Is Chronic Lying A Disorder?

Question

We learned in Abnormal Psych about Malingering, and it was basically when people lie to gain drugs, money, attention, or some other personal gain. I thought it was a joke...I mean who would take that seriously? Why can't a therapist just tell a patient they are lying, instead of "malingering"?

Answer 1

Malingering is different from just chronic lying (pseudologia fantastica, aka pathological lying) in that it's lying to get something instead of just lying for no reason. It's considered a disorder because the person doesn't have control of it.

Answer 2

Malingering is different then lying. A malingerer is usually compelled by internal mechanisms to lie. They are driven toward the secondary gain with intense need. They have very poor self awareness and poor insight in to what they are doing.

Answer 3

Don't you think if someone tells a lie long enough, it becomes the truth to them. Then someone such as a therapist believes it to be the truth also. Since frequently they have no comparison.

If lying is a normal part of their lives and they are good enough that they do not trip themselves up, I am assuming that it seems like the truth.

Once they get into the habit as children it's probably hard to stop. Or maybe if they aren't challenged they don't have any reason to stop.

Answer 4

can also be misdiagnoses of pain chronic illness anxiety disorders done too often esp in ptsd and medical conditions in low income women ... and in work comp and other legal cases.
too often used incorrectly.
see below:

DSM-IV-TR
The DSM-IV-TR states that malingering is suspected if one or more of the following are observed

Medicolegal context of presentation
Marked discrepancy between the person’s claimed stress of disability and the objective findings
Lack of cooperation during the diagnostic evaluation and in complying with prescribed treatment regimen
The presence of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Chronic lying is a different problem!!!!!!!!!!.

Answer 5

Malingering is a medical and psychological term that refers to an individual faking the symptoms of mental or physical disorders for a myriad of reasons such as fraud, dereliction of responsibilities, response to (attempt to lessen) external stress factors, or attempting to obtain medications or to lighten criminal sentences. Because malingerers are usually seeking some sort of primary or secondary gain, this disorder remains separate of Somatization disorders and factitious disorder in which the gain is not obvious.

A pathological liar is usually defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little awareness. Pathological lying is often viewed as coping mechanism developed in early childhood and it is often associated with some other type of mental health disorder. A pathological liar is often goal-oriented (i.e., focused - tells lies to get his/her way). Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others. A pathological liar often comes across as being manipulative and cunning.

A compulsive (also called habitual or chronic) liar is defined as someone who lies out of habit. Lying is their normal and reflexive way of responding to questions. Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large and small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable, while lying feels right. Compulsive lying is usually thought to develop in early childhood, due to being placed in an environment where lying was necessary and routine. For the most part, compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning, rather they simply lie out of habit - an automatic response that is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship

Answer 6

Well if your psychiatrist flat out called you a liar it probably wouldn't feel very good, and you might not show up for next times meeting. Also when you're a professional you tend to use professional terms.

And, I dont know if I'd call it a disorder, but I once had a friend who lied about EVERYTHING...so I know for a fact that there really are liars, and she was the type you described as doing it for attention. I'd call it "annoying".

Answer 7

I would say it is more of a character flaw. My Father did it. Bad.
He would lie , just to lie. Especially about stupid stuff, places he said he was that he wasn't, almost every sentence was a downright lie that came out of his mouth. I think he did it all his life and had no idea he even did it. He is dead now, almost a year, and now I can laugh about it, but at the time I always thought he thought I was an idiot that I didn't see or know this personality flaw. I believe it came from his childhood myself, I am no psychologist, but I came from tons and tons of expierience with my Father with this.

Answer 8

Not even the most sophisticated polygraphs can catch a lier. A human may be able to read body language, and stress levels, but some people are just so accustom to lying that no one can tell

Answer 9

It has to do with our liberal controlled society. If you said the person is lying then you're blaming the "victim" who has a "disorder" that is "not their fault" you see in today's society no on is held responsible for their actions. I'd suggest you drop that course and get out of that liberal sewer that is passing itself off as a college and go to work int he real world. You teachers don't have a CLUE how the real world works. They are nothing but a bunch of left wing liberal God hating liberals.

n3

Answer 10

Yes