We are all bound to lie every once in a while, but new UK research has found that men lie more than women and are less likely to suffer a guilty conscience.
The study, commissioned by London’s Science Museum, found the average male tells 1092 lies every year, which is roughly three times a day compared to the average woman who will lie 728 a year — twice a day.
The most common lie men tell are related to their drinking habits, while woman are guilty of always saying “Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine” when they aren’t.
Katie Maggs, associate medical curator at the Science Museum, said lying is all part of social interaction.
“Lying may seem to be an unavoidable part of human nature but it’s an important part of social interaction,” Maggs said in a media release .
“The jury is still out as to whether human quirks like lying are the result of our genes, evolution or our upbringing.”
But who are we lying to? According to the study, which questioned 3000 people, we are most likely lying to our mothers with 25 percent of men and 20 percent of women admitting to this.
However it seems that although men tell more lies they aren’t as concerned about lying as women with 82 percent of women tested saying that lying ate away at their conscience. In comparison only 70 percent of men confessed to feeling guilty.
The study also found the “top 10” lies men and women tell their partners which included:
Men
I didn’t have that much to drink.
Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine.
I had no signal.
It wasn’t that expensive.
I’m on my way.
I’m stuck in traffic.
No, your bum doesn’t look big in that.
Sorry, I missed your call.
You’ve lost weight.
It’s just what I’ve always wanted.
Women
Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine.
I don’t know where it is, I haven’t touched it.
It wasn’t that expensive.
I didn’t have that much to drink.
I’ve got a headache.
It was on sale.
I’m on my way.
Oh, I’ve had this for ages.
No, I didn’t throw it away.
It’s just what I’ve always wanted.
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