Predicting Verbal and Non-Verbal Deception in 2 ½ - 5-Year-Olds

Verbal and non-verbal deception regarding a third-party transgression was examined in preschoolers, in relation to mental state understanding, inhibitory control, and sensitivity to norms. As a function of age, preschoolers tended to engage significantly more in non-verbal deception, and this trend was predicted only by their sensitivity to norms.