Is it OK to lie to help someone?

But “prosocial” lies—fibs intended to benefit others—can actually build trust between people, according to research. Just remember: Lies are most beneficial when they’re not selfish. If you tell your partner he or she looks great before a date to boost his or her self-esteem, that’s one thing, Schweitzer says.

In what situations is it OK to lie?

Lying is OK in two general situations, to protect yourself or someone else from immediate danger — e.g., your friend’s abusive spouse asks if you know where your friend is — and to protect someone’s feelings.

Is it OK to lie to spare someone feelings?

Sometimes it’s to protect feelings. Sometimes, it’s to protect our own ego. “A white lie,” says Dr. “It is usually a small, deliberate and harmless fib, often done to spare someone’s feelings and to do no harm — its intention is to produce favorable results.”

Is it bad to lie?

Lying is bad because a generally truthful world is a good thing: lying diminishes trust between human beings: if people generally didn’t tell the truth, life would become very difficult, as nobody could be trusted and nothing you heard or read could be trusted – you would have to find everything out for yourself.

Should we lie to protect someone?

Many justifications for “doing good” could result. Let’s consider the likelihood of someone having to lie to protect someone and note some scriptures showing us how God works in our lives. First, we must understand that being forced to lie to save someone’s life is a very unusual circumstance—one that doesn’t normally happen in most people’s lives.

Can a person give another person permission to lie?

Thus, a person would have to make a decision based on his or her trust and faith in God at the time. No one can give another person permission to lie. Many justifications for “doing good” could result.

Is there a place for lying in a relationship?

You don’t want to lie to your partner, yet you want to be hyper-considerate of their feelings, so maybe it’s best to not tell the truth about everything. Dating coach Chantal Heide feels like there certainly is a place for some lying in relationships.

Why do people tell lies to make others feel good?

People often tell lies in an attempt to be kind or look out for others’ best interests. (“You look great in that outfit!”) When telling a well-intentioned lie requires someone to make an assumption about what’s in the recipient’s best interest, it’s called a paternalistic lie.