I dont know if thees are the eight reasons (didnt count). But Paul Ekman talks about some of the reasons we lie here:

http://www.paulekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Newsletter_March091.pdf

In one of Paul Ekman’s blog posts about this episode, he says, “Loyalty to a friend is one of the eight reasons why people lie. It is a reason for lying that usually earns some respect, even from the victims of the lie.” I was wondering, could you tell us what the other 7 would be if you’re familiar with what he’s talking about here? I had only seen lies broken down into 4 categories before, but don’t recall seeing anything previously about there being 8 reasons.

His point was that people don’t watch House or ER and go out diagnosing their friends and family’s illnesses or doing emergency appendectomies or intubating people, which is all perfectly valid and I’m glad they don’t.

My point was that the “science” portrayed in Lie to Me is a different ballgame. To practice its science, one only has to have their eyes open and watch people. There’s relatively no danger (aside from eventual damaged relationships) to the practitioner of the Lie to Me science, almost all of the danger is thrust upon their “victims” in the form of damaged reputations, suspicion and so on.

That the danger lies primarily with the observed, that there’s little obvious cost to the observer, and that the science as portrayed in the show is so simple to practice are what make it frightening to me. That and the fact that those viewers will eventually be on juries or maybe hold a political office are probably the most frightening ramifications. How different would Tonya Craft’s trial have turned out if she’d had an itchy nose and a jury of overzealous Lie to Me viewers?

I admit I fear the worst, but there have been times in history when the worst has happened, and it’s because nobody bothered to say anything before it happened. So I think it’s perfectly fine to remind people that it’s a TV show, not real life.

P.S. Please understand, it’s not that I don’t like dramas, I do, but I watch a variety of shows for different reasons.

I remember a tv writer (can’t recall who) saying if the audiences cares about how the problem is solved, it’s a procedural. If they care about how the characters will solve the problem, it’s a drama. Getting the two confused will lead to a confused audience.

I’m just glad Mad Men is still so good. I bet Humintell could have field day with those micro/subtle expressions.