

They often are unaware that others know they are lying and may not care if they are believed. Pathological liars may tell falsehoods to get attention, feel special, or to elevate their self-esteem. Their reasons for lying are often internal and may be deeply rooted in upbringing and internal values.
PATHOLOGICAL LIAR TREATMENT PROFESSIONAL
Only a professional can determine if the person lying is a pathological liar and if the lies are delusional or manipulative. Embarrassment and remorse don’t often have much effect on the behavior of a true pathological liar. The lies can escalate to a point where the liar finds that believing is easier than confronting reality. It is possible that pathological lying may be rooted in a wish to avoid shame. This incongruity indicates that pathological liars may be aware of what they’re doing on some level. 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. Do Pathological Liars Believe Their Lies?ĭr. Because pathological liars tell so many falsehoods, they often cannot remember their previous lies, so they continually invent new, often contradictory stories. One hallmark of pathological lying is constantly changing stories. Pathological liars are usually egoistic and have low levels of self-pride. Pathological liars respond to their agitation, often without situational stimulation. Their lies are often without purpose or direction. Compulsive liars seem to have little control over their falsehoods which are not directed. Pathological liars manipulate and deceive others without guilt or regret. 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.ĭistinguishing between compulsive liars and pathological liars is possible. 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. When it comes to pathological liar treatment, psychotherapy can help. 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. 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 prefrontal cortex is the portion of the brain that is responsible for decision making and behaving in a socially-acceptable manner.

Compulsive liars have more white matter and less gray matter in their prefrontal cortex. 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.
