Little liars: babies younger than one practise deceit, study suggests

"By 10 months about a quarter of children were practising some rudimentary form of deceit such as pretending not to hear their parents, hiding toys or eating forbidden foods out of view. By the age of three, children were more proficient, creative and frequent fabricators, according to the parents' responses."

"Previous research has often focused on deception as something very sophisticated requiring strong language skills and an advanced understanding of others' minds. The latest research drew on animal behaviour studies, which have documented apparent deception without the need for verbal communication."

"It's not like the ability to deceive suddenly appears at three or four years out of nowhere. The earlier forms are not necessarily all-out deception. It's probably more about getting away with things or getting extra treats."

Research based on interviews with 750 parents reveals that deceptive behavior emerges surprisingly early in childhood development. By 10 months, approximately 25% of infants demonstrate basic forms of deception such as pretending not to hear parents, concealing toys, or eating forbidden foods out of view. By age three, children become more sophisticated, creative, and frequent in their deceptive practices. This research challenges previous assumptions that deception requires advanced language skills and complex understanding of others' minds. The study draws parallels to animal behavior, where deception occurs without verbal communication, such as chimpanzees hiding food from dominant group members. Early deception appears less about intentional dishonesty and more about gaining advantages or obtaining desired items.

Read at www.theguardian.com