# Lying increases trust in science, study finds

**URL:** <https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376>\
**Category:** Conversation\
**Tags:** Science, Society, Article\
**Created:** [August 3, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376 "2025-08-03T02:12:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/tim/32/9381_2.png) [@Tim](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/Tim)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376/1 "2025-08-03T02:12:05Z")

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> **[Lying increases trust in science, study finds](https://phys.org/news/2025-07-science.html)**
>
> Research by philosopher of science and Honorary Research Associate at Bangor University, Byron Hyde, looked at the role of transparency in fostering public trust in science.

> The study revealed that, while transparency about good news increases trust, transparency about bad news, such as conflicts of interest or failed experiments, decreases it.  
>   
> Therefore, one possible solution to the paradox, and a way to increase public trust, is to lie (which Hyde points out is unethical and ultimately unsustainable), by for example making sure bad news is hidden and that there is always only good news to report.  
>   
> Instead, he suggests that a better way forward would be to tackle the root cause of the problem, which he argues is the public overidealising science. People still overwhelmingly believe in the ‘storybook image’ of a scientist who makes no mistakes, which creates [unrealistic expectations](https://phys.org/tags/unrealistic+expectations/).

Underlying article:

> **[Lying increases trust in science - Theory and Society](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11186-025-09635-1)**
>
> This study begins by outlining the transparency paradox: that trust in science requires transparency, but being transparent about science, medicine and government reduces trust in science. A solution to the paradox is then advanced here: it is argued...

[Hat-tip: Slashdot]

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**Author:** ![nwrickert](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/nwrickert/32/810_2.png) [@nwrickert](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/nwrickert)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 4:15am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376/2 "2025-08-03T04:15:45Z")

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I’m more inclined to see the problem as being in the media/press coverage of science. There’s too much of a tendency to emphasize flashy headlines, and not enough emphasis on what makes for good science.

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**Author:** ![AllenWitmerMiller](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/allenwitmermiller/32/2519_2.png) [@AllenWitmerMiller](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/AllenWitmerMiller)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 1:41am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376/3 "2025-08-04T01:41:29Z")

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I don’t know about science but lying seems to increase trust in a few other non-scientific contexts I can think of. (I suppose it depends upon the skills of the particular liar.)

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**Author:** ![Tim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/tim/32/9381_2.png) [@Tim](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/Tim)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376/4 "2025-08-04T02:15:47Z")

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> [@nwrickert](#):
>
> I’m more inclined to see the problem as being in the media/press coverage of science. There’s too much of a tendency to emphasize flashy headlines, and not enough emphasis on what makes for good science.

I think this is true of modern “media/press coverage” pervasively – it’s just that its results are particularly dysfunctional when it’s science getting the treatment.

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**Author:** ![Tim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/tim/32/9381_2.png) [@Tim](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/Tim)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376/5 "2025-08-04T02:16:04Z")

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> [@AllenWitmerMiller](#):
>
> I suppose it depends upon the skills of the particular liar.

I think it also depends on how strong the desire of the audience to believe is. I’ve seen some particularly bad (as in blatant) lying prove successful recently.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/peacefulscience/original/2X/6/6b7bf72453a5c60b0919b6b89a27dc18bc52382c.png) [@system](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/lying-increases-trust-in-science-study-finds/17376/6 "2025-08-11T02:16:34Z")

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