Pathological Lying vs. Normal Lying: Understanding the Spectrum of Deception

Dr. Tracey Marks explores the nuanced differences between pathological, prolific, and normal lying, emphasizing that pathological lying is a behavioral disturbance rather than a standalone mental disorder. It is often observed within the context of other conditions like antisocial personality disorder or Korsakoff's syndrome, and was historically known as pseudologia fantastica, characterized by elaborate, fantastic lies with unclear motives. The podcast defines lying as a deliberate attempt to make someone believe something untrue and categorizes it into three types: normal, prolific, and pathological, with the latter being a distinct, more compulsive entity.

The episode delves into the characteristics of normal and prolific lying, based on research into deception. Normal lying is defined as telling fewer than five lies a day, typically one to two "little lies" and one "big lie" per week. "Little lies" often serve a protective or social purpose, such as sparing feelings or keeping a secret, while "big lies" involve more significant deceptions like infidelity or faking illness. Prolific lying, in contrast, involves a much higher frequency, such as six "little lies" and three "big lies" in a single day, leading to more significant problems in relationships and professional settings. Interestingly, prolific liars were observed to be younger, male, and hold higher occupational statuses, raising questions about the perceived advantages of chronic deception.

Pathological lying is distinguished by its compulsive nature, lack of clear motive or benefit, and the tendency for individuals to eventually believe their own fabrications, making it difficult to challenge them. Due to limited research, there isn't a standardized treatment protocol. Therapeutic approaches focus on increasing the individual's insight into their lying, identifying triggers, and helping them recognize when they are caught in a "lying loop," which can feel like ordinary storytelling to them. The goal is to help them understand the harm their deception causes to themselves and others.

Medication is not a direct treatment for lying itself. However, if the lying manifests as a compulsion, where anxiety arises from not lying, or if it's used to compensate for obsessional thinking, antidepressants (similar to those used for OCD) might offer some improvement. The discussion highlights the complexity of deception, from socially acceptable white lies to deeply ingrained pathological behaviors, and underscores the need for greater understanding and targeted interventions for the more severe forms of lying.

"There isn't an established official definition for pathological lying because it's not considered a mental disorder."

"Instead, it's observed as a behavioral disturbance that's present inside of other disorders, like some personality disorders, like antisocial personality disorder, and some brain disorders like Korsakoff's syndrome, which is brain damage from alcohol."

"Lying is defined as the deliberate attempt to get someone to believe something that you know is not true."

"Normal lying was defined as telling less than five lies in a day."

"Do any of these sound familiar as lies that you've told? These can be thought of as lies that are justified in some way because they serve a bigger purpose to protect someone."

"Prolific lying was telling six little lies and three big lies in one day. That's a lot of deception and as such, prolific lying tend to result in more problems in the work setting and in relationships."

"Pathological lying is more compulsive and the lies don't have a clear motive or benefit. It can seem like lying for the sake of lying."

"Some people start to believe their lies and have trouble even knowing what the truth is."

"Believe it or not, for some people, it can become like ordinary talk and they don't even see themselves as spinning a lot of lies. They just see it as talking, like storytelling."

"As for a medication approach, there isn't a specific medication to keep people from lying."