It is not always the case that lying and deception are malicious, immoral or unethical; in fact, often people lie for altruistic reasons. A recent study conducted by McArthur et al. has identified the most common motivations for lying, which are altruistic purposes, keeping personal information secret, and avoiding being judged. Furthermore, the research found that our personality traits can be used to predict lying and deceptive behaviour, with those low on conscientiousness and high on impulsiveness being more prone to lying. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
