A Little White Lie Can Be Good For Your Relationship

A new study reveals most couples lie to each other at least a few times a week and that may be a good thing if the motives behind the deception aren't bad.According to a report from ABC News, the study looked at how often people expressed affection towards their partner even when they weren't really feeling it. Researchers call this 'deceptive affection' and could include anything from complimenting the person or kissing them even when they might not feel like it.

Lead study author Sean Horan, assistant professor in the College of Communications at DePaul University, says they trained participants in the study to recognize deceptive affection and then write down what they felt versus what they expressed to their romantic partner.

Study co-author Melanie Booth-Butterfield of West Virginia University found that study participants faked their feelings an average of three times a week.

Horan notes, "Although it's very common, the motives behind it aren't bad. The most dominant motives were to avoid conflict, negative feelings and hurting your partner." The researchers found deception was primarily used to maintain the relationship and the little white lies are pretty harmless. As Harmon puts it, "we don't always want to know the truth all the time."

Harmon and Booth-Butterfield caution if your motive for deceiving your partner includes covering up something major, an affair for instance, you are doing more harm than good.