By Shellie L. Rosen, Ph.D., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, DOM, L.Ac.
People often sugarcoat the truth, hoping to protect others’ feelings. However, evidence shows that a departure from the truth harms both parties. Not only does lying cause physiological stress and psychological disturbance for the liar and the observer, but the brain also adapts to the practice, overcoming reservations against it. If we understood the adverse health and social impacts, we would recognize that lying is not a shortcut but a disorder. Focusing on the truth positively impacts health, relationships, and personal development.
From lie detection to stress tests, many studies of the body and the brain illustrate the physical toll a lie takes. Functional MRI brain scans show activity in the anterior cingulate cortex before speaking a lie. Heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol changes are also measurable when a lie is told. Researchers found that liars had higher cortisol. Higher cortisol levels were associated with individuals exhibiting unfairness, unethical behavior, and a greater likelihood of retaliation. Increased cortisol is linked to chronic stress, systemic inflammation, and poor health. Testosterone, a neuroendocrine hormone, also increases with lying. Testosterone may impact sensitivity to empathic signaling, making one feel less empathy.
An unexpected downstream effect of lying is that the person hearing the lie is likely to experience similar negative physiological impacts. The urge to lie may be due to the desire to control an outcome or another person’s thoughts or feelings. Whatever the potential benefits of lying, it creates a false reality, a distortion that causes stress and disconnection. Lying deteriorates health, relationships, and the ability to foster deep, authentic connections.
Poor health and stress can set the stage for dishonesty, creating dangerous feedback loops. The more we practice lying, the easier it becomes. Neuroscience research illustrates brain changes related to dishonesty, showing that the amygdala becomes more at ease with lying over time. Alternatively, when we feel at ease and healthy, we are better at truth-telling, which can reduce stress and heal relationships, helping others follow.
Telling the truth with love and other acts of virtue produces the opposite effects of stress by releasing the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin lowers stress hormones, corticosteroids, and blood pressure. In 2021, Social Science & Medicine published research conducted after studying 9,813 older adults for four years, looking at the role of “character strength of honesty and integrity” and the impact on physical health, mental health, and daily functioning outcomes. Participants with higher honesty and integrity scores had a lower risk of lung disease and depression and fewer mobility limitations when conducting activities of daily living.
The final frontier of maturity is telling the truth with love. Honest, caring, and vulnerable language improves health, relationships, and personal freedom of expression. Abundant blessings to your truth with love mission field!
