How to Identify Symptoms of a Pathological Liar

When asked to identify the most important aspect of a successful friendship or relationship, most people would probably say the answer is trust. The ability to depend upon the honesty of another person is essential to a happy relationship--but if one person is a pathological liar, the path to a lasting friendship can be rocky.

Instructions

• 1

  Give your friend the benefit of the doubt unless you have proof that he is lying to you. A single lie does not make a person a pathological liar, especially if the lie stems from the desire to keep the person out of trouble.

• 2

  Suspect stories that are too fantastical to be real. Some pathological liars need constant attention and they get it by telling stories that thrill and delight. Although there is a chance that the stories are true, if the person telling them constantly has stories of this nature, she might be lying.

• 3

  Observe the intent of the stories. If you can determine no reason for the story, except to impress others, the storyteller might be a pathological liar. The liar may also lie so convincingly because he actually believes his own lies. Some pathological liars have successfully passed polygraph tests.

• 4

  Question the person if you find inconsistencies in her stories. Because a pathological liar tells tall tales regularly, she may forget small details she told you previously.

• 5

  Notice a need in a pathological liar to tell a bigger or better story than everyone else in the room. As a side effect of a narcissistic personality disorder, these people feel compelled to fabricate stories just to get attention.

• 6

  Think twice before relying on the word of a person you think is a pathological liar. Accomplished liars may look you straight in the eye while telling you a total untruth.