10 FAQs About Pathological Liars
Article Sources
- 1. 'Compulsive Lying.' GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/compulsive-lying
- 2. 'Pathological Lying A Sign of Several Health Conditions.' The Dawn Wellness Centre and Rehab Thailand, 21 Apr. 2021, thedawnrehab.com/blog/pathological-lying-a-sign-of-several-health-conditions/
- 3. Haley, LaDonna. 'Home.' Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri, www.mha-em.org/im-looking-for/mental-health-knowledge-base/conditions/127-psychopathy-vs-sociopathy
- 4. Verschuere, Bruno, and Willem In T Hout. 'Psychopathic Traits and Their Relationship with the Cognitive Costs and Compulsive Nature of Lying in Offenders.' PloS One, Public Library of Science, 8 July 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4938600/
- 5. 'What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?' American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, [www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral.](https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral.)
- 6. Polage, Danielle. 'The Effect of Telling Lies on Belief in the Truth.' Europe's Journal of Psychology, PsychOpen, 30 Nov. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5763454/
When a person is caught in several falsehoods, others may call them a pathological liar. But pathological lying is a real condition where someone tells lies more frequently than the average person. The condition may also be known as mythomania or habitual lying.
There are many reasons people may tell frequent lies, and pathological lying can be comorbid with other mental health conditions. Pathological liars tell falsehoods regardless of the context. This means the lies may not be significant. Instead, the lies are often about small or seemingly meaningless things, such as whether the dishes were done or a person sneezed.1‘Compulsive Lying.’ GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/compulsive-lying
What's the Difference Between Pathological and Compulsive Liars?
Many people use the terms pathological liar and compulsive liar interchangeably. Technically, medical literature doesn't distinguish between the two. Certain medical professionals, however, believe the two to be similar yet different conditions.
Those who note a difference between the two believe compulsive liars will tell falsehoods no matter the situation. This means a compulsive liar may tell both big lies and small ones without any apparent purpose. On the other hand, these professionals believe pathological liars tell lies with motive. The usual motive is thought to be attention, such as garnering pity or gaining admiration.1‘Compulsive Lying.’ GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog, www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/compulsive-lying
What Could Make Someone a Pathological Liar?
Mental health professionals don't have a clear consensus on what causes pathological lying. There are many ideas in the mental health community, and they may be relevant in some instances.
Pathological lying may develop as a symptom of another mental health disorder, including personality disorders, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder. If a person felt the need to lie constantly in childhood due to fear, they may continue the habit into adulthood.
Are Pathological Liars Narcissistic?
Some pathological liars can be narcissists, and some narcissists can be pathological liars. However, the two are different conditions and not always comorbid.2‘Pathological Lying A Sign of Several Health Conditions.’ The Dawn Wellness Centre and Rehab Thailand, 21 Apr. 2021, thedawnrehab.com/blog/pathological-lying-a-sign-of-several-health-conditions/
Pathological lying and narcissistic personality disorder commonly exist together. When they do, the narcissist generally uses pathological lying to further inflate their sense of self. A narcissist may exaggerate their achievements or their problems to gain admiration or pity from others. The narcissist may also feel a need to lie to one-up others' accomplishments.
Are Pathological Liars Psychopaths?
A psychopath is defined as someone who presents with violent or otherwise abnormal social tendencies. Psychopaths typically form shallow relationships and look at people as pawns to use.3Haley, LaDonna. ‘Home.’ Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri, www.mha-em.org/im-looking-for/mental-health-knowledge-base/conditions/127-psychopathy-vs-sociopathy
Psychopaths commonly present as pathological liars. However, this doesn't mean all pathological liars are psychopaths.4Verschuere, Bruno, and Willem In T Hout. ‘Psychopathic Traits and Their Relationship with the Cognitive Costs and Compulsive Nature of Lying in Offenders.’ PloS One, Public Library of Science, 8 July 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4938600/ Instead, psychopaths may use pathological lying to manipulate those around them. When these two issues are comorbid, pathological lying is generally seen as a symptom that someone is a psychopath.
Do Pathological Liars Have a Personality Disorder?
Many pathological liars are thought to have a personality disorder. In these cases, compulsive lying is considered a symptom of their personality disorder. Others presenting with habitual lying may have no other symptoms, in which case pathological lying is thought to be a condition on its own.
Pathological lying may be a symptom of several personality disorders. A few examples include antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder.
Do Pathological Liars Have Certain Characteristics?
The characteristics presented by pathological liars vary based on the reason they lie or the lack thereof. No two compulsive liars will necessarily have the same features. The exception is that they'll lie. However, the reasons for and size of their lies may vary.
Some pathological liars may lie to elicit pity or admiration from others. Some might lie because they feel anxious or afraid of telling the truth. Many compulsive liars may have characteristics of personality disorders.
What Could Be Signs Someone Is a Pathological Liar?
Although each individual is different, catching someone in lies regularly could signify they suffer from pathological lying. It's important to remember that the lies may not make sense to others.
Pathological liars often create falsehoods for seemingly insignificant things, and sometimes, these lies have some truth to them. A person with a cold may tell others they're suffering an incurable illness. A person who was late to work because of regular traffic may claim they witnessed a severe accident.
Can Pathological Liars Tell the Truth?
Pathological liars are capable of telling the truth. However, many people think pathological liars are incapable of telling the truth because it becomes difficult to believe them.
When someone has caught another in numerous lies, trust is lost. Therefore, the people in a pathological liar's life may no longer believe them, even when that person is being truthful. Some studies show liars may even begin to believe their own lies, which can lead to the truth being even more challenging to detect for others.6Polage, Danielle. ‘The Effect of Telling Lies on Belief in the Truth.’ Europe’s Journal of Psychology, PsychOpen, 30 Nov. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5763454/
Can Pathological Liars Change?
Although it can be challenging, pathological liars can change. An essential step in the process is admitting they have a problem. This is often a significant hurdle as many pathological liars don't see what they're doing as wrong.
Once someone has admitted they have a problem with compulsive lying, they can begin managing the disorder. Management often includes various types of therapy. Treating a comorbid personality disorder or mental illness may also be necessary for pathological liars to change.
How Might Pathological Lying Be Managed?
Management of pathological lying depends on the individual and whether they lie as part of a larger personality disorder. Admitting they have a problem is commonly the first step on the road to management.
Pathological liars may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT. CBT helps alter the way individuals think and begins correcting unhealthy learned behaviors like lying.5‘What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?’ American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral. Depending on any larger disorders, those with pathological lying may benefit from medications, group therapy and other management tools.
