“LIE” AND “TRUTH” AS SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL CATEGORIES IN THE INDIVIDUAL’S WORLDVIEW

Abstract

Purpouse. The article is dedicated to the consideration of the main understanding of lie and truth, as social and psychological categories of social characteristics and worldview of the individual. A detailed analysis of statements about similar categories from Antiquity to the present day has been submitted. The article involves researching the concepts of lies and truth in the perception and understanding of full-time and part- time students of the Kherson State University. One of the main tasks is to analyze the category of lies as a social phenomenon, a defense mechanism, and a tool for establishing social and ethical relationships within society. It also involves analyzing the concept of truth as a form of seeking answers in the flow of information and within the constant changes of socio- political, cultural, global, and military reforms. Methods. To achieve the goal, the following methods were used: analysis, synthesis, data systematization, and generalization. The content analysis method made it possible to explore more broadly the concepts and theories of lies across different historical periods. The method of comparing results (comparison), as an empirical tool of cognition, was used to analyze the theoretical and empirical data of the respondents. Results. Based on the results of the study, the understanding and analysis of the concepts of lie and truth as socio-psychological categories were identified and deepened. The research analyzed the main interests and needs of participants in their search for truth and in exploring the concept of lies. The main trends in the participants’ choice of topics for in-depth study (their creative work) were determined. More often, participants chose topics related to famous liars, typologies of liars, the main signs of lying, and nonverbal manifestations of deception. The topic of truth remains a more complex, philosophical, and undefined paradigm in the perception of the individual. Conclusions. Lies and truth are defined as socio-psychological categories. It is noted that modern perceptions of lies, truth, and reality transform our way of thinking, our worldview, and our analysis of life values. Truth is no longer seen as a single, eternal, unchanging, and ideal phenomenon. The search for truth and the analysis of lies make it possible to distinguish among the numerous versions of reality created by humans and beyond. The prospects for further research are defined within the socio-cognitive, age-related, and gender aspects in the study of the concepts of truth, lie, and reality.