Deconstructing Deception: Frequency, Communicator Characteristics, and Linguistic Features of Embeddedness

Abstract

An inaccurate dichotomy often exists in deception research where scholars assume bald-faced lies are entirely false and bald-faced truths are entirely truthful. A more accurate description suggests lies and truths draw on a common pool of information, and they are typically embedded within false and truthful narratives. How often does embeddedness occur, who communicates embedded lies and truths, and what linguistic characteristics reveal embeddedness? In this study, nearly 800 participants lied or told the truth about their friends and indicated the embedded lies and truths within their texts (total N = 11,551). Embedded lying and truth-telling rates were not statistically different among those who were instructed to lie, but they were statistically different among those who were instructed to tell the truth. Embedded truths were also more likely to be written by women (versus men), liberals (versus conservatives), and communicated in a formal versus narrative style. Theoretical implications are discussed.