Abstract
The purpose of this study is to confirm the conditions which may have influence on the deceptive behaviors in an experimental situations where deceptions are assumed to arise. In the main experiment, deceptions was examined which occurred in self-ratings of an arithmetical task of additions. Subjects were divided into four groups and their experimental conditions were set by instructions differing in each group. In Group 1 and 2, subjects were shown the minimum standard of the score required for all the subjects to attain in that age. Actually, the prescribed mark as the standard was such that to which only 15% of the subjects had attained. Further the subjects in Group 1 were given such a social pressure by an instruction that their marks should be announced to all others. The subjects in Group 3 were given no instruction about any standard. To Group 4, a level of score, to which 85% of the subjects actually attained, was shown to be a desirable standard for the subjects in that age.
The subjects were primary, secondary and high school boys and girls, each divided into four groups and the sum total of the subjects counted 607.
The results were as follows:
The percentage of the subjects who made deceptions and the amount of the deception made by one subject in average were much greater in Group 1 and 2 than in Group 3 and 4.
The subjects were divided into four grades by their actual marks, and it was found that, in each group, the lower the grade was, the more the subjects were apt to make deceptions.
Thus the following conclusion was obtained. The amount of deception increased when the subjects were requested to do more than their own capacity, or they were given social pressures. It was suggested that the defense mechanism in the subjects drove them into making deceptions.
