Lying, cheating, and carrying on : developmental, clinical, and sociocultural aspects of dishonesty and deceit ; [... originally presented as papers at the 39th Annual Margaret S. Mahler Symposium on Child Development held on April 27, 2008

What constitutes a lie? What are the different types of lies? Why do people lie? Is dishonesty ubiquitous in human experience? And what should be done with individuals who seek pschotherapeutic help and yet can not reveal important aspects of their lives and even fabricate histories, associations, and dreams? Such questions form the backbone of this exceptional book. Starting with the emergence of the capacity to lie in childhood and the formative influence of the family in children's moral development, the discourse goes on to include the variety of adulthood lies, including social lies, existential lies, pathological lies, narcissistic lies, and sociopathic lies. Contributions from distinguished psychoanalysts like Salman Akhtar, Harold Blum, Ruth Fischer, Lucy LaFarge, Henri Parens, and Michael Stone, along with others, explore the impact of dishonesty on the internal and external realities of an individual. Malignant forms of lies involving serious character pathology and criminality, as well as their detection, are also discussed. The book's aim is to help therapists enhance their empathy with patients who are compelled to lie and to provide them with better therapeutic strategies to deal with the clinical dilemmas that arise in working with such children and adults. "Why do people lie? Is dishonesty ubiquitous in human experience? And what should be done with individuals who seek pschotherapeutic help and yet can not reveal important aspects of their lives and even fabricate histories, associations, and dreams? Such questions form the backbone of this book." "Starting with the emergence of the capacity to lie in childhood and the formative influence of the family in children's moral development, the discourse goes on to include the variety of adulthood lies, including social lies, existential lies, pathological lies, narcissistic lies, and sociopathic lies. Contributions from distinguished psychoanalysts like Salman Akhtar, Harold Blum, Ruth Fischer, Lucy LaFarge, Henri Parens, and Michael Stone, along with others, explore the impact of dishonesty on the internal and external realities of an individual. Malignant forms of lies involving serious character pathology and criminality, as well as their detection, are also discussed." "The book's aim is to help therapists enhance their empathy with patients who are compelled to lie and to provide them with better therapeutic strategies to deal with the clinical dilemmas that arise in working with such children and adults."--BOOK JACKET Lies, Liars, And Lying : An Introductory Overview / Salman Akhtar -- What It Takes To Tell A Lie / Ruth M.s. Fischer -- Developmental Aspects Of Lying / Gail A. Edelsohn -- Authentication, Imposture, And Malicious Deception / Lucy Lafarge -- Where Does The Truth Lie? / Harold P. Blum -- Lying And Deceitfulness In Personality Disorders / Michael H. Stone -- Lies And Their Deception / Clarence Watson -- Sociocultural Perspectives On Dishonesty And Lying / Daniel M.a. Freeman -- Cultures Of Dishonesty : From Hidden Cancers And Concealed Selves To Politics And Poker / Mark Moore -- Distortions Of Truth From White Lies To Mass Murder : A Concluding Commentary / Henri Parens. Edited By Salman Akhtar And Henri Parens. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. What it takes to tell a lie / Ruth M.S. Fischer -- Developmental aspects of lying / Gail Edelsohn -- Authentication, imposture, and malicious deception / Lucy Lafarge -- Where does the truth lie? / Harold Blum -- Lying and deceitfulness in personality disorders / Michael Stone -- Lies and their detection / Clarence Watson -- Sociocultural perspectives on dishonesty and lying / Daniel M.A. Freeman -- Cultures of dishonesty : from hidden cancers and concealed selves to politics and poker / Mark Moore -- Distortion of truth from white lies to mass murder : a concluding commentary -- Henri parens What it takes to tell a lie / Ruth M. S. Fischer Developmental aspects of lying / Gail Edelsohn Authentication, imposture, and malicious deception / Lucy Lafarge Where does the truth lie? / Harold Blum Lying and deceitfulness in personality disorders / Michael Stone Lies and their detection / Clarence Watson Sociocultural perspectives on dishonesty and lying / Daniel M. A. Freeman Cultures of dishonesty : from hidden cancers and concealed selves to politics and poker / Mark Moore Distortion of truth from white lies to mass murder : a concluding commentary Henri parens.