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Hidden Brain · March 30, 2026 · 50m

When It's Okay to Lie

Psychologist Emma Levine on the unwritten rules governing acceptable dishonesty. We say we value honesty but routinely lie — and expect to be lied to — in specific social contexts. The hypocrisy about honesty is universal.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

We have unwritten rules about when lying is acceptable — and they're surprisingly consistent
Levine's research: people condemn lying in principle but accept it in practice when it protects feelings, preserves relationships, or maintains social harmony.
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