The psychology of the lie
Masterpieces of the page
Screen-tested deception
Spotting the cracks
YOUR GOAL
Master of Inside the minds of literary liars
elmo We naturally assume people are telling the truth until overwhelming evidence proves otherwise.
elmo Sort the clues from the lies to learn how thriller writers use unreliable narrators.
Brain chemistry: When a twist reveals a narrator lied, your brain releases dopamine, treating the surprise like a solved puzzle.
What is the term for an unreliable narrator who is too young or innocent to understand the events they describe?
What psychological phenomenon causes readers to search for information that confirms their existing trust in a narrator?
Which type of narrator in Riggan's system exaggerates their own achievements for comedic or heroic effect?
In William Riggan's 1981 study, how many distinct types of unreliable narrators were identified?
Which chemical is released in the brain when we experience a satisfying, surprising plot twist?
Which psychologists showed in 1944 that humans naturally assign complex motives even to moving geometric shapes?
What is the name of the theory proposed by Timothy Levine in 2014 about our natural tendency to believe others?