title: Children don't always tell the truth.
abstract: Although children are being more frequently called as witnesses in court proceedings, they often do not tell the truth. If lying is defined as giving a false statement for personal gain, then lying is only one of several causes for children not giving an accurate account of events. Other reasons include an immature brain, a congenitally acquired defect in the central nervous system, or the presence of an emotional disturbance such as psychosis or hysteria. The desire of a child to please others--that is, parents, therapists, or lawyers--may also result in an invalid statement. These factors and motivations should be considered in trying to interpret a youngster's statement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States