Study Reveals Infants Deceive from 8 Months Old

A new study led by researchers at the University of Bristol has found that children begin to understand and engage in deceptive behaviors as early as eight months old, challenging long-held views on the development of such skills. The research, published in the journal Cognitive Development, analyzed reports from parents of more than 750 children aged up to 47 months across the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Canada. It reveals that about one-quarter of infants show signs of rudimentary deception by 10 months, rising to half by 17 months, with behaviors becoming more frequent and complex by age three.

The study, titled the Early Deception Survey, identified 16 distinct types of deceptive acts, ranging from simple nonverbal actions to more strategic manipulations. Parents reported that once children started deceiving, the behavior often persisted, with half of those identified as deceivers engaging in it within the previous 24 hours. Elena Hoicka, professor of education at the University of Bristol and lead author, noted the progression in a statement: "It was fascinating to uncover how children's understanding and usage of deception evolves from a surprisingly...