The Big Lie

Discussion

People generally need to believe one another, yet also are on the lookout for falsehood. Most of regularly tell small lies and engage in minor deception, and so expect others to do likewise. When a big lie is told, this does not fit into our model of modest mendacity, and so we say 'It must be true'.

Keeping up a lie is difficult, as Pinocchio found out. You have to keep adding lies to shore up the leaks. Yet it is surprising how a confident and assertive manner can persuade people that black is white and that the unlikely is true. Just as we think others tell similar lies to us, we also assume they will feel embarrassed by it and so be unlikely to be brash and bold in stating their lies.

Conspiracy theorists believe that there are many big lies, on subject ranging from alien creatures to secret cabals who rule the world. Paradoxically, their claims are often based on belief more than hard evidence and so they too could be accused of using The Big Lie.

Quick links

The Big Lie

Method

Example

Discussion

See also

Site Menu

You can buy books here

Quick links

Disciplines

Techniques

Principles

Explanations

Theories

And

Site Menu

Quick links

Disciplines

Techniques

Principles

Explanations

Theories

And