We all lie, probably on a daily basis. But these lies are usually for our own benefit or the benefit of others. What makes a pathological liar so different is their habit of consistently lying with zero personal gain which makes it even more important you understand the signs of a pathological liar.
We all lie. It is a fact. Even if you don’t think you do, you do.
You tell people everything is fine when you are having a bad day. You tell a potential boss you’re a perfectionist when really, you’re not. You tell your friend everything will be fine when they are fighting with their partner even though you have no clue what will happen.
You probably do and may not even know it. Their lies tend to be so pointless they can go for a long time without being caught. Their lies can also be so insignificant that if someone were to know they were lying, it wouldn’t be worth bringing it up.
# They humble-bragAhhh, the humble-brag. One of the signs of a pathological liar is bragging. This person wants to show-off everything they can think of. But, because they are a skilled liar, they won’t always do it in the most abrupt way.
They will have mastered the art of the humble-brag. This means they will try to get away with bragging by adding a touch of modesty to the statement. For instance, they might say they are so embarrassed at something they did while somewhere very glamorous or posh.
# They have a lack of guiltWhen the average person lies they tend to have a least some sort of guilt about it. Whether you feel bad about fibbing on your resume or telling your best friend you did not hook up with your worthless ex again, you feel uncomfortable about it.
A pathological liar will thrive on a lie. Instead of squirming or feeling like they have duped someone, they show and feel zero empathy or guilt for their deceiving actions.
# They show signs of selfishnessWe all have selfish moments, but a pathological liar tends to always put themselves first. Even though this person’s lies may not have a clear cut reason, they are addicted to lying. The feeling they get when they lie overrides anyone else’s.
So even if their lie throws someone under the bus, they will still tell it. They may even give gifts to loved ones that really they want.
# They are often jealous
Although the signs of a pathological liar are clear, the reasons behind them are not always as clear. But, we can assume that a pathological liar wishes that their lies were in fact true. Therefore, someone that does possess the traits and skills they lie about having would make them extremely jealous.
Not only would they have an irrational response to other’s good news, but they would feel the need to outdo them with their lies as well. For instance, if a coworker was promoted, they would be bitter, but also feel the urge to lie about themselves to get more attention and praise.
# They get defensiveIf you have ever caught a pathological liar in a lie, you know their reaction. It is not apologetic nor fearful, instead, it is often hysterical. They question your questions. They accuse you of not trusting them when they know they are lying.