Why Pathological Lying Is a Psychological Disorder

Most people are honest most of the time. But some can’t seem to stop lying. How come?

The extensive research and writings of Timothy Levine have corroborated that people hold a truth-default position, as he writes in his book, Duped: Truth-Default Theory and the Social Science of Lying and Deception. While most people are honest most of the time, there is a common thread found within human existence: people lie.

However, some people lie much more than others, as researchers Kim Serota, Tim Levine, and Franklin Boster find. Are pathological liars the people within this smaller group who tell numerous lies?

While prominent clinical psychiatrists and psychologists have observed and documented pathological lying in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it has yet to be recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD). In 2019, I presented a theory of pathological lying in which I suggested that pathological liars would be a subset of the population who tell excessive lies that impair their functioning, cause marked distress, and pose some risk of danger to themselves or others. The theory is based on models of psychological disorders and the criteria of the DSM and ICD.

In 2016, I worked with Leslie Kelley to expand and refine Nolen-Hoeksema’s (2007) framework of psychological disorders, which we published in our abnormal psychology textbook. We suggested that psychological disorders can be distinguished by Four Fs:

• Frequency
• Functioning
• Feeling Pain
• Fatal

Thus, when there is an increase or decrease in a behavior that lasts for some duration and it impairs someone’s functioning, leads to the person feeling pain, and poses some fatal risk, then the behavior is abnormal or reflective of psychopathology. For example, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could look like someone who has had an increase in various behaviors related to inattention for over six months that has been causing problems in academics, home life, and daily functioning. The behaviors often lead to feeling pain or distress and put the person at a 40 percent higher risk for injury.

To test the theory of whether pathological lying maps onto the models and classification systems of psychopathology, I worked with Chris Hart to conduct a large-scale study. We recruited over 800 people and found evidence for the theory. Essentially, a small group of people told numerous lies that impaired their functioning (mostly social/relational functioning), causing distress, and putting them or others at risk of danger. From our theory and research, we developed a definition of pathological lying:

“A persistent, pervasive, and often compulsive pattern of excessive lying behavior that leads to clinically significant impairment of functioning in social, occupational, or other areas; causes marked distress; poses a risk to the self or others; and occurs for longer than 6 months.”

Source: American Psychological Association

We found that pathological lying typically emerges in late childhood and adolescent stages of development. The majority of pathological liars indicated telling five or more lies per day, with an average of about 10 lies each day. The excessive lie-telling has typically been ongoing for years among people in this group.

So, why do people lie? And why so frequently? Sissela Bok, philosopher and deception writer, stated that “lying requires a reason, while truth-telling does not.” The motivations to tell lies are numerous, and many times they’re actually similar to the motivations to be honest.

Levine and his colleagues reported that people lie when the truth does not work. Our work has revealed that pathological liars largely indicate that their lying is out of their control and that many times they report telling lies for no reason. However, we believe lying does serve a function and the attention received may be reinforcing. Additionally, lying seems to be compulsive, in that telling lies reduces anxiety for the individuals within the social context.

So, how has pathological lying affected people and yet is still not recognized within the DSM or ICD? We conducted another study with licensed psychologists to explore their experiences in working with pathological lying.

Most practitioners reported that they had worked with a patient who was a pathological liar and that pathological lying should be recognized as a psychological disorder. Due to pathological lying not being recognized as a psychological disorder, the practitioners often provided another diagnosis.

Much of our research has confirmed that pathological lying exists within the world and affects people’s lives. Many people who suffer from pathological lying or are in relationships with those who engage in pathological lying are desperately looking to understand the behavior and seek help. Our recently published book, Pathological Lying: Theory, Research, and Practice, provides more specifics to help people understand pathological lying and recommendations for clinicians to provide treatment.

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