms and have criminal convictions in early adulthood, researchers said.
“Children do not all follow the same developmental pattern of lying,” said Victoria Talwar, a professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and lead author of the study. “Most children in our study showed low or declining levels of lying over time. For most, lying is not a problem behavior. Persistent and increasing lying across time – especially when in combo with aggression and impulsivity – could signal the need for early support and intervention; rather than just reactive punishment.”
The takeaway here is that lying is a completely normal part of the juvenile development process, but over the years lie frequency tends to decline as children get better at weighing the consequences of their actions. It’s children that continue to lie a great deal, or who begin to lie more than they had in the past, even though they should have a better grip on right and wrong now that they are older, who may be at an elevated risk for partaking in criminal behaviors.
So no, your child isn’t destined for a juvenile correctional facility if you catch them in a lie, but at the same time, you will want to talk to them about truth and lies and monitor their lies over the coming years to see if they pull back on lying like most kids, or if they double down and increase the number of lies they try to pass as the truth.
If your child is dealing with a juvenile criminal charge, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm for assistance overcoming the matter and getting back on the right path. Give us a call at (952) 224-2277.
