What makes a person a habitual liar

Pathological lying, also known as mythomania and pseudologia fantastica, is the chronic behavior of compulsive or habitual lying. Some pathological lying may result from a mental condition, such as antisocial personality disorder sometimes called sociopathy , while others appear to have no medical reason for the behavior. A pathological liar is someone who lies compulsively. Some evidence from suggests that issues affecting the central nervous system may predispose someone to pathological lying.

Compulsive lying is also a known trait of some personality disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder. Trauma or head injuries may also play a role in pathological lying, along with an abnormality in hormone-cortisol ratio. A study of what happens in the brain when you lie found that the more untruths a person tells, the easier and more frequent lying becomes. The results also indicated that self-interest seems to fuel dishonesty.

The following are some of the scientifically recognized traits and characteristics of pathological liars. Along with being made the hero or victim in their stories, pathological liars tend to tell lies that seem to be geared at gaining admiration, sympathy, or acceptance by others. A pathological liar tells lies and stories that fall somewhere between conscious lying and delusion.

They sometimes believe their own lies. Some do it so often that experts believe they may not know the difference between fact and fiction after some time. Pathological liars also tend to be natural performers. When asked questions, they may speak a lot without ever being specific or answering the question. Most people lie at one time or another. Previous research has suggested that we tell an average of 1. Pathological lies, on the other hand, are told consistently and habitually.

They tend to appear pointless and often continuous. It can test the trust in any relationship and make it hard to even have a simple conversation with the person.

Be supportive and kind, but firm. Lying can occur for a variety of reasons, and ascertaining the root cause of the dishonesty is critical in addressing the problem and beginning to rebuild relationships. Pathological lying is a unique type of mental health disorder that often co-occurs with other mental health conditions.

Understanding the nuances of pathological lying can help you know if your loved one is struggling with this condition, and how to support them. Pathological lying is broadly defined as telling compulsive, elaborate lies. The lies may vary in terms of function — while some may be told in order to portray the person in a positive or sympathetic light, others may have no clear purpose. Some common characteristics of pathological lying include:.

There is a significant difference between pathological lies and white lies. A white lie, or a lie told to avoid hurt or ill-feelings in another person, is a common by-product of many social interactions. White lies are told without any ill-intent, and are generally considered to be harmless. Pathological lies are continuous, compulsive, complex, and can occur for no apparent reason.

This could include creating a completely false personal history, making up a fictional relationship with a celebrity, or claiming to be suffering from a dire illness. When further questioned, your loved one might give quick and detailed responses that only vaguely answer the question. Despite scepticism or frustration from others with the lack of truthfulness, pathological liars often display little concern or guilt about getting found out.

However, psychiatrists have found that pathological lying is often connected to other mental health conditions , particularly personality disorders. Some common conditions linked to pathological lying include:. Other factors may also influence the development of pathological lying.

For example, childhood trauma can result in the sufferer relying on lies to create a persona that can withstand the negative environment, a habit that can persist into adulthood. Some scientists also believe that different hormone levels, specifically higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol, may also play into whether a person becomes a pathological liar. The impulsive-reflective scale is ingrained in our genes, and it's very hard for someone highly impulsive to take the time to think things through, just as it is a challenge for a reflective person to jump into something head first.

That doesn't mean you necessarily lie, but it's a little harder for you to stop from lying, more than it is for someone who's more reflective. Pathological lying and narcissism aren't synonymous, they just sometimes go hand in hand.

In other cases, compulsive liars just might not have the capacity to stop themselves blurting things out. And Blair said they just need to learn to control their urges and compulsions.

Their lies don't necessarily come from a bad place. We think, but we just don't know yet for sure. You can tell someone's lying to you by watching their face — here are 12 dead giveaways. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App.

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