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?