Pathelogical Lying

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By bobobob
Words 1260
Pages 6
Professor Sezonenko
ENC 1102
Lying for the Thrill
Pathological lying is a controversial topic. It is debated if it should be classified as a symptom or a disease. Pathological lying is characterized by frequent and repeated lying for no apparent reason. Pathological liars have no motives for benefits from their behavior. Lying to hide something has more consequences behind it such as avoiding punishment. Everyone carries the trait of being untruthful to manipulate a situation. Pathological lying has a trait called Pseudologia Phantastica, which causes the person to believe their own lies. Pathological lying is becoming an epidemic, which is requiring a need for recognizing the problem, as being a pathological liar is a danger to one’s self or to others.
There are several different kinds of liars: there are ordinary liars, compulsive liars, and pathological liars. An ordinary liar is the everyday person that tells a little white lie to avoid consequences or just to add exaggeration. For example, I asked my six year old brother, Isaiah, if he ate the doughnuts that I had in my room, and his immediate answer was no, even though I could see the white powder around his lips. Thinking he would get in trouble, Isaiah lied to avoid consequences. Compulsive liars are people who lie because it is a habit. They lie to avoid the truth, which may be uncomfortable to them. Low self-esteem is a big factor in being a compulsive liar. My cousin Cindy is an example of a compulsive liar. Back when I was living in Chicago, Illinois, there was a theme park call “Six Flags.” A new ride, Superman, had just come out that day; I asked Cindy to come with me to try out the new ride, and her response was she had already been on the ride several times. I asked Cindy how she could have road the ride several times if it just opened today, and she then said that she had ridden it…...

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