Deception in Intimate Relationships

Abstract

This study examined the use of deceptive communication in intimate couple relationships. A total of 80 romantically involved male and female Australian university students read and responded to scenarios depicting men and women perpetrating deceit in couple relationships. Six types of deception were examined, namely: omission, distortion, half‐truths, blatant lies, white lies, and failed lies. Respondents rated their own and their partners' use of each type of deception in terms of frequency, morality, and relationship effects. Self‐reports of satisfaction with the couple relationship were also obtained. Results indicated that each deceptive strategy apart from the white lie was judged as morally reprehensible on dimensions of blame, guilt, and dishonesty. Respondents used white lies most often, and blatant lies least often, and perceived their partners as behaving similarly. Diminished relationship satisfaction was associated with respondents' frequent use of strategies of blatant lying, partial truthfulness, and attempted deceit and with partners' frequent use of each type of deception apart from the white lie. Frequent use of deception by self and partner was correlated with believing that each type of deception was preferable to having an argument, supporting the suggestion from previous research that couples elect dishonesty as a method of conflict avoidance. However, the strength of a respondent's preference for deception rather than arguing did not independently predict satisfaction once the effects of frequent use of the six deception strategies by self and partner were taken into account.