![]() ![]() "Pathological lying isn't just, 'I'm lying a lot because I don't want to be in trouble.' They can lie about things that have little consequence to them and make up things for reasons that aren't clear," says Tracey Marks, a general and forensic psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience. It's informally used to describe someone who frequently lies without an obvious motivation, so much so that it seems instinctive, impulsive and pointless. Pathological lying is not an official medical diagnosis, psychologists say. Simpson trial. This week, Anthony shared her side of the story on-camera in a controversial new docuseries that labels her a "pathological liar," a term that is often thrown around but is far more complex than many realize. It's been 11 years since Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her daughter in a court case that garnered international attention reminiscent of the media frenzy that surrounded the O.J. Speaking with a mental health professional can help determine whether your behavior is a symptom of an underlying mental health condition and recommend ways to manage it.Watch Video: Trailer: 'Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery' While pathological or compulsive lying is not a formal diagnosis acknowledged by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR), your experiences are real and valid. If you think you may have a habit of pathological or compulsive lying, talking with a mental health professional can help. And this behavior isn’t always pathological or compulsive. Lying may also be a symptom of conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, or impulse control disorders - but this isn’t always the case. Pathological lying may be linked with some mental health conditions, such as personality disorders.įor example, people with narcissistic personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder may act in manipulative or deceitful ways, which could include behaviors such as pathologically lying. But research suggests that compulsive lying is a broader term that falls under pathological lying rather than being its own separate behavior. The exact reason why someone lies pathologically isn’t known, but researchers suggest that these lies can often grow from one initial lie more in people who pathologically lie than those who don’t.Ĭompulsive lying is often used interchangeably with pathological lying. It may affect their relationships and interfere with their daily life at work and at home. They may experience distress because of their behavior. It was used to describe behavior that involved telling outrageous lies so often that it was considered pathological.Ī person who lies pathologically may feel that this behavior is out of their control. Pathological lying, formerly called “pseudologia phantastica,” was a term originally coined in 1891 by psychiatrists Anton Delbrück. ![]() Other signs of pathological lying include telling untruths about minor events and continuing to lie even when confronted with the truth. ![]() They may lie about a variety of seemingly unimportant things. We might tell a white lie to:īut a person who lies pathologically constantly lies, sometimes without a seemingly good reason. White lies, or “fibs,” can be about a small matter. We all cover up the truth from time to time - whether that’s telling your partner that they look good in those jeans or your boss that you’re late because of traffic when you just overslept.īut when do those little white lies or omissions become a problem? When does lying become compulsive or pathological? ![]()
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