Lying as a moral choice: an examination of moral reasons for lying in dementia relationships

Abstract

A total of 60 young adults responded to vignettes presenting moral dilemmas experienced in caregiving interactions with a family member with dementia. Four types of reasons for deceiving (or not deceiving) a family member with dementia emerged: care reasons (improving the welfare of the person with dementia), justice reasons (universal principles), care-for-others reasons (protecting the welfare of others), and relationship reasons (maintaining the relationship). Care reasons and care-for-others reasons positively predicted moral decisions to lie, whereas justice reasons and relationship reasons negatively predicted these decisions. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the motives underlying deception in dementia relationships.