When Is a Lie Less of a Lie. Moral Judgment Mediates the Relationship between Motivation to Lie and Lie-Labeling

In a cross-cultural Study 1 (N=1345), we presented stories depicting lying. Perceived other-benefiting motivation to lie was negatively related to lie-labeling and this relationship was mediated by moral judgment. Manipulating the type of motivation in Study 2 (N=117), influenced lie-labelling and this relationship was, again, mediated by moral judgment.