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Reflective Lies, Reflexive Lies, and Simple Falsehoods
A.B.O.U.T. Behavior #27 : Types of Lies
Killing can be categorized as first degree murder, manslaughter, or accidental, depending on the perpetrator’s intent. We should be similarly thoughtful about characterizing untruths. We can divide falsehoods into three big groups, depending on the speaker’s motivation. Let’s reserve the term “lies” for intentional untruths meant to deceive. Premeditated, or reflective, lies involve thought and planning to mislead others. Reactive, or reflexive, lies originate in the spur of the moment to avoid blame. Falsehoods describe inadvertently untrue utterances.
People with ADHD, dementia, or frontal brain injuries, are prone to stating falsehoods, because they often say whatever comes to mind, without much consideration or self-censoring. Since these comments were not even attempts to capture objective reality, they are not lies, even when untrue.
Many of Mr. Trump’s comments fall into this category. He often talks off the top of his head, or offers wishful thinking. His comments in January that the coronavirus wasn’t much to worry about, or would be gone by April, or that China was a doing a great job, seem to fit into this category. The current crisis serves as a reminder that careless comments can have serious consequences.
