Are YOU a Pathological Liar?

Have you ever caught yourself jumbled in a web of lies that seemed to just never end? Do you find yourself making up stories about your personal life to others, just to impress them? Do you lie even about the pettiest things? Or perhaps purposely, to make yourself seem superior to others? If you're answering "yes" in your mind, then you're in trouble. These are all indications that you are a pathological liar.

By definition, the word "pathological" means abnormal or deviant. A pathological liar is not to be mistaken with a compulsive liar. One who lies compulsively does it out of habit and lies automatically because it's convenient for them, but not in a manipulative or "goal-oriented" way as in pathological lying. 

RCC student Michael Abbatecola jokes, "a pathological liar's only true statement is that they are one" and "a compulsive liar always tells the truth."     

Among the facts about pathological liars is that they lie impulsively and ceaselessly in order to prove they are right and to get their way at any cost. They have limited concern for others besides themselves, and as is noted in Truth About Deception: Advice about Lying, Infidelity, Love and Romance,  "A pathological liar is often goal-oriented (i.e., lying is focused - it is done to get one's way)… has little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others…[and] often comes across as being manipulative, cunning and self-centered." 

Research has shown that this disorder can begin early in childhood and that lying serves as a mechanism to help pathological liars cope with distressful ordeals, such as family members' lying patterns, their dysfunctional family, substance abuse, and more. 
Since they are exposed to these situations early on, their future behavior is altered early on. Sometimes, pathological liars are unaware of their lying and in reality, suffer from low self-esteem issues, which may be linked to other disorders like histrionic or narcissistic personality disorder.

Raymond Lloyd Richmond, Ph.D. wrote in his Psychological Honesty that, "even a pathological liar carries deep in his heart a desire for goodness and honesty and yet, because of painful emotional wounds, believes that the world never has, and never will, recognize his pain. And so, to hide that pain from himself, he uses all the lies he can concoct to hurl at the world as he runs in fear from his own goodness."

The pathological lies can range from the smallest things like what was eaten for breakfast to major issues like getting surgery or winning the lottery. Ultimately the goal of a pathological liar is to use emotional stories to impress people and make themselves feel and look superior to everyone else. 

One who suffers from this disorder doesn't value truth and seldom respects the meaning of loyalty.

For future precautions, do not give away your life story to someone you've just met. For all you know they may be a pathological liar and could spread and embellish all your personal stories like wildfire. Sophomore Senator Abe Kolt says, "The best pathological liar can pass a lie detector test" because they ultimately convince even themselves. 
The best pathological liar can ruin your life, besides his/her own.

So the next time someone unfamiliar is trying to befriend you by telling you amazing stories about themselves that seem fabricated, think twice.