Cross-cultural differences in children’s evaluations of antisocial and prosocial lies: A meta-analytic review

ABSTRACT The present review aimed to examine cross-cultural differences (eastern vs western cultures) in the evaluation of antisocial and prosocial lies through two meta-analyses. A total of 10 studies consisting of 2,347 participants between 5 and 12 years of age were included. Both meta-analyses did not find significant cross-cultural differences on either antisocial lies (Hedges g = −0.07, p > 0.05) or prosocial lies (Hedges’ g = 0.24, p > 0.05). Further, age did not have any significant moderator effect on either of the analyses. Since the inter-cultural differences were not significant, the present meta-analytic review opens new research avenues to explore more intra-cultural differences on various socialization practices within a culture that may influence the lying behaviour of children.