Are You A Good Liar?
January 23rd, 2010 by Lior ShamirAccording to many songwriters, song contests are inherently deceptive.
They are designed to raise expectations in order to collect high submission fees while buffering the disappointment of losing with months of anticipation of the results.
The individuals that run them are masters of persuasion. If we weren’t, our song contests would buckle under the popular consensus that song contests should be free or, at least, much cheaper.
So how persuasive, even manipulative am I?
According to the “Q Test” which I discovered in an article published by the Guardian, not very.
Try the Q Test for yourself:
Using the first finger of your dominant hand, draw a capital letter Q on your forehead.
Some people draw the letter Q in such a way that they themselves can read it. That is, they place the tail of the Q on the right-hand side of their forehead. Other people draw the letter in a way that can be read by someone facing them, with the tail of the Q on the left side of their forehead.
This quick test provides a rough measure of a concept known as “self-monitoring”. High self-monitors tend to draw the letter Q in a way in which it could be seen by someone facing them. Low self-monitors tend to draw the letter Q in a way in which it could be read by themselves.
High self-monitors tend to be concerned with how other people see them. They are happy being the centre of attention, can easily adapt their behaviour to suit the situation in which they find themselves, and are skilled at manipulating the way in which others see them. As a result, they tend to be good at lying.
In contrast, low self-monitors come across as being the “same person” in different situations. Their behaviour is guided more by their inner feelings and values, and they are less aware of their impact on those around them. They also tend to lie less in life, and so not be so skilled at deceit.
Which one are you?
January 24th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Fascinating. I think of myself as compulsively honest and it drives me crazy when others aren’t. Of course however like everyone, “lying” is required every time you’re polite to someone who’s being rude to you, behave yourself at a day job, act as if you don’t care when you are rejected, or otherwise “put on a brave face” when hurting inside. More to the point, being calm, strong and centered onstage even when it’s over 100 degrees, even when you feel like you might pass out from a panic attack, on nights when there’s a huge crowd, a small crowd or no crowd — caring just as much and putting out just as much effort. I guess that’s “acting” if it isn’t “lying” — again I don’t like that word but you guessed it, I drew the Q to the left!!
Lior Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 5:24 am
You make a strong case, Mandy.
In your defense, I don’t think someone who “tends to be concerned with how other people see them” is necessarily a liar.
January 24th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Thought I was doing fine, as I wrote my Q for the person in front of me to see. Then I read that I’m on the highly self monitoring side, figuring that was another positive, as though monitoring oneself means to watch what you do and say so that it is honest and correct…..then the carpet was pulled out from under me as I learned that the folks who don’t think about others are thought to be more honest….shucks. Lying? Says Who??? Tell ‘em Mandy. We’re performers. We care about our crowd. And maybe we’re chameleons, too
Lior Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 5:26 am
My comment for Mandy applies to you too
January 25th, 2010 at 6:03 am
Fascinating. My Q was for me. But these tests are clearly wrought with variables. I’m an honest girl, but I’ve also been known to cheat at Scrabble ….there, I’ve confessed…To be a good actor, to take your audience on a journey, you have to be a creative liar, no? Chameleon is a good word.
Lior Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 6:09 am
Chameleon IS a good word!
I like your style, Judy.
January 25th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Personally when considering writing the Q I would think who would read it. Being the type who considers my fellow man I would write the Q with the tail to the left hand side, making it easy for someone else to read. Let’s face it you could only look at it in the mirror and then (if you are the “honest type”) it would be the wrong way round. I don’t think this test allows for a) intelligence and b) integrity.
Personally I would have it the other way round; those who put the Q on the right hand side to be higly selfish and quite frankly low on intelligence as their right handed Q serves no purpose other than to their own minds eye. Would be more likely to manipulate situations to their own liking/advantantage therefore more tendency to lie. Exactly the traits I have found in liars over time – selfish and stupid, they underestimate/insult the intelligence of others expecting their lies to be believed.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
The Q test is a bunch of gibberish. The real question is how good of a liar are you when dissemenating emails to garner support for your website. I know I am a good lyricist and I am not deceiving anyone with what I write. The record companies don’t want the truth because mainstream America can’t handle it, it shocks them into a reality they would rather avoid. Why not read Tricia Rose’s Hip Hop Wars. With what she says I empowered myself with valuable knowledge about reps and how they decide who makes it and who should be on American Idol making a fool of themselves.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:42 am
To answer the first question first:
Lior, from my point of view, despite the fact that you drew the Q’s tail towards the right, you are very persuasive and perhaps even a master of persuasion (not sure as this also depends on the definition of the term), or i might be sufficiently gullible – or a combination of the two might be true, for two obvious reasons:
1. Within the space of less than half an hour i signed up to We Are Listening, based on a mail i received from you.
2. Following which, i find myself here, drawing a Q on my forehead, and answering your question.
These facts alone lead me to conclude that this “Q Test” cannot be taken as much more than a social pastime or, at best, serve you to estimate your own ability for persuasion by the amount of participants. (Hmm, hope i didn’t blow it with this comment though
).
To answer the second Q-uest: my Q’s tail went towards the left! … and yes, i consider myself manipulative and persuasive! …
(Only kidding
)
April 9th, 2010 at 1:24 am
I don’t really think that lying is always bad. In fact, I lie almoust every day. But I don’t do it because I’m bad or something like that, and my lies are well-constructed, like the person can’t find out I’m lying and if it happens (wich is pretty rare) I will tell the lie of the lie.
Many times it’s necessary: just like other day, I sent a SMS for my best friend, telling that the guy I’m in love with doesn’t love me like I do, but I don’t know how, the sms was sent to the guy, not to my friend. He realized something wrong, so I couldn’t tell the truth.
Sometimes it’s pretty hard to be seen as someone dishonest, I am a very serious and fair person, I admit that I lie too much, but what can I do if the situations in my life have no escape?
Dodo Reply:
April 9th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Oh, you’re on a troublesome road there, Ms Brightside! 1st, lying doesn’t help you (or anyone you lie to) in the long run, 2nd it’s really strenuous keeping up with all those stories, 3rd – and most importantly – trust me, you’ll feel so much stronger when you begin to tell the truth, stick to that no matter what the people around you might say, as it raises your courage to confront the world and your life around you!
>>what can I do if the situations in my life have no escape?<< Don't! Remember you have a right to think & believe in what ever you like, no one can take that away from you – be yourself no matter what they say (Sting) .. I repeat, you will be stronger through it!! I know, i've been on that road.
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