Summary.390 children were given an intelligence test and a 100‐item personality inventory purporting to measure E, N and the tendency to put themselves in the best light (lie scale). Factor analysis of the intercorrelations between items gave rise to three clearly defined independent factors identified as E, N and L. Intelligence correlated significantly only with L (r= ‐·29). It is suggested that these results support an interpretation of the L scale in terms of ‘lack of insight’ rather than propensity to lie, although under highly motivating conditions the L scale may fulfil this funct