Exploring lie frequency and emotional experiences of deceptive decision-making in autistic adults.
Tiegan Blackhurst, Lara Warmelink, Amanda Roestorf and 1 others
PMID 40033520WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults lie as often as non-autistic adults in general, but are less likely to lie to protect a group.
They report finding lying more difficult, feeling more guilt, and being less confident they would be believed. This challenges the stereotype that autistic people cannot or do not lie.
Key findings
01Autistic and non-autistic adults did not differ in general lie frequency, the medium used, or who they lied to.
02Autistic adults were significantly less likely to tell pareto-oriented lies (lies for the benefit or protection of a group) than non-autistic adults, but did not differ in self- or other-oriented lies.
03Autistic adults reported feeling significantly more guilt, less confidence in being believed, and increased difficulty when lying compared to non-autistic adults.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample consisted entirely of university students with high intellectual ability and verbal skills, predominantly female, so results may not apply to autistic adults with intellectual disabilities or lower verbal abilities. The study used hypothetical scenarios rather than observing real-life interactions, so it may not capture the true pressure of social deception. Self-reported difficulty and guilt may be influenced by internalised stigma, where autistic individuals underestimate their own social abilities.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of PhD research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that autistic adults are generally less honest or less capable of deception. The study found no difference in general lying frequency. The difference was specific to 'pareto' lies (for a group), and the higher reported difficulty and guilt are self-assessments that may reflect stigma or anxiety rather than actual incompetence.