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The Permission Paradox: Condoning Deception Can Promote Honesty in Young Children

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Title: The Permission Paradox: Condoning Deception Can Promote Honesty in Young Children
Language: English
Authors: Chadmen Tan (ORCID 0009-0005-2901-4646), Xiao Pan Ding (ORCID 0000-0003-0836-9577), Gail D. Heyman (ORCID 0000-0001-7764-3205)
Source: Developmental Science. 2026 29(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Deception, Ethics, Young Children, Foreign Countries, Moral Values, Ethical Instruction, Guidelines, Child Development, Educational Games, Childrens Attitudes
Geographic Terms: Singapore
DOI: 10.1111/desc.70168
ISSN: 1363-755X
1467-7687
Abstract: The capacity to deceive is a hallmark of cognitive sophistication. Researchers often use games requiring deception to study the development of this capacity, assuming such games effectively isolate the cognitive aspects from sociomoral considerations. In three studies we challenge this assumption by explicitly giving 36- to 83-month-old Singaporean children (N = 279) permission to deceive in such a game. We initially hypothesized that granting such permission would increase deception by reducing sociomoral concerns associated with deception. Instead, we found the opposite effect: children were less likely to deceive. This paradoxical effect was replicated, suggesting that moral considerations persist even in contexts where ethical guidelines are presumed to be suspended and that the cognitive and moral aspects of deception are deeply intertwined during early development.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/ku8b2/overview
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504344
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chadmen+Tan%22">Chadmen Tan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2901-4646">0009-0005-2901-4646</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiao+Pan+Ding%22">Xiao Pan Ding</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0836-9577">0000-0003-0836-9577</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gail+D%2E+Heyman%22">Gail D. Heyman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7764-3205">0000-0001-7764-3205</externalLink>)
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deception%22">Deception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Children%22">Young Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+Values%22">Moral Values</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethical+Instruction%22">Ethical Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Guidelines%22">Guidelines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Games%22">Educational Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Childrens+Attitudes%22">Childrens Attitudes</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/desc.70168
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  Data: The capacity to deceive is a hallmark of cognitive sophistication. Researchers often use games requiring deception to study the development of this capacity, assuming such games effectively isolate the cognitive aspects from sociomoral considerations. In three studies we challenge this assumption by explicitly giving 36- to 83-month-old Singaporean children (N = 279) permission to deceive in such a game. We initially hypothesized that granting such permission would increase deception by reducing sociomoral concerns associated with deception. Instead, we found the opposite effect: children were less likely to deceive. This paradoxical effect was replicated, suggesting that moral considerations persist even in contexts where ethical guidelines are presumed to be suspended and that the cognitive and moral aspects of deception are deeply intertwined during early development.
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