Sometimes I wonder if the decline in national birth rates leads to a decline in common sense. An article by the UK Telegraph provides evidence:

Behavioural experts have found that infants begin to lie from as young as six months. Simple fibs help to train them for more complex deceptions in later life.

Until now, psychologists had thought the developing brains were not capable of the difficult art of lying until four years old.

Following studies of more than 50 children and interviews with parents, Dr Vasudevi Reddy, of the University of Portsmouth’s psychology department, says she has identified seven categories of deception used between six months and three-years-old.

Infants quickly learnt that using tactics such as fake crying and pretend laughing could win them attention. By eight months, more difficult deceptions became apparent, such as concealing forbidden activities or trying to distract parents’ attention.

I would actually ask what evidence shows when the babies know that lying is wrong. At six months they seem to be just pathological liars trying to manipulate their environment, similar perhaps to the behavior of certain politicians.

No, I’m not surprised at all. We’re all sinners. :)