Someone who lies frequently will eventually lose track of previous lies and start to contradict them. When someone isn't telling the truth, they may have a hard time keeping details of their story straight. If someone you know lies to you a lot, look for these signs. Instead, pay attention to that person specifically. But there's no one-size-fits-all way to tell when someone is lying. Many people have “tells” when they lie that signal when they aren’t telling the truth. People who lie pathologically usually tell gray or real lies. Any malicious lie is generally considered a “real lie,” which is socially unacceptable. These lies often carry serious consequences for other people and may lead to situations that are unfair or unjust. This type of lie is known as a “gray lie,” since it’s less likely to be socially acceptable than a white lie.įinally, some people lie for malicious reasons. They tend to be about serious or self-serving matters. These lies are generally more complete fabrications. Sometimes, people lie to avoid getting in trouble or to protect themselves from a threat. ![]() Many white lies are only partially false or exaggerate the truth. These are generally known as “ white lies, ” because they're intended to avoid harm and they're about trivial matters. Maybe it's to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or to escape uncomfortable situations. If you or someone you know has symptoms of pathological lying, it’s important to get help. ![]() Finding a qualified, experienced therapist for the long term is key to managing this condition. Treatment will depend on what they need and what they respond to during therapy sessions. That's because pathological liars may lie to their therapist instead of addressing their lying behavior. The best option is psychotherapy, but even that can pose challenges. Pathological lying is a condition, not a symptom of something else. ![]() A pathological liar might have other mental conditions such as depression or anxiety. The lying is not a symptom of other mental illness. Their dishonesty might be the thing people remember most about them. It often begins when in the teens and continues indefinitely, into all areas of life. Pathological lying usually happens for years. They tell stories that don’t benefit them and might actually hurt them when the truth comes out. But pathological liars don’t have a clear motive. Many people tell small lies to avoid unpleasant consequences, like saying they were late because of traffic instead of admitting that they overslept. For example, they might falsely claim to have received an award or say that still-living family members died. The lies they tell can be outlandish and easily disproved. They then add more lies to back up the original lies. They make up stories that sound real enough that people believe them. Characteristics of Pathological LyingĮxperts look for four main behaviors when trying to figure out if someone is a pathological liar:Įxcessive lying. You can also support them if they decide to get treatment. If someone lies to you a lot, you can learn to spot their lies. Regardless of the reason for lying, it can be upsetting to be lied to. But it's a real and troubling condition. It’s also called “pseudologia fantastica” or “mythomania.” It isn’t listed as an official diagnosis in the psychiatric guidebook called the DSM-V. ![]() Psychiatrists have recognized pathological lying for hundreds of years. Also, some people simply lie pathologically but have no other conditions. Other conditions, such as borderline personality disorder, may also lead to frequent lies, but these aren't considered pathological. This behavior can be part of a personality disorder such as antisocial, narcissistic, and histrionic. They often continue the pattern for years. Pathological lying usually starts when a person is in their teens. Other pathological liars will admit that they've been lying only when their lies are proved false. Some people believe the things they say, even when those things are clearly false. It isn’t clear whether pathological liars understand that what they say isn’t true. They may lose jobs and ruin relationships because of their lying. Pathological liars often make up stories, even if that causes them harm. These lies are extensive and elaborate, and the urge to tell them is compulsive. Lying may be used as a tool to achieve a goal.īut pathological lying is often done without any reason and regardless of consequences. When someone tells a lie, there's often a clear reason they do so.
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