{"id":16682,"date":"2013-02-08T09:43:26","date_gmt":"2013-02-08T17:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=16682"},"modified":"2018-05-08T11:23:15","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T18:23:15","slug":"pseudologia-fantastica-compulsive-lying","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/pseudologia-fantastica-compulsive-lying\/","title":{"rendered":"Compulsive Lying"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-33976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/lying-person-taking-oath-fingers-crossed-300x188.jpg\" alt=\"person taking oath and crossing fingers\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" data-id=\"33976\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/lying-person-taking-oath-fingers-crossed-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/lying-person-taking-oath-fingers-crossed.jpg 747w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Compulsive lying <\/strong>describes a condition in which a person tells falsehoods out of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/habit\">habit<\/a>, sometimes for no reason at all. \u00a0It is also known as pathological lying, mythomania, and habitual lying.<\/p>\n<p>A German physician named Dr. Delbruck first described the condition in 1891. Five of his patients had a habit of telling excessively large lies. He named their behavior <em>pseudologia phantastica<\/em> (spelled <em>pseudologia fantastica<\/em> in American English).<\/p>\n<div class=\"content-fatwidget align-right\">\n\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t<form action=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/search-redirect.html\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t\t<input required name=\"search[zipcode]\" placeholder=\"Enter ZIP or City\" class=\"inline-input\" type=\"text\" \/>\n\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"TOS agreement\" value=\" \" class=\"inline-btn\" title=\"Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Submit Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" \/>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/advanced-search.html\" title=\"Advanced Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Advanced Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" >Advanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Symptoms of Pseudologia Fantastica<\/h2>\n<p>Many people are dishonest on occasion. Yet pathological liars tend to lie more frequently regardless of context.<\/p>\n<p>Habitual lying often has the following traits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The lies\u00a0are believable and may have truthful elements.<\/strong> A\u00a0person who has the flu might tell co-workers the symptoms are in fact\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/hiv-aids\">AIDS<\/a> or some other serious illness.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The lying continues for a long period of time and is not caused by some immediate pressure<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong> A person who lies repeatedly about an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/infidelity\">affair<\/a> would typically not qualify as a habitual liar, since the lies result from the\u00a0desire\u00a0to keep\u00a0a secret.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The lies tend to present the person lying\u00a0in a positive light.<\/strong>\u00a0A person is more likely to lie about having a Ph.D than claim they dropped out of high school.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The lies have an internal\u2014rather than external\u2014motivation.<\/strong> A child with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/abuse\">abusive<\/a> parents might lie compulsively to avoid harm.\u00a0 These falsehoods would\u00a0not be considered compulsive\u00a0because the lying is motivated by an outside threat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before determining that someone is lying compulsively, clinicians will generally\u00a0rule out other possible causes. Someone who has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/delusion\">delusions<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/false-memory\">false memory<\/a> syndrome is unlikely to qualify as a habitual liar. In general, a pathological liar must recognize they are saying something untrue.<\/p>\n<h2>Compulsive Lying vs. Pathological Lying<\/h2>\n<p>The terms \u201ccompulsive lying\u201d and \u201cpathological lying\u201d are often used interchangeably. Medical literature currently does not\u00a0differentiate between\u00a0these terms. Yet there are professionals within the mental health community who classify the terms as subtly different conditions.<\/p>\n<p>In this framework, <strong>compulsive\u00a0lying<\/strong> is the habit of telling falsehoods\u00a0uncontrollably. People in this category may be more comfortable telling lies than telling the truth. They may lie repeatedly about important as well as unimportant matters.<\/p>\n<p>People who lie compulsively often have no ulterior motive. They may even tell lies which damage their own reputations. Even after their falsehoods have been exposed, people who lie compulsively\u00a0may have difficulty admitting the truth.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <strong>pathological lying<\/strong> often involves a clear motive. A person\u00a0may lie to gain attention or admiration. Other lies may be designed to garner pity or help from others. Even self-harming lies may provide some form of internal gratification.<\/p>\n<p>People who lie pathologically may mix falsehoods with the truth to make their lies more credible. As such,\u00a0pathological lying is often considered a subtler form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/manipulation\">manipulation<\/a> than compulsive lying.<\/p>\n<h2>What Causes Compulsive Lying?<\/h2>\n<p>Psychologists disagree whether compulsive lying can stand alone as its own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/diagnosis\">diagnosis<\/a>. Currently, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/dsm\">Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)<\/a>\u00a0does not recognize it as a separate\u00a0mental health condition. Yet compulsive lying does appear as a symptom of several larger conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Compulsive lying may be a symptom of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/bipolar\">Bipolar<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/therapy-for-adhd.html\">Attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/impulse-control-disorders\">Impulse control issues<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/drug-and-substance-abuse\">Substance dependency<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/borderline-personality-disorder\">Borderline personality<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/narcissism\">Narcissistic personality<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Compulsive lying rarely indicates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/psychosis\">psychosis<\/a>. People\u00a0who lie compulsively\u00a0can often\u00a0identify their accounts as lies. Thus, they are not distanced from reality.<\/p>\n<p>Some psychologists believe a person\u2019s environment plays a large role in compulsive lying. A person may live in a context where deception creates advantages. If a community does not assign firm or consistent consequences for lying, a person may believe the benefits of lying outweigh the risks. Lies might\u00a0also be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/coping-mechanisms\">coping mechanism<\/a> for low <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/self-esteem\">self-esteem<\/a> or past <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/ptsd\">trauma<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these short-term benefits, compulsive lying often backfires in the long run. A habitual liar may feel extreme <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/stress\">stress<\/a> from keeping track of their falsehoods. They may struggle to live up to their own claims. If their lies are exposed, their relationships will likely grow strained. In some cases, they may face legal consequences.<\/p>\n<h2>Treatment for Compulsive Lying<\/h2>\n<p>People who lie compulsively are encouraged to seek the help of a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">qualified therapist<\/a>. A therapist can\u00a0help habitual liars understand their condition\u00a0and the way it affects other people. They may also reveal underlying diagnoses such as bipolar or ADHD. In these cases, a therapist will likely treat all a person\u2019s issues in tandem.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"popout-quote-left\" style=\"font-weight: bold; width: 30%; float: left;\">When a person lies to their therapist, treatment can be difficult.<\/span> Treatment tends to work best when the person in therapy acknowledges their condition. If the person is forced into therapy, they are unlikely to cooperate. Ideally, the person in therapy will believe help is necessary and make a sincere effort to change.<\/p>\n<p>When a person lies to their therapist, treatment can be difficult. Even if the therapist catches a lie, the person may refuse to admit their dishonesty. This resistance serves as another differentiation between compulsive and pathological lying. In treating pathological lying, some therapists have found it beneficial to address\u00a0the lying as an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/addictions-and-compulsions\">addiction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Either group or individual sessions can be\u00a0beneficial in treatment. When a person\u2019s lying has interfered with personal or romantic relationships,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/marriage-counseling.html\">couples counseling<\/a>\u00a0can also\u00a0be helpful.\u00a0Behavior modification strategies such as role playing may be used\u00a0to promote change and gauge progress.<\/p>\n<p>Compulsive lying can be a challenging condition. But with time and effort, it can be treated. If you would like help to stop lying, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">find a therapist here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>American Psychological Association.\u00a0<em>APA concise dictionary of psychology<\/em>. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2009. Print.<\/li>\n<li>Birch, C. D., Kelln, B. R. C. &amp; Aquino, E. P. B. (2006). A review and case report of pseudologia fantastica.\u00a0<em>The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry &amp; Psychology<\/em>, 17(2), 299-320.<\/li>\n<li><em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5<\/em>. (5th ed.). (2013). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.<\/li>\n<li>Dike, C. C. (2008, June 1).\u00a0<em>Pathological lying: symptom or disease<\/em>. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.psychiatrictimes.com\/articles\/pathological-lying-symptom-or-disease<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Compulsive lying describes a condition in which a person tells falsehoods out of habit, sometimes for no reason at all. ?It is also known as pathological lying, mythomania, and habitual lying. A German physician named Dr. Delbruck first described the condition in 1891. Five of his patients had a habit of telling excessively large lies. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2474,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"psychpedia.php","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16682","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2474"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16682\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}