A hand holds a scale, which is holding the word "lies" on one end and "truth" on the other. The side of the scale with "lies" is lower and heavier than the side labeled "truth."

When It’s Okay to Lie

Should you tell a harsh truth if it will only cause pain? Or is it sometimes kinder to keep someone in the dark? Psychologist Emma Levine explores the unwritten rules that guide when people feel it’s acceptable to lie — and what those choices reveal about trust, harm, and our deepest moral values.

Illustration by Masantocreative for Unsplash+


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