Sociopaths.

A sociopath is typically defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little concern for others.  A sociopath is often goal-oriented (i.e., lying is focused – it is done to get one’s way).  Sociopaths have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others.  Sociopaths are often charming and charismatic, but they use their talented social skills in manipulative and self-centered ways.

Compulsive Liars.

A compulsive 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.  For the most part, compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning (unlike sociopaths), rather they simply lie out of habit – an automatic response which is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship.

Pathological Liars.

A pathological liar is someone who consistently lies (about anything- from the most mundane subject to detailed stories). They are very insecure people who lie to present themselves better than they really are.

A pathological liar often believes the lies he is telling, he manages to convince himself they are true, in comparison to a compulsive liar who will lie for any reason, and knows they are lies but apparently can’t stop himself from doing so.
When the lie is more difficult, a pathological liar may not know he lies, he may believe himself to be as honest and trustworthy as anyone else. But a liar in general lies to make himself sound better and to avoid confrontation, and disappointing people.

A pathological liar might exhibit the following behaviors:

• Lie to control and get their own way
• Often change stories
• Exaggerate, lying about almost everything.
• Not value truth
• Live in their own reality most of the time
• Behave defensively when questioned or challenged
• Lie for sympathy
• Don’t admit they lie
• Contradict what they say because they don’t remember their lies, although there are exceptions

These are 3 distinct categories of liars. 3 separate categories of disorders…

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