Does Ego Depletion Elicit Stronger Cues of Deception?

Abstract Lying is cognitively demanding and presumably requires self-regulation. According to ego depletion theory, a task that self-regulation should therefore impair an individual’s ability tell convincing lie in later task. Consequently, it was hypothesized manipulation of would enhance behavioral differences between liars truth-tellers. To manipulate depletion, participants worked (vs. did not work) on which they had suppress dominant responses while copying text. Subsequently, talked simulated job interview about previously held held). In the sample 164 participants, there no evidence support hypothesis; expected Ego Depletion x Veracity interaction significant for any 15 cues coded videotaped interviews. Although main effect at multivariate level first two parts interview, none univariate effects reached significance corrected multiple testing. Bayesian analyses rendered moderate strong favor null hypothesis. Possible implications results are discussed, also those related theory.