10 Signs of a Compulsive Liar

By lizzie

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'When Does Compulsive Lying Become a Pathological Disorder?' UnitedWeCare, 2021, [www.unitedwecare.com/compulsive-lying-pathological-disorder.](http://www.unitedwecare.com/compulsive-lying-pathological-disorder.)
• 2. Curtis, Drew and Christian L. Hart. 'Pathological Lying: Theoretical and Empirical Support for a Diagnostic Entity.' Psychiatric Research & Clinical Practice, vol. 2, no. 2, 2020, pp. 62-69

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People who lie compulsively cannot help themselves and lie about anything and everything without reason. It remains unclear whether compulsive lying is a disorder on its own or a symptom of an underlying mental illness.¹‘When Does Compulsive Lying Become a Pathological Disorder?’ UnitedWeCare, 2021, www.unitedwecare.com/compulsive-lying-pathological-disorder.

Compulsive lying is sometimes lumped into the same category as pathological lying. There are some slight differences between the two, as compulsive liars lie about anything without regard for how it might impact them or others.¹‘When Does Compulsive Lying Become a Pathological Disorder?’ UnitedWeCare, 2021, www.unitedwecare.com/compulsive-lying-pathological-disorder. Pathological liars typically have an ulterior motive for their lying.¹‘When Does Compulsive Lying Become a Pathological Disorder?’ UnitedWeCare, 2021, www.unitedwecare.com/compulsive-lying-pathological-disorder. Either way, it helps to recognize the signs of compulsive lying.

Playing the Hero or Victim

One of the most common signs of a compulsive liar is someone who constantly plays the victim or hero in the lies they tell.¹‘When Does Compulsive Lying Become a Pathological Disorder?’ UnitedWeCare, 2021, www.unitedwecare.com/compulsive-lying-pathological-disorder. Sometimes, this detail is highly exaggerated, and at other times, it's slight. The purpose of compulsively lying in this way is to garner the individual more attention than they might get otherwise.¹‘When Does Compulsive Lying Become a Pathological Disorder?’ UnitedWeCare, 2021, www.unitedwecare.com/compulsive-lying-pathological-disorder.

Part of the reason that some people lie compulsively is to feel better about themselves. By creating a role for themselves that solicits envy or empathy, the individual gets the attention they need to shore up their self-esteem.

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