Canadians lie to spare feelings, avoid conflict, survey suggests
Posted June 5, 2023 4:00 pm.
Last Updated June 6, 2023 9:49 am.
If you’ve ever lied to someone to spare their feelings, a new survey suggests that you’re not alone.
The survey was commissioned by Simply Spiked Lemonade and reports that just over 50 per cent of adult respondents have lied to preserve someone’s feelings or in an attempt to avoid conflict.
On top of this, nearly 40 per cent reported rejecting invites because they had “prior plans,” while an equal number have said “‘no problem’ when there definitely was a problem.'”
Out of more than 1,500 respondents, the survey also points out that people in B.C. admitted to lying slightly more than those in other provinces.
“As it turns out, British Columbians find themselves in situations where they feel they should lie more than any other province: 23 per cent of British Columbians 19+ say they feel compelled to lie often or very often, versus 18 per cent in Ontario, 17 per cent in Atlantic Canada, 13 per cent in Alberta, only 9 per cent in our sweet, sweet prairie provinces, and merely 7 per cent in Quebec,” a news release reads.
Additionally, 26 per cent of respondents said they had been dishonest about liking a gift they had received, whereas 23 per cent lied about what they thought about “someone’s new look,” citing haircuts as an example.
The survey suggests that the likelihood of telling untruths may just come down to age with more than 40 per cent of Gen Z members feeling compelled to lie often or very often, compared to 24 per cent of millennials, 10 per cent of Gen X-ers, and just five per cent of Baby Boomers.
