Marcel Danesi: Why do we want to believe lies?

<p>We all love a good story, and sometimes a lie is more interesting to hear than the truth, but there is more to it than spinning a good yarn.</p><p>According to Marcel Danesi, linguist and author of the book <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781633885967/The-Art-of-the-Lie-How-the-Manipulation-of-Language-Affects-Our-Minds" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Art of the Lie</em></a> (£11.95, Prometheus Books), throughout history certain ‘Liar Princes’ have perfected the art of lying to gain fame, fortune and notoriety.</p><p>In this week’s podcast, he explains what makes them so effective at this so-called ‘Machiavellian intelligence’, what happens in the brain when we twist the truth, and why we’re all liars in one way or another.</p><ul><li><strong>Subscribe</strong>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<em>Science Focus Podcast</em>&nbsp;on these services:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acast.com/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/science-focus-podcast/id1296673906?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iTunes</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/immediate-media-2/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://rss.acast.com/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RSS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://overcast.fm/itunes1296673906/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Overcast</a></li></ul><p>Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.</p><p><strong>Listen to more episodes of the&nbsp;<em>Science Focus Podcast</em>:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/dean-burnett-whats-going-on-in-the-teenage-brain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dean Burnett: What’s going on in the teenage brain?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/gretchen-mcculloch-how-has-the-internet-affected-how-we-communi