What is a pathological liar or compulsive liar?
A pathological liar is a liar who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little awareness. A compulsive liar is a habitual liar. Learn what is a pathological liar, what it means to be a compulsive liar, and how to tell the difference between the two.
What are the three types of liar?
There are three main types of liars, which include:
- Natural liars: This is the most common type of liar. Natural liars are people who can lie easily with great skill and success. They don't believe their own lies, they're just good at lying.
- Pathological liars: Pathological lying is often a warning sign of antisocial personality disorder (commonly known as a psychopath). A pathological liar is usually considered manipulative, selfish, and cunning.
- Compulsive liars: Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large or small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable, while lying feels right.
What is the difference between a compulsive liar and a pathological liar?
The terms compulsive liar and pathological liar are used interchangeably, and some characteristics may overlap between the two conditions. There are no clearcut established definitions in academic literature that distinguish the two behaviors. However, below are some differences believed to exist between compulsive and pathological liars.
A liar who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little awareness. Some experts define a pathological liar as one who has lied five or more times a day, for six months or longer.
- Pathological lying is viewed as a coping mechanism developed in early childhood and is often associated with some other types of mental health disorders like antisocial personality disorder. It could be that they lie to avoid something traumatic that happened in their lives, such as abuse, or the condition may be genetic.
- When it comes to pathological liars, it is observed that people who have antisocial personality disorder (APD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) indulge in lying.
- A pathological liar is often goal-oriented (i.e., focused, one tells lies to get their way).
- They have very little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others.
- They are often considered manipulative and cunning.
- They create extravagant stories that may be maintained or tweaked over time, and they often believe their lies or have a weak grip on reality.
- Unlike compulsive liars, pathological liars are nearly impossible to catch in the act. These people are excellent liars because they lie constantly and make stories up unnecessarily, and often, it becomes extremely difficult to distinguish the truth from false statements.
- Pathological liars know how to be confident while lying and use their pathological lying trait as a defense mechanism (e.g. they fix their gaze upon you rather than looking away).
- Some of the symptoms of a pathological liar are: they lie to gain something, exaggerate things, and they keep on changing their stories, living in a false sense of "reality." If confronted, they act defensive and never admit that they are liars. Lastly, pathological liars hold no value for truth.
A liar who lies out of habit.
- Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large or small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable, while lying feels right.
- Lying compulsively is a habit usually thought to develop in early childhood, due to being placed in an environment where lying is necessary and routine.
- A lot of them find it easy to avoid confrontations with the truth, hence they stick to lying.
- Compulsive liars may or may not experience a mental disorder. Usually, it is observed that people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder resort to lying compulsively.
- Compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning (see, Pathological Liar), rather they simply lie out of habit, which is an automatic response that is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship.
- Compulsive liars lie for several reasons. However, it may always be easy to find out if they are lying, because their stories usually do not add up.
- They are also obvious and display classic lying behaviors, such as avoiding eye contact, breaking out into a sweat, and tripping over their words or rambling.
- They often lie for no clear reason, and sometimes, for no real benefit, they make lies up more spontaneously, don't do much thinking, and prefer to tell the sorts of lies that they think people want to hear.
- They know the difference between reality and lies.
- They are more likely to admit to lying when confronted, though this might not stop them from continuing to lie.
See SlideshowWhat causes pathological liars to lie deliberately?
The cause of pathological or compulsive lying is not clear. Research indicates that the brains of pathological liars are wired differently. Studies have shown that pathological liars have more white matter in their prefrontal cortex, which is the front part of the brain. Research also shows that they have a deficit of gray matter in the prefrontal brain.
White matter is linked to faster connections, linguistic fluency, and thought processing, which could explain why someone with more white matter would be prone to lying. Couple this with the deficit in gray matter, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for the restraints against lying, you have a pathological liar who has no moral issue about lying.
How to identify signs of pathological lying
It can be difficult to spot pathological lying. After all, the people who do it are so accustomed to telling random lies that they themselves may not even be aware of their actions. They may even have a great personality on the outside.
Some traits of a pathological liar may include the following:
- Lies even about insignificant details
- Tendency to contradict themselves
- Appear to have little to no regret regarding how their lies affect others
- May become defensive or angry if confronted, even if there is proof
Treatment for compulsive and pathological liars
The success of the treatment depends upon whether the person actually agrees that they are a "compulsive liar" or a "pathological liar."
Treatment options may include:
- Repeated counseling
- Antipsychotic medications
- Family support goes a long way in overcoming this habit too, along with the treatment.
The treatment options may sometimes be used in combination, depending on the underlying psychiatric condition.
- Could Ozempic Help Prevent Opioid Overdoses?
- Trial Confirms 'Life-Changing' Impact of Gene Therapy for Hemophilia B
- Most Pregnant Women Will Become Iron Deficient, Study Finds
- Airports Take Big Toll on Sleep of Those Living Nearby
- One More Death Tied to Listeria From Boar's Head Deli Meats
- More Health News »
What is the difference between white lies and pathological lies?
White lies are often told to avoid hurting someone's feelings or getting out of uncomfortable situations. These lies are usually innocuous and sometimes even necessary. For example, complimenting your host's cooking even if you don't like it is harmless, and even a sign of social intelligence.
However, pathological liars often lack empathy, and their lies are more calculated, often causing harm to their victims. Pathological liars are frequently motivated by selfish desires and lie to manipulate others.
Some pathological liars have difficulty holding down long-term careers and tend to wander through life, changing jobs and losing relationships, as their lies eventually catch up with them.
Can a pathological liar love someone?
While lying now and then is normal, a pathological liar goes far beyond that. Pathological liars lie for no apparent reason, as lying becomes ingrained in them, and telling lies may come more naturally to them than telling the truth.
Although pathological liars may be able to love someone, it is often difficult for them to maintain an honest and healthy relationship. This can result in toxic relationships that cause stress and hurt to their partners.
Can pathological liars have relationships?
Being in a relationship with a pathological liar can be exasperating. You may find it difficult to trust them, especially if you notice a pattern in their lies and deceit.
If you believe you're dealing with a pathological or compulsive liar, the following tips can help you cope with the situation:
- Call them out: When you catch the liar in a lie, let them know that you know they are lying. However, keep in mind that this could make them resentful. Stay calm and try to help them understand why they're lying and encourage them to seek help outside of your relationship.
- Don't debate: Although dealing with a pathological or compulsive liar can be extremely painful, debating with someone who lives in a dream world is not going to change them. Starting a fight with someone who may not even be aware of what they are doing won't help anyone.
- Walk away: You may need to end the relationship if a pathological liar continues to deceive even after you have expressed your concerns. Lies are devastating to a relationship, and they need to understand that if they want to keep the people they care about in their lives.
- Seek professional help: Professional help may be required to help pathological liars realize and effectively deal with deep-seated issues. Depending on whether pathological lying is a symptom of an underlying mental disorder, treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, or both. If you're in a romantic relationship, couples counseling may help you work through your relationship problems.
Subscribe to MedicineNet's Depression Newsletter
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about pathological and compulsive liars
What causes someone to become a pathological liar?
It is not clear what causes someone to become a pathological liar. Studies show that pathological liars have a surplus of white matter and a deficit of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex of their brains. The white matter is responsible for verbal skills required for lying, while the gray matter keeps the lying tendency in check with moral restraints. However, it is not clear which came first, the lying or the brain structure, because the first signs of pathological lying appear at quite a young age, between 10 and 20 years, according to a study.
In some cases, underlying disorders such as antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder, or just plain malingering could be the cause. Munchausen syndrome is a condition in which people are known to lie about being sick themselves or about someone in their care being sick. Some studies suggest that in some cases physiological conditions such as a central nervous system infection, head injury, or epilepsy may be the cause.
Is pathological lying a mental disorder?
Neither pathological lying nor compulsive lying disorder is recognized as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the reference manual on mental health disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). However, pathological lying is an established concept in the field of psychology, and the word "pathology" itself indicates there is an underlying disorder. Further research is required to establish a clear definition for the condition, and if it should be considered as a distinct mental disorder.
Can pathological liars change their behavior?
The first step is perhaps the most difficult because a pathological liar must first admit they are lying and be willing to seek treatment. Psychotherapy and behavioral therapy along with the support of family could help in making pathological liars understand the harm they cause with their lying, and help them change their deceitful behavior. Treatment of any underlying condition is essential, which may require specific psychiatric treatment.
Are there treatments available for pathological lying?
Pathological lying is not a recognized mental disorder and there is no established treatment for the condition. Psychotherapy could help, but a pathological liar will likely not admit they have an issue, and may also lie to the therapist. Treatment of any associated underlying condition could be a start.
How can you deal with a pathological liar?
Some things you could do when dealing with a pathological liar:
- Be aware that they are unlikely to admit to lying. Don't be misled by the absence of obvious signs of lying.
- Let them know you are aware they are lying. Don't take it personally or lose your temper when you confront them with the facts. Instead, set boundaries on how much you are willing to tolerate if they continue lying, and let them be aware of it.
- Try talking to them calmly, and encourage them to seek therapy. If it is a partner, you could seek counseling as a couple.
- Be ready to walk out of the relationship, if your partner is unwilling to make a change.
- It might be more difficult if a close family member is a pathological liar. You could enlist the support of other members of the family in dealing with the liar. If nothing works, perhaps maintaining a distance may be the solution.
Can pathological lying be harmful to relationships?
Pathological lying breaks trust between people, and results in an abusive relationship and suffering for the person on the receiving end or an end of the relationship. Pathological liars lie without concern for the harm they inflict with their lies and are often selfish and manipulative. Pathological lying does harm, and nothing but harm, to any relationship.
Can someone be both a compulsive and pathological liar?
Although a well-established concept in psychology, neither condition has a specific established definition or is recognized as a mental disorder. Many experts use the terms interchangeably. But yes, a person could well be both a compulsive and a pathological liar, because both lie compulsively.
It could well be a spectrum where compulsive lying disorder is considered a more benign form of habitual lying about trivial things, while pathological lying is a disorder that falls at the other end, causing harm to others, although, both kinds of lying can be harmful to a relationship. No person is strictly one thing or other, so one may lie compulsively at one time, and lie deliberately at another time.
What type of person is a compulsive liar?
A compulsive liar is a habitual liar, for whom lying is far easier than speaking the truth. They lie about trivial and serious things, randomly and without any intention of benefitting from the lies. They lie spontaneously, for no reason, or because they want to say what they think people want to hear. Unlike a pathological liar, a compulsive liar is not selfish, cunning, or manipulative, and may or may not have an underlying mental health issue. Compulsive liars are more ready to admit to lying, when confronted than pathological liars, and more amenable to treatment.
Sullivan M. Compulsive Liars: The Truth About Lying. PsychAlive.
Health Research Funding. Difference between Pathological and Compulsive Liar.
Newport Institute. "10 Pathological Liar Signs and How to Cope with a Habitual Liar."
NOCD. "What causes compulsive lying? What experts say." Updated: Sep 18, 2023.
Yang Y, Raine A, Lencz T, Bihrle S, Lacasse L, Colletti P. Prefrontal white matter in pathological liars. Br J Psychiatry. 2005 Oct;187:320-5. doi: 10.1192/bjp.187.4.320. PMID: 16199789.
Top Pathological Liar vs a Compulsive Liar Related Articles
13 Lies You Tell Your Doctor
Are you honest with your doctor? You should be, if you want to stay healthy. Check out WebMD's slide show for the 13 lies you're most likely to tell your doctor.How Grief Can Affect Your Health
Grief is a natural part of life, but it can cause some health issues, at least for a while. Find out how grief can affect your body and what you can do about it.Mental Health
Mental health is an optimal way of thinking, relating to others, and feeling. All of the diagnosable mental disorders fall under the umbrella of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and substance-abuse disorders are common types of mental illness. Symptoms and signs of mental illness include irritability, moodiness, insomnia, headaches, and sadness. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.Mental Health: Signs You're Mentally Exhausted
Are you irritable, tired, and finding it hard to focus? You may be mentally exhausted. Learn the signs and how to feel better.Trauma/First Aid Quiz
What should be in your first-aid kit? Take this quiz to understand trauma and learn the truth about how to administer first aid.What Does It Mean to Be a Pathological Liar?
Pathological lying is often a warning sign of antisocial personality disorder (commonly known as a psychopath). A pathological liar is usually considered manipulative, selfish and cunning. Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others.Mental Health: Where to Get Mental Health Help
When you think of mental health, lying on a couch in a therapist’s office may come to mind. But there are other options, and some are low-cost or even free. Here’s what you need to know.