Fudging with friends and lying to lovers: Deceptive communication in personal relationships

Although a considerable body of recent research has addressed the problem of deceptive communication, few studies have examined deceptive communication in personal relationships. We argue that the occurrence, substance, and outcomes of deceptive communication are markedly influenced by the nature of the communicators' relationship. To redeem this claim, we examine how several differences between impersonal and personal relationships may influence deceptive exchanges, and consider some of the implications of the distinctions for future research dealing with deceptive communication in personal relationships.