Why We Believe People When Our Brain Knows They’re Lying
‘Truth number one about lying: Lying’s a cooperative act.’
When staff at the San Francisco Zoo heard an almighty noise coming from down the hall, they knew immediately that it had to be Koko.
Koko was an extraordinarily talented western lowland gorilla who had learned over 1,000 words in sign language, liked watching TV, and was fascinated by nipples.
But on this day in the early 1980s, Koko had become upset, and in her fury she had ripped a metal sink from the wall and thrown it to the ground.
And now, as she stared back at the shocked staff who had run to her, she knew she had made a mistake.
So Koko did what anyone might be tempted to do in that situation: She lied.
Using sign language, she told the staff that it had not in fact been her that tore the heavy sink from the wall; it was her best friend who did the deed. And then she pointed to her best friend, who was called All Ball.
And All Ball might very well have been blamed for the wanton destruction of heavy sinkware that day.
Except All Ball was a tiny kitten.
The truth is, everybody lies. From Koko the gorilla to the baby who realizes faking a cough…
