The Influence of Prosocial Lies on College Students ' Peer Relationship

A pro-social lie is a kind of well-intentioned deceptive behavior that an individual engages in during interpersonal interactions for the purpose of preserving the feelings of others or promoting relational harmony. As a common social phenomenon among college students, pro-social lies have an important impact on the establishment and development of peer relationships. Through a systematic review of related literature, this study focuses on the dual-action mechanism of pro-social lies in the establishment of peer trust, the maintenance of group dynamics, and the efficacy of interpersonal communication from the perspective of social psychology. The results of this study show that the moderate use of pro-social lies can effectively regulate interpersonal conflicts, enhance emotional ties, and promote the positive development of peer relationships. However, the study also found that the long-term or excessive use of such lies may lead to the erosion of the foundation of trust and the inhibition of authentic communication. This thesis suggests that while recognizing the social functions of pro-social lies, we need to carefully consider their potential ethical controversies and sustainability issues.