Posted by DumbFox on April 18, 2005, at 7:36:03
In reply to compulsive liars.., posted by mike13 on April 17, 2005, at 23:12:48
I seem to remember reading something a while back that lying is often a symptom of ADHD and Bipolar Disorder, though I think I've read too that it can indicate Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder.
I think that there is a difference between compulsive lying and pathological lying. Compulsive lying is lying out of habit. Whereas, pathological lying is an intentional form of deceit in order to get what a person wants. I think compulsive lying is born out of extreme insecurity. Compulsive liars lie because they think that without imbelishing their lives they are not interesting enough, won't be loved, etc...
Of course, I could be completely wrong. I'm sure someone else on the board knows more.
I'm sorry to hear that you have a friend who does this. I guess I wouldn't be inclined to humor him. It might help to sit him down and tell him that he's a great guy and you like him for who he is, not who he wishes he was.
poster:DumbFox
thread:485704
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050418/msgs/485770.html