deception

Deception is the act of misleading others through lies or trickery. It involves causing someone to believe something that is not true. This can be done through statements, actions, or even omissions, with the intent to deceive.12345

While there's no single, universally accepted definition of lying, it generally refers to communicative acts intended to make others adopt or maintain a false belief. Philosophers have debated the morality of deception for centuries, with some arguing it's always wrong, while others believe it can be permissible or even obligatory in certain situations. Psychologists study the development of lying, motives behind it, and the difficulty people have in detecting it.5