[1][2][3][4] The term as applied in psychology and mediation studies was developed by researchers at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in the late 2000s.
[8] Paltering is considered both more serious and more common than a lie of omission (a passive failure to correct a wrong statement).
[3] Paltering differs from a lie of omission in the following way, as described by Todd Rogers of the Kennedy School: When selling a used car with engine trouble, a lie of omission would be a silent failure to correct a buyer who said, "I presume the car is in excellent shape and the engine runs well", while paltering would involve deceiving the buyer with a statement such as "I drove it yesterday in 10-below temperatures and it drove well".
More than half of 184 business executives surveyed in a study by the Kennedy School admitted that they had paltered.
But the practice is risky, because when it is caught, it causes conflict, reduces trust and undermines relationships.