Who tells lies? Why do people tell lies and when are they deemed acceptable? Written from a social psychology perspective on the use of language, this is a fascinating examination of these and related questions.

Illustrating the book with a diversity of institutional and interpersonal contexts, W Peter Robinson explores ways in which people develop their skills of deception and also discusses the feasibility and art of lie detection. He reveals the cultural biases inherent in various modes and interpretations of lying, focusing in particular on the Western world and its values.