Compulsive lying describes a condition in which a person tells falsehoods out of habit, sometimes for no reason at all. It is also known as pathological lying, mythomania, and habitual lying.
A German physician named Dr. Delbruck first described the condition in 1891. Five of his patients had a habit of telling excessively large lies. He named their behavior pseudologia phantastica (spelled pseudologia fantastica in American English).
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Many people are dishonest on occasion. Yet pathological liars tend to lie more frequently regardless of context.
Habitual lying often has the following traits:
- The lies are believable and may have truthful elements. A person who has the flu might tell co-workers the symptoms are in fact AIDS or some other serious illness.
- The lying continues for a long period of time and is not caused by some immediate pressure. A person who lies repeatedly about an affair would typically not qualify as a habitual liar, since the lies result from the desire to keep a secret.
- The lies tend to present the person lying in a positive light. A person is more likely to lie about having a Ph.D than claim they dropped out of high school.
- The lies have an internal—rather than external—motivation. A child with abusive parents might lie compulsively to avoid harm. These falsehoods would not be considered compulsive because the lying is motivated by an outside threat.
Before determining that someone is lying compulsively, clinicians will generally rule out other possible causes. Someone who has delusions or false memory syndrome is unlikely to qualify as a habitual liar. In general, a pathological liar must recognize they are saying something untrue.
Compulsive Lying vs. Pathological Lying
The terms “compulsive lying” and “pathological lying” are often used interchangeably. Medical literature currently does not differentiate between these terms. Yet there are professionals within the mental health community who classify the terms as subtly different conditions.
In this framework, compulsive lying is the habit of telling falsehoods uncontrollably. People in this category may be more comfortable telling lies than telling the truth. They may lie repeatedly about important as well as unimportant matters.
People who lie compulsively often have no ulterior motive. They may even tell lies which damage their own reputations. Even after their falsehoods have been exposed, people who lie compulsively may have difficulty admitting the truth.
Meanwhile, pathological lying often involves a clear motive. A person may lie to gain attention or admiration. Other lies may be designed to garner pity or help from others. Even self-harming lies may provide some form of internal gratification.
People who lie pathologically may mix falsehoods with the truth to make their lies more credible. As such, pathological lying is often considered a subtler form of manipulation than compulsive lying.
What Causes Compulsive Lying?
Psychologists disagree whether compulsive lying can stand alone as its own diagnosis. Currently, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) does not recognize it as a separate mental health condition. Yet compulsive lying does appear as a symptom of several larger conditions.
Compulsive lying may be a symptom of:
Compulsive lying rarely indicates psychosis. People who lie compulsively can often identify their accounts as lies. Thus, they are not distanced from reality.
Some psychologists believe a person’s environment plays a large role in compulsive lying. A person may live in a context where deception creates advantages. If a community does not assign firm or consistent consequences for lying, a person may believe the benefits of lying outweigh the risks. Lies might also be a coping mechanism for low self-esteem or past trauma.
Despite these short-term benefits, compulsive lying often backfires in the long run. A habitual liar may feel extreme stress from keeping track of their falsehoods. They may struggle to live up to their own claims. If their lies are exposed, their relationships will likely grow strained. In some cases, they may face legal consequences.
Treatment for Compulsive Lying
People who lie compulsively are encouraged to seek the help of a qualified therapist. A therapist can help habitual liars understand their condition and the way it affects other people. They may also reveal underlying diagnoses such as bipolar or ADHD. In these cases, a therapist will likely treat all a person’s issues in tandem.
When a person lies to their therapist, treatment can be difficult. Treatment tends to work best when the person in therapy acknowledges their condition. If the person is forced into therapy, they are unlikely to cooperate. Ideally, the person in therapy will believe help is necessary and make a sincere effort to change.
When a person lies to their therapist, treatment can be difficult. Even if the therapist catches a lie, the person may refuse to admit their dishonesty. This resistance serves as another differentiation between compulsive and pathological lying. In treating pathological lying, some therapists have found it beneficial to address the lying as an addiction.
Either group or individual sessions can be beneficial in treatment. When a person’s lying has interfered with personal or romantic relationships, couples counseling can also be helpful. Behavior modification strategies such as role playing may be used to promote change and gauge progress.
Compulsive lying can be a challenging condition. But with time and effort, it can be treated. If you would like help to stop lying, you can find a therapist here.
References:
- American Psychological Association. APA concise dictionary of psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2009. Print.
- Birch, C. D., Kelln, B. R. C. & Aquino, E. P. B. (2006). A review and case report of pseudologia fantastica. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 17(2), 299-320.
- Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (5th ed.). (2013). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
- Dike, C. C. (2008, June 1). Pathological lying: symptom or disease. Retrieved from //www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/pathological-lying-symptom-or-disease
Last Updated: 05-8-2018
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Can a mental health condition be contagious?
You know that if someone close to you has the flu, you’re at risk of getting it, too. There’s no doubt about the contagious nature of bacterial or viral infections. But what about mental health and mood? Can depression be contagious?
Yes and no. Depression isn’t contagious in the same way the flu is, but moods and emotions can spread. Have you ever watched a friend laugh so hard that you started laughing? Or listened to a co-worker complain for so long that you started feeling negative, too? In this way, moods — and even depressive symptoms — can be contagious.
We’ll explain how it works, what the science says, and what to do if you feel like you’ve “caught” depression from a loved one.
Depression — and other moods — are contagious in an interesting way. Research has shown that depression isn’t the only thing that can “spread.” Smoking behavior — either quitting smoking or starting — has been shown to spread through both close and distant social ties. If your friend quits smoking, you’re actually more likely to quit, too.
Suicide has also been found to come in clusters. One study showed that in both males and females, having a friend who died by suicide increased their own likelihood of suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Depression’s contagious nature may work in the same way. Researchers call it a variety of things, including network phenomenon, social contagion theory, and group emotional contagion theory.
What it all comes down to is the transfer of moods, behaviors, and emotions among people in a group. And this group doesn’t have to be only best friends and loved ones — most research says that it can extend up to three degrees of separation.
This means that if your friend’s friend’s friend has depression, you may still be at higher risk of developing it as well.
Of course, this also works for happiness — as well as alcohol and drug use, food consumption, and loneliness.
So how exactly is depression spread?
It’s not as simple as sharing drinks with a person who has depression, or them crying on your shoulder. Researchers are still understanding how exactly emotions are spread. But some studies indicate it can happen in several ways:
- Social comparison. When we’re with other people — or scrolling through social media — we often determine our own worth and feelings based on those of others. We evaluate ourselves based on these comparisons. Yet, comparing yourself to others, especially those with negative thinking patterns, can sometimes be detrimental to your mental health.
- Emotional interpretation. This comes down to how you interpret the feelings of others. Your friend’s emotions and nonverbal cues serve as information to your brain. Especially with the ambiguity of the internet and texting, you may interpret information differently or more negatively than it was intended.
- Empathy. Being an empathetic person is a good thing. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of someone else. But if you’re overly focused or involved with trying to put yourself in the shoes of someone with depression, you may be more likely to begin to experience these symptoms, too.
This doesn’t mean that being around someone who has depression will automatically make you have it, too. It just puts you at a higher risk, especially if you’re more susceptible.
You have a higher risk of “catching” depression if you:
In general, there are other risk factors of depression, including having a chronic health condition or an imbalance of neurotransmitters. Adolescents and women also seem to be more likely to spread and catch emotions and depression.
Who can I get it from?
You may be more likely to begin experiencing depression, or other mood changes, if any of the following people in your life live with depression:
- a parent
- a child
- your partner or spouse
- roommates
- close friends
Online friends and acquaintances can also have an effect on your mental health. With the prevalence of social media in our lives, many researchers are now looking into how social media may influence our emotions.
In one study, researchers found that when less positive posts were displayed on a news feed, people responded by posting fewer positive posts and more negative ones. The opposite occurred when negative posts were reduced. The researchers believe that this shows how emotions expressed on social media can influence our own emotions, on and offline.
If you spend time with someone who has depression, you may also begin experiencing certain symptoms. These can include:
- pessimistic or negative thinking
- hopelessness
- irritability or agitation
- anxiety
- general discontent or sadness
- guilt
- mood swings
- thoughts of suicide
If you’re considering suicide or other methods of self-harm, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
If you’re experiencing any mental health issues, you can always reach out for help or professional advice from a doctor or online. If you feel like you’re in crisis, you can contact a hotline or chat line, or call 911 or your local emergency services.
Researchers have found that a partner or spouse’s depressive symptoms can significantly predict depression in their partner. But openly discussing your worries with a loved one, especially a partner, can be difficult. Many people with depression experience shame or guilt for their feelings. Being called “contagious” can be hurtful.
Instead, it may be a good idea to work together to manage these feelings and symptoms. Consider some of the following management tips:
Check out group meetings
Going to a group meeting or workshop for depression, behavioral therapy, or mindfulness-based stress relief can be helpful. Often, a group setting can help you work through things in a safe environment while reminding you that you’re not alone. You can find a support group through some of the below organizations, as well as through your local hospital or doctor’s office:
See a therapist together
Seeing a therapist together, whether you go to a family or couples counselor, can be so helpful for finding coping mechanisms that will work for you both. You can also ask to sit in on one of your partner’s therapy appointments.
Support each other
If you work together with your loved one, you can keep each other accountable.
Make sure you’re both taking care of yourselves, going to work or school, getting the help you need, eating well, and exercising.
Meditate together
Starting or ending your day with some meditation can help calm your mind and change negative patterns of thinking. You can join a class, watch a YouTube video, or download an app that will give you 5 to 30 minute meditations.
Seek help
Seeing a mental health professional can also help. They can give you advice, suggest treatment plans, and direct you to the support you need.
What if I’m feeling this due to my social media habits?
If you feel like social media is to blame for some of your mood changes or mental health issues, consider limiting your time spent on them. You don’t have to quit or deactivate your accounts, although you can if that’s what works for you.
But by limiting your time on social media, you can manage the amount of time you spend being influenced by others. It’s about creating balance in your life.
If you find it difficult to stop browsing news feeds, try setting reminders to put your phone down. You can also limit your time to only on a computer and delete the apps from your phone.
What if I’m the one “spreading” depression?
Many people with depression and other mental health conditions may feel like they’re burdening other people when they talk about what’s going on.
Knowing that emotions can spread doesn’t mean you should isolate yourself or avoid talking about the things that are bothering you. If you’re worried, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. A therapist can work with you to manage your depression and negative thinking. Many will allow you to bring in a partner or friend if you feel that’s necessary to resolve any issues.
Emotions related to depression aren’t the only type of emotions that can be contagious. Happiness has been shown to be just as contagious, too.
Researchers have found that people that surrounded themselves with happy people were more likely to become happy in the future. They believe this shows that people’s happiness depends on the happiness of others that they’re connected to.
So yes, in a way, depression is contagious. But so is happiness. With this in mind, it’s helpful to be mindful of the way the behaviors and emotions of others are influencing your own behaviors and emotions.
Taking moments out of the day to be mindful of how you’re feeling and trying to understand why can be incredibly helpful for taking control of your emotions and managing them. If you’re feeling hopeless or need support, help is available.