Pathological lying, also known as pseudologia fantastica or mythomania, is a behavior in which an individual fabricates stories, or lies, in order to portray themselves or a situation in an ideal light.
Those engaging in such behavior are often referred to as pathological liars.
In contrast to those who may lie to conceal their guilt or protect their privacy, a pathological liar will lie often, if not constantly, regardless of the effect the lie has on others or the potential repercussions.
Pathological lying is thought to be a mental health disorder that is more common in individuals with other underlying mental health illnesses or conditions.
Characteristics associated with a pathological liar include:
• Telling stories that seem to lack consistency, often with excess details or exaggerations
• Telling lies that serve no purpose or those that hurt others
• Lying without remorse, even when confronted
• Seeming almost unable to recognize the truth
• Experiencing mood swings, difficulty controlling emotions, and manipulation of facts
• Experiencing an increased need to be accepted or admired
• Feeling a lack of meaningful relationships
• Having a history of problems in school, work, or relationships
• Having strong feelings of low self-esteem
Although lying is a part of normal life and indicative of morality, when chronic it becomes a disorder. A combination of genetics, early life environment, and personal experiences can contribute to pathological lying.
For a diagnosis, however, a mental health professional will assess the scope and affect of the symptoms. Treatment for the disorder typically consists of talk therapy or medication and focuses on helping the individual better understand why they lie, and working toward a healthier set of behaviors.
What is the root cause of pathological lying?
The exact cause of pathological lying is not known, however, it is believed that the behavior may be due to a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. On the biological side, some research suggests that neurological abnormalities and an imbalance of neurotransmitters may be linked to an increased likelihood of lying.
Psychological factors such as low self-esteem, negative influences from peers, and a negative family environment have also been linked to pathological lying. Lastly, on the social side, some research indicates that children who are exposed to more media violence on television and in video games may internalize and display aggressive behaviors in their immediate environment, such as in their home or at school, resulting in pathological lying.
Ultimately, further research is needed to determine the exact cause of pathological lying.
Can pathological lying be caused by trauma?
Pathological lying is a behavior of habitual or compulsive lying. It is generally thought of as a rare disorder, although it is not formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V).
Although the specific cause of pathological lying is unknown, it has been linked to underlying mental health issues, such as a history of trauma, low self-esteem, or other psychological disorders.
Research has shown that trauma, especially childhood trauma such as physical and emotional abuse, may be a contributing factor in pathological lying. Trauma survivors may develop a distorted view of themselves and the world, leading to a lack of trust in others and themselves.
This can create a need to control the environment, which may manifest in a behavior of lying to manipulate or gain power over others. Furthermore, trauma survivors may have difficulty with their relationships due to feelings of embarrassment, guilt, or shame and may use lies to cover up and conceal their true feelings.
Research also suggests that due to the trauma, pathological liars may experience intense emotional states such as anxiety, anger and depression which can lead to impulsive and desperate behaviors, including lying.
In addition, traumatic stress can cause changes to the brain structures, potentially affecting the regions related to emotions and behavior, which can lead to compulsive behaviors.
Therefore, it is possible that trauma could be a factor in the development of pathological lying. However, it is important to note that this behavior should be treated with professional help, as it can be difficult to stop without assistance.
How do pathological liars react when caught?
When a pathological liar is caught in a lie, their reaction will often depend on the situation and the severity of the lie. Generally, when confronted with evidence that their lie has been discovered, pathological liars will become defensive and may even become hostile or belligerent.
Pathological liars may also experience a range of emotions, such as fear, guilt, shame, embarrassment, and even anger. They may try to minimize or deny the lie or they may deflect blame on someone else or even attempt to twist the truth to suit their own agenda.
In some cases, the liar may even become ashamed and embarrassed and may even apologize for the lie. The most important thing to remember when dealing with a pathological liar is to remain calm and to be honest with the liar.
It’s important to remind the liar that what they are doing is wrong, and that their behavior is not okay.
What is the difference between a pathological liar and a compulsive liar?
The term “pathological liar” typically describes someone whose lying is so constant and so automatic that it forms part of their identity. In contrast, a “compulsive liar” is one whose lying is driven by an emotional or psychological need.
Pathological liars often acquire a reputation for being untrustworthy, as their deceptive behavior is so consistent. They often tell stories that are excessive or outlandish and often make very broad, sweeping statements.
Pathological liars are not typically pathological in other areas of their life, and do not demonstrate any emotional or psychological issues beyond their lying.
Compulsive liars, in contrast, lie in order to satisfy a deep emotional need or to fill a psychological void in their life. Generally, their lies are present in areas of their life, such as their relationships and their employment.
This type of individual may lie to gain acceptance and admiration, or even to avoid punishment, taking responsibility or facing consequences. Compulsive liars typically feel guilt or shame after lying and can often have a hard time maintaining relationships as a result.
Do pathological liars feel guilty?
Pathological liars can experience guilt, despite their deceiving behavior. Many pathological liars recognize that what they’re doing is wrong and as a result, feel guilty about their behavior. They might also experience guilt when they believe they’re hurting someone’s feelings by lying.
In some cases, they might experience guilt even if they have yet to be caught. This comes from the knowledge that they’re engaging in deceptive and dishonest behavior.
However, this doesn’t always mean that pathological liars will have remorse. Ultimately, pathological liars have a hard time controlling their urge to deceive. They might feel guilty in the moments during and after telling a lie, but feel satisfied to deceive once again in order to feel comfortable, avoid conflict, or cover up past wrongdoings.
This can prevent them from changing their behavior, as the pleasure and comfort derived from deception can become too strong.
Can PTSD cause compulsive lying?
Yes, PTSD can cause compulsive lying. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops in some people after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. People with PTSD may experience intense panic attacks, flashbacks, nightmares, irrational thoughts, and feelings of guilt, avoidance, and lack of trust.
Lying can be a way of trying to cope with these feelings, as they may feel like they need to hide what they have gone through in order to protect themselves. Compulsive lying can also be a symptom of PTSD, as they may feel they need to lie in order to cover up their emotions and thoughts.
It is important to note that compulsive lying can negatively impact relationships and may indicate underlying trauma-related conditions that need to be addressed. If you believe you may be struggling with compulsive lying due to PTSD, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional in order to get the help and support you need.
Is pathological lying a coping mechanism?
Yes, pathological lying is considered to be a coping mechanism. Pathological lying is defined as a habit of lying to hide an uncomfortable truth or to cope with an unresolved emotional issue. It is a form of self-deception where the person affected is not intentionally trying to deceive others, but instead is lying to themselves.
For many people, lying is often a way to deal with difficult or uncomfortable circumstances. It is a way to make themselves feel better, more in control, and less vulnerable.
Lying can be used as a form of escapism where someone gets lost in their self-created story. A person may also use lying as a form of avoidance, to avoid looking at or discussing an issue or conflict.
Pathological lying may become a defense mechanism against dealing with difficult emotions or vulnerable situations. It can be used to pretend that the person has a better life than they actually do, or to create stories with a good or desired outcome.
Pathological lying is not a conscious decision and often people do not realize that they are lying. It can be an unconscious act to make themselves feel better or to gain control over a situation. Pathological lying is not something that can be overcome overnight.
It requires understanding, acceptance and finding appropriate coping mechanisms to deal with the underlying issues. Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can be useful in helping a person recognize and address the underlying issues that are causing them to engage in deceptive behavior.
What are the 5 signs that someone is lying?
1. Inability to Make Eye Contact: Someone who is unsure or uncomfortable in the conversation, or is scared of the potential repercussions of telling the truth may find it difficult to make and maintain eye contact.
If a person seems to keep averting eye contact, this is likely a sign that they are not telling the truth.
2. Inconsistent Stories: A telltale sign of lies is that different versions of the story are provided over time. Depending on the circumstances, a liar may trip up and contradict themself during their testimony, or across different conversations.
3. Avoidance of the Question: A person who is reluctant to answer a question directly may be trying to avoid the truth. They may make excuses based on irrelevant information that do not address the core of the question.
4. Excessive Fidgeting: When someone is uncomfortably nervous, it might become apparent in the form of increased fidgeting — such as tapping their foot or playing with their hair.
5. Excessive Perspiration: People who are scared of the consequences of being caught in a lie can sweat excessively in order to the point that it is visible on the skin. This may indicate to the person asking the questions that the respondent is nervous or not being honest.
Why do liars get angry when confronted?
When a liar is confronted about their dishonesty, it can be a very uncomfortable and stressful situation. Lying is an act of self-preservation, so when a liar is challenged or cornered, their natural defense is to become indignant or aggressive in order to protect their fragile facade of untruths.
It is an instinctive way of attempting to deflect the accusations and pass the blame onto someone else rather than admit to the deception. This can come in the form of angry outbursts, verbal attacks and accusations, manipulation, or deflection.
Furthermore, liars may also become defensive or even hostile if they feel like their secrets are threatened; like their lies are about to be exposed in front of everyone or that their version of events is being challenged or undermined.
In other words, their feelings of guilt, regret, and shame compel them to respond with aggression as a way of shielding themselves from the potential consequences of their dishonesty.
How do you test if a person is lying?
Testing to see if a person is telling the truth or not can be quite the challenge. Although it can be difficult to determine the truth without any way to validate it. One of the most common methods for detecting lies is to pay attention to body language and facial expressions as these can often reveal a person’s true intent.
Paying close attention to verbal and physical cues can be helpful, since liars might expend extra energy to appear natural or normal when they are not. Additionally, liars may avoid making eye contact and may try to change the subject, or pause for extra time before responding.
It is also important to ask questions that require thoughtful answers and to carefully note the person’s responses. Specifically, open-ended questions that require clarification or repetition can often help determine whether the person is being honest or not.
How a person responds to questions and how they answer them can also help determine if they are lying or not. People who are telling the truth typically answer questions with confidence and detail, while liars may be more hesitant or vague in their answers.
Also, it may be helpful to question the person multiple times, as the answers may change or some details may be omitted, indicating potential dishonesty.
Overall, detecting lies is not always foolproof as people can be very good at masking their true intentions. However, by paying attention to body language and verbal cues, and asking thought-provoking questions, it may be possible to detect untruths.
Where do eyes look when lying?
When someone is lying, it can be difficult to tell with the naked eye. However, there are some subtle cues that indicate deception. One of the most common cues is where a person looks with their eyes.
Generally, when a person is not telling the truth, their eyes tend to dart around the room, looking everywhere but at the person that they are talking to. This can be an indication that the person is not being completely truthful.
Additionally, some people look up and to the left when they are fabricating facts or recalling made-up stories. This is because this action activates the “creative” portion of a person’s brain (the right hemisphere) typically used to fabricate stories or recall false memories.
The eyes usually also tend to stay lower than usual when a person is lying, as to avoid direct eye contact with the person they are talking to. It is important to remember that these cues are not definitive, and not all people who exhibit them are lying.
However, these subtle cues can help detect deceptive behavior.
How do you catch someone lying?
The key to catching someone in a lie is to pay attention to their body language, as well as their words. Common indicators of lying include nervous body language (such as avoiding eye contact, fidgeting, or sweating), overthinking their responses, or speaking in a hollow, low voice.
It’s also important to understand the person’s regular responses, so that you can spot any inconsistencies. When someone is telling you a lie, they may seem uncharacteristically hesitant when asked a question, which can be a sign that they are fabricating the truth.
Additionally, they may provide overly detailed accounts of events, which can be distracting and suggests a lack of honesty. When it comes to catching someone in a lie, it is important to remain calm and collected.
Asking follow-up questions can help distinguish the facts from the fiction, and make it easier to determine if someone is being genuine. With the right approaches, it is possible to detect when someone is not being honest with you.
Is pathological lying the same as compulsive lying?
Pathological lying and compulsive lying are often used interchangeably to refer to the same concept—excessive and repeated lying that cannot be reasonably explained by events or circumstances in a person’s life.
That said, there are some differences between the two. Pathological lying is often more complex and discrepancies between stories told can be more difficult to detect since the stories typically involve rich details and anecdotes.
On the other hand, compulsive lying is more frequent and is often used as a coping technique or to make oneself appear better than they are to others. In addition, compulsive lying may involve exaggerations and fabrications that are easier to identify due to the often fleeting nature of the stories.
Both pathological and compulsive lying can have negative effects on personal relationships, work environments, and overall wellbeing, and should be addressed by a mental health professional.
How do I know if I am a pathological or compulsive liar?
First, it’s important to understand the difference between pathological and compulsive lying. Pathological liars are individuals who have a chronic and exaggerated tendency to lie out of either impulse, or a disease and psychological disorder.
Compulsive liars, on the other hand, may lie as a result of an underlying issue, intense anxiety and stress, or an inability to control their impulses.
The best way to determine whether you are a pathological or compulsive liar is to speak with a mental health or medical professional. They can help you better understand your behaviors and whether they fit the criteria for either pathological or compulsive lying.
During this assessment, they may ask questions about your childhood, family history, or any other histories to better understand your habits and how they came to be. Additionally, they may conduct medical tests to check for any physical or mental health issues that could be causing the behavior.
If your discussions with the mental health professional uncover any prolonged, intense lying patterns and a disregard for the truth, it’s likely that you may be a pathological or compulsive liar. Once the professional has diagnosed you, they can recommend the necessary treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to help you work on controlling your lying habits and establish healthier behaviors.
