There's something to be said for it socially, says UMass psychology professor Robert S. Feldman. Even if it's not the absolute truth.
Older adolescents are more adept at deception than younger ones.
Males lie more than females. Females are more likely to excel at lying. It's unrealistic to expect them to always tell the truth. In fact, it's not even the way we want people to always behave. Fairy godpartner Films from the former East Germany now available on video in the U.S. include six fairy tales, two sauerkraut westerns, and the original Jacob the Liar.