假话在这些情况下是可以接受的

有的时候我们能接受谎言，而有些时候我们却会厌恶说谎。这到底是怎么回事呢？

What makes lies acceptable?

什么样的谎言可以接受？

To answer this, consider what makes a lie unacceptable. It is generally considered bad when people lie to help themselves, and particularly when, in doing so, they harm others.

要回答这个问题，我们得先考虑一下什么样的谎言我们接受不了。

通常情况下，别人在利己、特别是同时损人的时候所说的慌是我们无法忍受的。

Acceptable lies, often called 'white lies', are those that help others. Such white lies are required in many cultures, where saving face is important, and not telling lies to protect others is considered a bad and selfish thing.

可以接受的谎言，通常也美其名曰“善意的谎言”。这种谎言之所以能够被接受，是因为它多少对别人有好处。而在许多文化中，给别人面子是很重要的，如果你不说假话来保护别人不丢脸的话，别人会认为你自私自利。

Lies are also more acceptable from those who are less likely to know the rules for not lying, most notably young children.

当然，说假话对于那些不懂得潜规则的人，主要是对小孩子来说，也相对可以理解一些。

Acceptability classification

假话可接受程度分级

Linskold and Walters (1983) demonstrated a set of classifications of lie acceptability. Going from the most acceptable to the least acceptable, these are:

林思科尔德和瓦特斯于1983年介绍了一个假话可接受程度的分级情况表，从上到下可接受程度递减，它们依次是：

Saving others from minor hurt, shame and embarrassment.

帮助别人免遭尴尬或伤害（最可接受）

Protecting yourself or another from punishment or disapproval for a minor failing or blunder which hurts nobody.

保护自己或别人免受惩罚，前提是假话不伤害到别人（较可接受）

Making yourself appear better than you really are or to protect some gain, acquired some time ago, to which you were not really entitled.

用假话吹捧美化自己或者编造吹嘘自己的老故事（一般可接受）

Lies that could make others do something that would benefit you while, at the same time, harming themselves or causing themselves a loss.

说假话使得别人受到损失，而同时可能给自己带来好处（不可接受）

Lies that hurts someone else so that you can gain.

抱着利己的目的说损人的假话（厌恶）

Older people were more accepting than students with regard to lies on tax returns, to religious officials or to a partner. Students were more accepting of playing sick to avoid work or exams. There was no significant difference in gender scores.

调查研究表明，相比年轻学生，年长一点的大人们对税务人员、神职人员和配偶说假话的频率更高（容忍度更大）；反过来相比年长一些的人，学生更喜欢在请病假来逃避上课或考试时说假话。