Science Says Holding Your Pee May Actually Make You a More Accomplished Liar

Since moving on from the whole "Who peed on Drake?" investigation, scientists are now tackling other urine-related matters.

September 23, 2015

Lying is a difficult art form to master. Just ask Steve Rannazzisi. If Steve doesn't have much in the way of insight into the importance of an airtight fabrication, just askBrian Williams. If TV has taught us anything, maybe we should all just wait a few years and ask both of them at the same time when they join forces for the inevitable reality series Naked and Afraid: Liars Edition.

If a possible reality series isn't really one's cup of inspirational tea, just ask science. According to a recent study co-authored by Iris Blandon-Gitlin, professional bullshitters in training might enjoy a much higher success rate if they simply retain their urine for the duration of each lie's delivery. "Lying is a very difficult task," Blandon-Gitlin tells Popular Science while not lying. "You have to juggle a lot of information."

To test the potential impact of a full bladder on one's ability to masterfully present a total fabrication, Blandon-Gitlin rounded up willing participants and gifted them with free water:

Though this research is ultimately aimed at fully understanding the mental and physical processes associated with lying, it also points to further evidence of the so-called "inhibitory spillover effect." In short, this proposes that someone exhibiting a great amount of self-control in relation to one task (not peeing, for example) is more likely to be able to exhibit similarly great amounts of self-control in relation to additional tasks (lying). Too bad science couldn't help this guy a bit sooner:

This is also great news for anyone trying to pass a drug test, as science now agrees that all you really have to do is simply not pee.