“Just
because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive.”
- Criss
Jami
The concept of deception refers to the act of deliberately misleading or tricking others by concealing or distorting the truth. Deception can take various forms and is often employed by individuals and organizations for personal gain, protection, manipulation, or to achieve specific goals. It can occur in interpersonal relationships, business transactions, politics, warfare, and many other contexts.
Deception in communication is a widespread phenomenon that occurs in various contexts and at different levels of society. While it's difficult to quantify the exact prevalence of deception, research suggests that it is a common aspect of human interaction.
Key aspects of Deception:
1. Intent: Deception involves a conscious decision to deceive others, distinguishing it from unintentional misinformation or misunderstanding.
2. Communication: Deception typically involves communication, whether verbal, nonverbal, or through actions, that leads others to believe something false or inaccurate.
3. Concealment or Distortion: Deception can involve hiding the truth, providing false information, or manipulating facts to create a false impression.
4. Motivation: People may deceive others for various reasons, including gaining an advantage, avoiding punishment, protecting themselves or others, or achieving a desired outcome.
5. Ethical and Moral Implications: Deception raises ethical and moral questions about honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity. While some forms of deception may be considered acceptable or even necessary in certain situations (e.g., white lies to spare someone's feelings), others are widely condemned as unethical or immoral (e.g., fraud, manipulation, or deceitful behaviour).
6. Detection: Detecting deception can be challenging, as deceivers often employ strategies to conceal their true intentions or manipulate perceptions. However, there are various techniques, such as analyzing verbal and nonverbal cues, assessing inconsistencies in stories, and using deception detection tools, that can help identify deceptive behaviour.
7. Consequences: Deceptive actions can have significant consequences for both the deceiver and the deceived. These consequences may include damage to relationships, loss of trust, legal repercussions, and harm to individuals or organizations.
Seth J. Gillihan, a psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioural therapy defines covert manipulation as "subtle ways of trying to influence what other people think, feel, and do." People who are covert manipulators don't always recognize what they're doing it, and they keep engaging in covert manipulation without realizing it. Gillihan (2024) highlights that we all can be manipulative, and everyone experiences at least some of these signs from time to time.
Seven Signs of a Covert Manipulator (Gillihan, 2024)
|
1. Share
information selectively: They highlight positive information and do
not share negative information to control the situation by controlling what
the other person knows. 2. Crave approval: They do favours for gaining approval.
It’s a subtle manipulation strategy for getting what they want. 3. Always trying to be
"nice." It's very important for them
that others see them as a good human being. While they may genuinely care
about being good, much of their motivation for being nice is to get what they
want. 4. Choose words very
carefully. They
work hard at finding just the right things to say to get the outcomes you
want. 5. Behaviour varies greatly
depending on who is present. Their actions
are drastically different based on who's around. 6. You often flatter others. They give compliments to
people for gaining their approval for helping them with their own cause.
Although the compliments are sincere, they wouldn't be saying those things if
they didn't want something from the other person. 7. They
often feel resentful. Their behaviour is designed to
get something from the other person, and if they don't comply, they are
likely to feel resentful. Without realizing it, they handover control of
their emotions to others to get what they want. |
Source: Gillihan, S.J. (2024) 7 Signs That You're a Covert Manipulator. Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/202406/7-signs-that-youre-a-covert-manipulator.
Factors contributing to Deception in Communication
1. Social Norms and Expectations: In many cultures, there are
implicit or explicit norms that condone or even encourage certain forms of
deception, such as white lies or polite exaggerations. These social norms shape
how people communicate and influence the frequency and acceptance of deception.
2. Self-Presentation and Image
Management:
People often engage in deception to manage their self-image or present
themselves in a favourable light to others. This can involve exaggerating
accomplishments, downplaying failures, or hiding undesirable traits or
behaviours.
3. Interpersonal Relationships: Deception can occur in
various types of interpersonal relationships, including romantic partnerships,
friendships, and family dynamics. People may deceive others to avoid conflict,
protect their privacy, or maintain harmony in relationships.
4. Professional Settings: Deception is also prevalent
in professional settings, such as the workplace, where individuals may engage
in deception to gain a competitive advantage, negotiate deals, or avoid
negative consequences. This can include embellishing qualifications, misrepresenting
intentions, or withholding information.
5. Media and Communication
Channels:
The rise of digital communication platforms and social media has created new
opportunities for deception. People can easily manipulate their online
personas, fabricate information, or spread misinformation and fake news.
6. Power Dynamics: Power dynamics can influence
the prevalence of deception, with individuals in positions of authority
sometimes using deception to maintain control or influence others. Conversely,
those with less power may deceive to protect themselves or challenge authority.
7. Psychological and Emotional
Factors:
Psychological factors such as fear, insecurity, or a desire for approval can
motivate individuals to engage in deception. Emotional states such as anger,
jealousy, or resentment may also increase the likelihood of deceptive
behaviour.
8. Cultural and Individual Differences: Cultural norms, values, and beliefs can shape attitudes towards deception and influence its prevalence within different societies. Additionally, individual differences in personality traits, moral values, and ethical standards can impact the propensity for deception.
While deception is common in communication, its prevalence varies depending on the context, cultural norms, and individual factors. Understanding the factors that contribute to deception can help individuals navigate communication more effectively and critically evaluate the information they receive.
Understanding the concept of
deception is important as it plays a fundamental role in human interaction and
decision-making. Recognizing and navigating deception can help individuals
protect themselves, make informed judgments, and maintain ethical conduct in
various personal and professional contexts.
Dr. Karminder Ghuman, Head of MBA Department, LM Thapar School of Management, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (Deemed to be University), Patiala
Based on contents from the book: "The Art and Science of Effective and Impactful Communication"
This book has research-based proven tools and strategies to guide professionals regarding the following aspects of communication:
- What is Effective and Impactful Communication?
- What makes Communication so Difficult? How to Overcome Biases and Barriers
- Communication Apprehension
- Communication Frameworks
- Dimensions of Effective Communication
- Communication Styles and Types of Communicators
- Worldview and Communication
- Managing Expectations
- Silence as Communication
- Humour and Communication
- Emotional Intelligence and Communication
- Diplomatic Communication
- Ethics and Communication
- Personality and Communication
- Transactional Analysis and Communication
- Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha
- Gender and Communication
- Hearing and Listening: Process of Active Listening, Barriers to Listening
- Mindful Listening and Self-awareness
- Choice of Words, Shades of Meaning (Nuances), Power Words
- Phrases, Figurative Language
- Linguistic Style
- Framing, Reframing, and Spin Doctrine
- Paralinguistics: Pitch and Tone, Pace, and Pause
- Non-Verbal Communication: Body Language, Posture, Facial Expressions, Gestures, Eye Contact, Proxemics, Haptics
- Manners and Etiquettes, Netiquettes, Announcing Bad News and How to Say “No”
- Relationships and Communication: Seduction and Communication, Difficult Communication within a Relationship, Reviving a Broken, Strengthening a Strained Relationship
- Neuro-Listening Programming (NLP)
Comments
Post a Comment