LITTLE fibbers could grow up to be big players. Children who learn to lie at an early age have better developed brains, marking them out as potential executives and leaders, say researchers.
They say that learning to tell a fib marks a milestone in a cognitive development. One fifth of children manage it by the age of two.
Lying involves multiple brain processes, such as integrating sources of information and manipulating the data to their advantage. It is linked to the development of brain regions that allow “executive functioning” and use higher order thinking and reasoning.
“Parents should not be alarmed if their child tells a fib,” said Kang Lee, director of the Institute of Child Study at Toronto University.
“Almost all children lie. Those who have better cognitive development lie better because they can cover up their tracks. They may make bankers in later life!”
His team tested 1,200 children aged 2-16. The most deceitful age, they discovered, was 12, when almost every child tells lies.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
