The Truth about Lying

Paper Summary:

This essay uses a number of well researched case studies to explore individuals who pose or represent themselves as characters other than themselves. It also discusses how those around them are willing to believe often ridiculous claims if it is beneficial to them. The case studies include carefully calculated deceptions, self-delusional fantasies and blatantly criminal representations driven by damaged self esteem.

From the Paper:

"The comedian Robin Williams once said, "I've investigated reality, and there's really nothing to it." While this is just another glib comment in that wild comic's repertoire, the remark certainly applies to three items used in comparison in this essay. For the cord that ties Garfinkel's Story of Agnes, Carrere's downright bizarre account of the true story of Jean-Claude Romand, Baudrillard's views on hyper-reality, and the personal ad placed by the blue-eyed blonde, all focus not just on the issue of deception itself, but on the self-perception of the individual, society's perception of the individual, and how (and to what extent) some people base their sense of reality on a fa'ade in order to placate their own egos and/or society itself."

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