Most parents see lying as a cause for worry or reprimand. But some experts suggest lying at a young age could be a welcome sign of childhood development. So what does lying tell us about human cognition? For more information on this episode visit nationalgeographic.com/overheard

Want More?

Read writer Yudhijit Bhattacharrjee's magazine story on why we lie, and what it says about us.

Watch: Why science says it's good for kids to lie.

Learn more about researcher Kang Lee's work.

Read about Charles Darwin's report on his son, Doddy.

Also explore:

Do you lie more or less than the average person? Take this quiz to find out.

Meet history's most notorious liars.

These are the best liars of the animal world.

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