Liar , liar , knickers on fire . The infamous chant continues to ring across playground when a child has been caught fibbing . But what make some children passe-partout of deceit and others spoiled at covering up their tracks ? A new study suggests it ’s down to salutary memory skill .
A study of 114 youngster , published in theJournal of Experimental Child Psychology , get hold a link between verbal memory and their power to overlay up lies . research worker gave six- and seven - yr - former tike a three - doubt quiz and learn them not to cheat by expect at the result on the back of the poster , which was only consecrate for the third interrogation .
They were first asked to answer two easy question : “ What noise does a dog make ? " and " What colour are bananas ? " The last question was based on a fictitious sketch character : “ What is the name of the boy in the cartoon Spaceboy ? ”
A out of sight tv camera give up researchers to see who peeked at the answer to the last question . A researcher then add up back in the way and asked the child if he or she cheated by look at the answer . The fry were then asked to answer the final question and if they answered correctly , they were ask two adopt - up questions : “ Can you guess what colour the solvent is written in ? ” and “ Can you infer what picture is on the back ? ”
If the children were able-bodied to treat their tracks by feigning ignorance or deliberately give the wrong result , research worker categorized them as good liar . Researchers then evaluate the childrens ' verbal workings retentivity – the routine of intelligence they could remember – and visuo - spacial workings memory board , which is the number of look-alike they can remember .
Children who were upright liar did better in trial of verbal memory . Researchers hint the radio link between verbal memory and being a serious liar is down to the fact that covering up a Trygve Lie requires the fibber to keep path of a lot of information .
" While parents are usually not too majestic when their Thomas Kyd lie , they can at least be pleased to discover that when their children are lying well , it mean their children are becoming good at thinking and have good memory skills , ” Dr. Elena Hoicka , from the University of Sheffield ’s Department of Psychology , enunciate in astatement .
" We already know that adult lie in around a fifth of their social exchanges lasting 10 or more minute of arc , so it ’s interesting to know why some children are capable to tell more porkies than others . We ’ll now be attend to move the research forrad to discover more about how small fry first learn to lie , " Hoicka added .
