THE ACCEPTABILITY OF LYING AS FUNCTION OF PERCEIVERS’ MOTIVE TO LIE, RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE SITUATION, AND CLOSENESS TO THE PERSON

Abstract

The main objectives of the present research were to develop a reliable and valid perceived lie acceptability measure and to see its relation with motive to lie, relative importance of situation and closeness to the person. Furthermore, the present research was extended by conducting a comparative study of Pakistani and Saudi students in perceived lie acceptability. The research was based on three independent studies. The study I was performed (N = 50) to develop a scenario based Perceived Lie Acceptability Measure (PLAM). Thirty two scenarios were generated followed by an empirical, systematic and structured approach. The internal consistency (α = .87) and construct validity of PLAM were determined. The study II was carried out to explore the perceived lie acceptability as function of motive to lie, relative importance of the situation, and closeness to the person, in Pakistani students (N = 204). The alpha coefficient (α = .86) and construct validity of PLAM was further established. Our findings indicated a non significant interaction effect for the motive to lie, relative importance of situation, and closeness to the person while judging perceived lie acceptability. The results revealed significant main effect of the motive, situation, and closeness to the person. A moderate interaction effect between motive and situation was seen. Our findings also indicated that perceived lie acceptability was more in males than in females. The study III explored the differences in perceived lie acceptability between Pakistani and Saudi students. Psychometric analyses on Saudi data (N = 72) revealed PLAM reliable (α = .82) and valid. Our findings indicated that Saudis rated perceived lie acceptability lower than the Pakistanis. The results also revealed that the combined effect of situation and closeness to the person is same for both the types of lie for the Saudi respondents while judging the perceived lie acceptability, like the Pakistanis. Similarly, it was also found in analyses that motive to lie, relative importance of the situation, and closeness to the person had significant main effect.