Pathological Liar Vs. Compulsive Liar

Often times, the terms compulsive liar and pathological liar are used interchangeably. However, in reality, both are different! Although, both have this habit of lying about every small or big thing, yet their motives behind lying are not the same. Nor do they pose the same kind of threat to the people around them. Given below is the difference between a pathological liar and a compulsive liar.

Compulsive Liar
Let's start with defining what is compulsive lying. A compulsive liar is a person who will lie, no matter what. It has become a habit with him to lie about everything and he has no control over it. The thing with people who suffer from compulsive lying disorder is that they lie because they find telling the truth very uncomfortable. So, to avoid themselves from this discomfort, they resort to lying.

Usually, it is seen that people develop this habit of lying compulsively, right in their childhood. They are generally raised in an atmosphere where lying is necessary. There is one trait common in all compulsive liars and that is - they have a very low self-esteem. So, in order to prove others that they are something, they resort to making stories and lying. Compulsive liars are more or less harmless. They lie out of habit, not to get anything out of it. Most compulsive liars know that they are lying, it's just that they are unable to do anything about it.

Pathological Liar
A pathological liar is someone who lies to get his way. They are manipulative, crafty and usually have a goal in mind when they lie. Pathological liars have no concern for the feelings of others, even of those people who are close to them.

Comparison
What separates a pathological liar from a compulsive liar is that pathological liars start believing their lies so much that they actually think that it is reality! That's why, they have no qualms lying about supposed "illnesses" or "incidents" or "adventures" they had experienced in their life. Some of the symptoms of a pathological liar are - they lie to gain something, they exaggerate things, they keep on changing their stories, they live in a false sense of "reality", if confronted they act defensive and never admit that they are liars and lastly, they hold no value for truth.

Compulsive liars have no motive for lying, they do it because they can not help it and also, because they find the truth to be very uncomfortable. On the other hand, pathological liars have an agenda, something that they want to achieve, that they get by lying, little caring about other people.

When it comes to pathological liars, it is seen that people who suffer from APD i.e. antisocial personality disorder and NPD i.e. Narcissistic Personality disorder, indulge in it. Compulsive liars, may or may not suffer from a mental disorder. Usually, it is seen that people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, resort to lying compulsively.

As for the treatment for both these disorders, psychotherapy, counseling and medication, a combination of any or all of these is used. The success of the treatment depends upon whether the person actually agrees that he is a "compulsive liar" or a "pathological liar". It is only when the person realizes that he has a psychological problem and he needs to overcome it, that treatment has any chances of being a success. Of course, family support goes a long way in overcoming this habit too, along with the treatment.