SOC30420 Deception: The Social, Moral & Economic Foundations of Lying

Academic Year 2020/2021

The art of lying shapes our social, moral and economic landscape. For some, lying is a necessary evil – judged best by what it achieves. Others conclude that we always lie, seeing dishonesty as part of a performance that every situation requires to some extent. Still others work tirelessly to put a price on dishonesty, seeking that threshold after which the truth is no longer worth the cost of telling it. Finally, we have the absolutists who see lying as morally wrong regardless of outcome, context or cost. Parents lie, using falsehoods to manipulate their children. Children lie to avoid consequences and embarrassment. I lie [This is the single greatest module ever taught!]. You lie. But, why?

This module explores the social, moral and economic foundations of deception. Rooted in sociological inquiry, we will explore life as a performance in which we play certain roles that often require us to omit, bend and outright deny beliefs, values and traits. We will explore in detail the moral dimension of lying, considering our obligations to tell the truth and the implications of secrets. We will highlight the role of game theory, at the core of behavioural economics, in revealing the price, cost and mechanisms of dishonesty inherent in the exchange of money and goods. Finally, we will find the intersections, divergences and redundancies in the approaches taken by sociologists, philosophers, political scientists and economists to understand our thoroughly dishonest world.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Learning outcomes for this module aspire to the following goals:
• Demonstrate ability to critically analyse sociological, philosophical and economic theories of deception.
• Show capacity to critically apply theories and concepts of deception to selected case-studies.
• Exhibit personal, social and communication skills needed to contribute to group project;
• Demonstrate critical writing ability to construct, support and summarise argument that links concepts and cases of comparative social change.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22

Autonomous Student Learning

103

Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The broad goal of this module is that students leave the classroom with the ability to understand the intersections, divergences and redundancies in the approaches taken by sociologists, philosophers, political scientists and economists to understand our thoroughly dishonest world.

Learning outcomes for this module aspire to the following goals:
• Demonstrate ability to critically analyse sociological, philosophical and economic theories of deception.
• Show capacity to critically apply theories and concepts of deception to selected case-studies.
• Exhibit personal, social and communication skills needed to contribute to group project;
• Demonstrate critical writing ability to construct, support and summarise argument that links concepts and cases.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Group Project: Group Project Unspecified n/a Graded No

40

Examination: Final comprehensive examination Unspecified Yes Graded Yes

45

Multiple Choice Questionnaire: MCQ covering content-to-date Unspecified n/a Graded No

15


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will be provided group and individual feedback on the group project. A peer assessment will be given subsequent to the group project. All feedback will be given prior to the final examination.

Books (used in entirety or in pieces):
Ariely, D. (2012) The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty Harper: USA (ISBN-13: 978-0062253002]

Akerlof, A. and Shiller, R. J. (2015) Phishing for Phools: The Economics of Manipulation & Deception Princeton University Press: USA. [ISBN-13: 978-0691168319]

Bardon, A. (2020) The Truth about Denial: Bias and Self-deception in Science, Politics, and Religion Oxford University Press: UK. [ISBN-13: 978-0-19-006227-9]

Barnes, J. A. (1994) A Pack of Lies: Towards a Sociology of Lying Cambridge University Press: UK. [ISBN-13: 978-0521453769]

Bok, S. (1999) Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life Vintage Books: USA. [ISBN-13: 978-0375705281]

Bok, S. (1989) Secrets: On the Ethics of Concealment and Revelation Vintage Books: USA [ISBN-13 978-0679724735]

Carson, T. L. (2010) Lying and Deception: Theory and Practice Oxford University Press: UK [ISBN-13: 978-0199654802]

Dahl, R. (1987) Deception Penguin: UK [ISBN-13: 978-0718185671]

Funkhouser, E. (2019) Self-Deception New York: Routledge. [ISBN-13: 978-1138506121]

Graddock, P. (2009) Scientific Investigation of Copies, Fakes and Forgeries Routledge: USA [ISBN-13: 978-0750642057]

Goffman, E. (1963) Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity Random House: USA [ISBN-13: 978-0385094023]

Ekman, P. (2009) Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage W. W. Norton: USA [ISBN-13: 978-0393337457]

Ekman, P. and Friesen, W. V. (2003) Unmasking the Face: A Guide to Recognizing Emotions from Facial Expressions Malor Books: USA [ISBMN-13: 978-1883536367]

Harrington, B. and Gell-Mann, M. (2009) Deception: From Ancient Empires to Internet Dating Stanford University Press: USA. [ISBN-13: 978-0804756495]

Harris, S. (2013) Lying Four Elephants Press: USA [ISBN-13: 978-1940051000]

Hawley, K. (2012) Trust: A Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press: UK [ISBN-13: 978-0199697342]

Hayner, P. B. (2001) Unspeakable Truths: Transitional Justice and the Challenge of Truth Commissions (Second Edition) Routledge: USA [ISBN-13: 978-0415806350]

Holmes, L. (2015) Corruption: A Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press: UK [ISBN-13: 978-0199689699]

Inglis, T. (2003) Truth, Power and Lies: Irish Society and the Case of the Kerry Babies University College Dublin Press: Ireland [ISBN-13: 190-44558011]

Lenain, T. (2011) Art Forgery: The History of a Modern Obsession Reaktion Books: London, UK. [ISBN-13: 978-1-86189-850-0]

Levine, T. R. (2020) Duped: Truth-Default Theory and the Social Science of Lying and Deception The University of Alabama Press: USA [ISBN-13: 978-0817359683]

Littlefield, M. M. (2011) The Lying Brain: Lie Detection in Science and Science Fiction The University of Michigan Press: USA [ISBN-13: 978-0472051487]

McIntyre, L. (2018) Post-Truth The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series: The MIT Press: USA [ISBN-13: 978-0262535045]

Morris, C. W. (1934) Works of George Herbert Mead (vol. 1) Mind, Self, & Society from the Standpoint of Social Behaviorist University of Chicago Press: USA [ISBN: 022516687]

Simmel, G. (2020) Essay on Art and Aesthetics (ed.) Harrington, A. The University of Chicago Press, USA. [ISBN-13: 978-0226621098]

Stephens-Davidowitz, S. (2018) Everybody Lies: What the internet Can Tell Us about Who We Really Are Bloomsbury Publishing: USA [ISBN-13: 978-1408894736]

Stryker, S. (1980) Symbolic Interactionism The Blackburn Press: USA [ISBN-13: 978-1930665484]

Thaler, R. H. (2015) Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioural Economics Penguin: UK [ISBN-13: 978-0241951224]

Twain, M. On the Decay of the Art of Lying Applewood Book: USA [ISBN-13: 978-1429096164]

Articles and additional media:
Additional readings, generally journal articles and examples from current events, will be assigned throughout the term. These readings will be mostly posted at the beginning of the module, but may not be made available until the week prior to their being assigned. Most are listed on the syllabus, but additional readings may be added throughout the term. When a film/video is used in the module it will be made available, generally via a link embedded in the syllabus. In some cases, it may be necessary to arrange a viewing outside of regular class hours.