When Parents Cheat, so do Their Children

Children are constantly analyzing their parents' every move. Unfortunately, for elders who aren't on their best behavior, they could be setting an indefinitely negative example for their children. According to a recent study published in the journal Developmental Science, researchers found that this is particularly true of parents who cheat and lie. 

Researchers from the University of California's San Diego Division of Social Sciences examined 186 children between the ages of 3 and 7 for the study. About half of the children were lied to by researchers, while the other half were not told anything at all. Findings showed that children between the ages of 5 and 7 who had been lied to were significantly more likely to cheat than others who had not experienced the same reactions or preschool age children. 

"As far as we know, this is the first experiment confirming what we might have suspected - lying by an adult affects a child's honesty," said Leslie Carver, associate professor of psychology and human development in the University of California's San Diego Division of Social Sciences, in a news release. "Even if it's expedient for an adult to lie, to get cooperation through deception, for example, or to get children to control their emotions, it's probably a bad idea in the long run."

Though researchers remain uncertain as to why certain age groups were more prone to lying than others, one thing's for certain; even the more seemingly "honest" lies can cause trouble.

"The actions of parents suggest that they do not believe that the lies they tell their children will impact the child's own honesty," she said, via the Daily Mail. "The current study casts doubt on that belief. Even a little white lie might have consequences."