Thaindian News

Washington, Oct 23 (IANS) Consumers who tell little white lies to avoid offending service providers are actually shielding those who inconvenience them.

“Most consumers have told an inquiring server that their cold meal is fine, a hairdresser that they like their unexpected new look, or a friend that his/her too-snug jeans look great,” write study authors Jennifer J. Argo of University of Alberta and Baba Shiv of Stanford University.

But according to the researchers, white lies have negative repercussions for the people who tell them, the Journal of Consumer Research said.

In one study, the authors observed consumers who had been made to wait for an unpleasant amount of time. The participants then lied about how they were doing by saying they were fine, according to a University of Alberta statement.

These consumers evaluated their wait experiences more favourably than people who didn’t lie and were more likely to help the people who delayed them - when they were reminded that they should be honest.

In two additional studies, the authors demonstrated that this favourable reaction toward the “wrongdoer” occurred because people who are reminded that they should be honest and yet tell a lie experience a “negative effect” (emotion).

For consumers, it is important to know that the negative feelings that arise after telling a white lie can have financial consequences. The authors found that people who told white lies were willing to spend more money for services or tips.

“Thus, Mark Twain’s statement that ‘honesty is the best policy-when there is money in it’, is very true and consumers should think twice before telling a white lie.”