4 Ways to Identify Symptoms of a Pathological Liar

1. Note the Pattern of the Lying Behavior

Most people tell lies for a variety of reasons: to gain favor with someone, to hide a mistake or to avoid conflicts in interpersonal relationships. A pathological liar, however, will often lie for no reason at all. That's because the pattern of lying is so pervasive, it becomes a habit. A pathological liar will often lie about routine and mundane things that are really of no consequence. In addition, when confronted with a lie, a pathological liar will pile on more lies to get out of the situation.

2. Look at the Qualities of Each lie

A pathological liar is usually motivated out of fear or poor self-esteem. Therefore, the lies are usually designed to make the person appear more important, smart, brave or otherwise impressive. These lies are often easy to discern due to their fantastic nature or the utter lack of logic and reason. For instance, pathological liars will often claim to have close friendships with famous people or have accomplished amazing athletic feats.

3. Identify the Consequences of Pathological Lying

Pathological liars are usually unconcerned or unaware of the consequences of these fabrications. When caught in a lie, these individuals usually make no effort to apologize for the lie or admit that they were wrong. One way to identify a pathological liar is by recognizing a history of broken promises, ruined relationships and an inability to complete important tasks on time. While most people feel some remorse for telling lies, a pathological liar will simply move forward and act as if nothing is wrong.

4. Ask for Professional Help

If you think you know a pathological liar, or if you suspect you may exhibit a pattern of uncontrolled lying behaviors, it's best to seek the services of a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Compulsive lying behaviors may be a symptom of a more serious personality disorder, such as antisocial personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. In most cases, compulsive or pathological lying can be treated through a combination of therapy and medication.