Pathological Lying Literature Review

The two most predominant questions that haven't been answered and persist when talking about pathological lying are: what distinguishes the pathological liar from a person that just lies a lot, and whether a pathological liar recognizes their story as false or real. Based on the C.C. Dike, M. Baranoski, and E.E.H. Griffith's study, Pathological lying revised, pathological lying can be considered a diagnosis when the lying is "persistent, pervasive, disproportionate, and not motivated primarily by reward or other external factors." and is compulsive and impulsive by nature (the liar is unable to control the lying). Also, from a psychiatric point of view, a behavior is considered abnormal based on the person's ability to power over it, and not the behavior's degree or purpose. A strong psychiatric morbidity indicator, but not necessary sufficient to establish a disorder, is when the behavior causes more harm than good and when it is supported by a irrational reason. Therefore, pathological lying implies an apparent lack of control and "for pathological lying to exist theindividual must lie despite himself, just as someone with ananxiety disorder cannot help feeling anxious." (1)

Eminent psychiatrists over the years wondered to what extent pathological lying reflects an impairment in reality testing or a willful act. Those that support the impaired nature of reality testing believe that a pathological lie cannot be differentiated from a delusion so "it has the worth of a real experience." Based on the observation that pathological liars see their lies as reality and believe in them, the phenomenon was compared with a "wish psychosis". It is believed that pathological liars lose power over their lies and "the mastery of his or her lies is lost," while the lies are being described as impulsive, unplanned, and more elaborated than ordinary lies. Based on the belief that a pathological liar is not consciously engaged or is being motivated by a goal consciously recognized when telling a false statement, pseudologues are not seen as liars in the true sense.

Those that support the intact nature of reality testing in pathological lying describe the lie as "a fantasy lie, a daydream communicated as reality, in which the lie can be a gratification in itself, for pleasure only and not for any other obvious gain," and claim that a pathological liar possesses a "degree of willfulness" over their lies. Based on their observation, a pathological liar can partially recognize the falseness of their statements when their attention is strongly drawn to their lies. Pathological lying was defined as an intermediary phase between psychic health and neurosis and its mechanism is believed to be explained by a so called "double consciousness," state where "two forms of life run side by side, the actual and the desired, and the desired becomes preponderant and decisive." Based on the observation that pseudologues usually have "sound judgment in other matters," supporters of an intact reality testing in pathological lying believe that these individuals usually know that what they do is wrong. (3)

Analyzing and summarizing both points of view, it is clear that pathological lying is a complex phenomenon that requires attention when addressed. Although the information provided by the two schools of thought can be somewhat contradictory, several general characteristics can be underlined. Pathological liars (pseudologues) may believe in their lies to the extant that such belief can be described as delusional (although it is not clear yet whether the pathological lying is a conscious act and the person has control over their lies). The lie seems to not be a simple manifestation of delusion or psychosis because when confronted the liar is able to acknowledge the untruth of their statement(s) and their stories are not "entirely improbable and often has some elements of truth" and they usually tend to portray the person in a good, favorable light. (7) The lies which are often unplanned and impulsive, seem to not be triggered by an obvious external reason and the psychological (internal) motivation is unclear. In some cases, the lies can trap the person in a vicious circle without an exit. "The pathological liar may become a prisoner of his or her lies."

Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Pathological Lying & Pathological Liars