What's the difference between a pathological and compulsive liar?

Answer 1

A pathological liar is one who usually begins lying to avoid certain consequences, personal emotions or revealing uncomfortable information to others. They get into a habit of lying and eventually begin to lie about things that they have no reason to lie about. There is usually no reason, they just get used to making up lies on the fly and not admitting to the truth, so they eventually begin to do it subconsiously. This then turns into a lifestyle where they lie about everything in a given subject. Usually they are consious of it, though they can lie without even thinking about it. They are the best liars, being so accustomed to it, and thus are occasionally able to pass lie tests. Eventually, through enough lying, their preception of lies and of the truth becomes blurred, and they accept their own lies as a sort of truth (they still know what really happened, but they also automatically associate the lie with the real event, so that whenever they recall the event, they automatically remember both the even and the lie). That is why it is more difficult to catch them in a web of lies (though "newer" pathological liars have not developed the mental association, that comes with long periods of lying).

Compulsive liars live randomly, usually to cover up something. They do not make a habit or a lifestyle out of it (like pathalogical liars) but they are able to tell when a situation is requiring them to cover up. They are not as good liars, and thus can often be cracked by being stared at. They also do not mentally recall the lie with the actual event, so they can often be caught in a web of lies.

Its actually a pretty interesting topic.

Answer 2

Seems to me they could both be the same person. Pathology describes it as a disease process and often includes no feeling of remorse for lying whereas compulsive means unable to not lie but may include the feelings of guilt or remorse.

Answer 3

It could be compared to the old brain teaser: There is a house and in it live 2 identical twin brothers. There is a fork in the road. You know that one brother always lies and the other always tells the truth. What is the one question that you could ask either brother to determine which is the correct road to go to your destination. You see? which PATH would be the LOGICAL one to take? (no, that is not the question.) Someone who is compelled to lie is someone that falsly answers someone's question Like I am doing now. Sorry! BTW, the answer to the riddle is, "which road would your brother say is the road to take"....whereas you would take the opposite.

Answer 4

1 that is better doing than the other