A pathological liar might have other mental conditions such as depression or anxiety. Their dishonesty might be the thing people remember most about them. It begins when a person is young and continues indefinitely and in all areas of life. They tell stories that don’t benefit them and might actually hurt them when the truth comes out.‌ Pathological liars don’t have a clear motive. Most people will tell small lies to avoid unpleasant consequences, like saying you were late because of traffic instead of admitting that you overslept. The lies that pathological liars tell differ from lies most people tell because there isn’t a reason for them. They might falsely claim to have received an award or say that still-living family members died. The lies they tell can also be outlandish and easily disproved. They then have to add more lies to back up the original lies. They may make up stories that sound real enough that other people believe them. Pathological liars lie more than most people. It’s a lifelong behaviour, and they can’t control the urge to lie.Įxperts look for four main behaviours when trying to figure out if someone is a pathological liar:Įxcessive lying. They also make up elaborate stories about themselves. They usually don’t plan to tell the lies. Researchers have found that pathological liars tell lies without good reason and without worrying about the consequences. It’s even different from patterns of dishonesty you might see in someone who’s trying to hide bad habits like infidelity or substance abuse. Pathological lying is different from the occasional lies most people tell. Their lying might become a problem that affects their relationships, career, and family.

Pathological lying usually starts when a person is in their teens. Other pathological liars will admit that they have been lying only when their lies are proved false. Some people fully believe in the things they say, even when they 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. They often can’t control the impulse to make up stories, even when this causes them harm. Pathological liars, on the other hand, often lie without any reason. Lying is a tool that people use to achieve a goal. When someone tells a lie, there is often a clear reason for them to do so. It’s also called “pseudologia fantastica” or “mythomania.” It isn’t listed as an official diagnosis, but it is a real and troubling condition. ‌Psychiatrists have recognized pathological lying as a type of behaviour for hundreds of years. Pathological liars harm themselves with their behaviour, but they keep doing it despite the consequences. ‌To be labelled as a pathological liar, a person must lie frequently and for no good reason. People often call those who lie constantly “pathological liars.” While frequent dishonesty isn’t a good habit, this doesn’t quite fit the official definition of pathological lying.

Definition pathological lier