Do people lie more in some countries than others? Well… it depends on who and where you’re asking.
In more individualistic cultures like the US or Austria, honesty is often treated as a moral absolute. But in collectivist cultures, where preserving harmony and relationships is a priority, the truth can sometimes take a back seat to kindness.
For example, studies have shown that in Mexico, people may be more willing to bend the truth to protect a friend. In Thailand, there’s a cultural concept called she moon, which is the idea of helping a friend save face, even if that means telling a white lie. In parts of Europe, disabilities are sometimes hidden due to social stigma.
It’s not about who’s “right” or “wrong”, just different ideas about loyalty, shame, and what it means to do the right thing.
At Local Concept, we know that cultural nuance matters. Even in translation, truth isn’t always black and white.