Pathological Liars

Pathological lying, also known as mythomania and pseudologia fantastica, is the chronic behavior of compulsive or habitual lying. Unlike telling the occasional white lie to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or getting in trouble, a pathological liar seems to lie for no apparent reason.

Biological Link to Pathological Lying

The results of a 2005 research study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry indicates that the brain of a person who is a pathological liar is different from that of an individual who doesn’t have this issue. Compulsive liars have more white matter and less gray matter in their prefrontal cortex.

The prefrontal cortex is the portion of the brain that is responsible for decision making and behaving in a socially-acceptable manner. Brain scans conducted on pathological liars indicated that they have approximately 26 percent more white matter than people who have psychological disorders but don’t lie compulsively. The study results indicate that people who lie are more skillful at the art of doing so and are less likely to either appreciate or care about the morality of lying.

Treatment Options

When it comes to pathological liar treatment, psychotherapy can help. The problem with trying to treat people with this problem is that they often won’t or can’t admit that they have issues around telling the truth. A “normal” person knows when he or she has lied, but the pathological liar may not be able to differentiate between the truth and a lie.

Often, the pathological liar believes the stories he or she has concocted, no matter how grandiose they may seem to the people around them. If the liar is in a highly emotional state, he or she may manufacture false memories to support the lies that have been told. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful in treating people who are pathological liars. With this approach to therapy, clients learn how to identify the situations and the kinds of thoughts that make them resort to lying. Once these people are able to understand when they are likely to lie, they can begin the work of learning how to behave in a different way than in the past. In the case of a pathological liar, the person needs to be screened for other personality disorders. If the person is lying due to a psychological issue that can be treated with medications, prescription drugs may be part of the treatment plan. A combination of medication and psychotherapy can help a compulsive liar to stop lying routinely.

Challenges with Therapy

If the person undergoing treatment is not deeply committed to changing his or her life, treatment will not be effective. In the case of people with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), their sociopathic tendencies make it very easy for them to lie and attempt to manipulate the therapist who is working with them. They may lie about taking their medication and how effective it is in helping them to change their behavior.

Compulsive Vs. Pathological Liars

Distinguishing between compulsive liars and pathological liars is possible. Pathological liars manipulate and deceive others without guilt or regret. Compulsive liars seem to have little control over their falsehoods which are not directed. Their lies are often without purpose or direction. Pathological liars respond to their agitation, often without situational stimulation. Pathological liars are usually egoistic and have low levels of self-pride. One hallmark of pathological lying is constantly changing stories. Because pathological liars tell so many falsehoods, they often cannot remember their previous lies, so they continually invent new, often contradictory stories.

Do Pathological Liars Believe Their Lies?

Dr. Charles Dike, writing in the Psychiatric Times, explains that pathological liars may “believe their lies to the extent that the belief may be delusional,” leading to its alternate name as “wish psychosis;” but he also stated that challenging pathological liars repeatedly can sometimes get them to admit their fabrications. This incongruity indicates that pathological liars may be aware of what they’re doing on some level. It is possible that pathological lying may be rooted in a wish to avoid shame. The lies can escalate to a point where the liar finds that believing is easier than confronting reality. Embarrassment and remorse don’t often have much effect on the behavior of a true pathological liar. Only a professional can determine if the person lying is a pathological liar and if the lies are delusional or manipulative.

Their reasons for lying are often internal and may be deeply rooted in upbringing and internal values. Pathological liars may tell falsehoods to get attention, feel special, or to elevate their self-esteem. They often are unaware that others know they are lying and may not care if they are believed. Many tell lies that are grandiose and often unbelievable. They are extremely sensitive about the subject of lying and will become hostile and defensive if challenged. For those living with a pathological liar, providing irrefutable proof of the falsehood will not bring a positive resolution to the lying. It is more likely that the liar will become extremely angry and attempt to use more lies to counter any evidence presented.

How to spot a pathological liar

Monitoring Someone’s Behavior. Consider the nature of suspected lies. You may come to suspect a friend, family member, or co-worker is habitually stretching the truth. Pick apart the suspected lies and consider what they have in common. Pathological liars may lie to gain sympathy, boredom, or insecurity. Part of the reason the pathological liar feels compelled to lie is that he or she may feel as though being in the spotlight has eluded them. This person feels that he or she should be the center of everyone’s universe and will do what he or she can to make it happen. Upon tasting the spotlight it becomes self-reinforcing and the lies grow bigger each time just to keep on being the center of attention. Listen to other people’s stories being retold. Pathological liars may often get caught lying. Frequently, you may hear someone else’s story retold as if it happened to a pathological liar. If something about a story sounds familiar to you, stop to consider whether you’ve heard that story before. Observe whether the person dodges questions. When confronted, a pathological liar may find a way to avoid answering a question. Pathological liars are manipulative by nature so you may think they’ve answered something when they really have failed to do so.

Citations:

Rube, Tasha. “How to Spot a Pathological Liar.” WikiHow, WikiHow, 29 Mar. 2019, www.wikihow.com/Spot-a-Pathological-Liar.