Why people lie

It was strange that last Friday I came across two instances of lies from people I would not have expected to lie. It was strange because I felt there was not a compelling reason to lie but they still did. That set me thinking. Maybe I also lie. Is there a way out?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A996942
This article summarizes the reasons to be Greed, Fear, Acceptance, Habit.

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/truth-about-lying-00000000012669/page2.html?xid=rs-yshin-lying3
This is an interesting article which not only desiccates the reason but also gives us alternative to lies. Good one. Check one of them below:
Lying to Be Nice
What it sounds like: “That dress looks fantastic on you.” “This is the best meat loaf I’ve ever tasted.”

Why people do it: In some cases, the little white lie is altruistic, says Smith, but when used excessively, it can make interactions with people less authentic. At its worst, others may feel that a person isn’t being genuine or trustworthy.

How you can avoid it:

* Walk in the other person’s shoes. People often underestimate the information that others can tolerate and even benefit from, particularly when the words are said out of friendship, says Weiner. For example, you would generally want someone to mention it if you had a piece of spinach stuck in your teeth, if your blouse had a stain, or if your pot roast could use a pinch of salt.
* Tone it down. If you feel that a certain amount of truth stretching is a vital social lubricant, the best thing to do is to avoid gushing. “That’s a great color on you” is a lot more plausible than “That’s the most stunning sweater I have ever seen in my entire life.”
* Track it. Keeping a tally of the tales you tell for a day or a week can help you distinguish between the instances where being truthful matters and where it doesn’t. Maybe you didn’t need to tell the supermarket checkout gal that you loved her (hideous) earrings. But it made you feel better to say it, plus you got a pleasant reaction from her. Most experts say there’s no huge harm in that.