''Liar, liar, pants on fire''

Lie:
A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood.
Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.


From the time we learn how to talk we are taught not to lie.


Mom to kid: Did you eat the chocolate cookies?
Kid covered in chocolate: No Mommy, I didn't.

Wife in a non-flattering dress: Honey, does this dress look good?
Husband: Yes, you look great.

Then there's the time I came home from work to find the glass from my shower door all over the bathroom floor. What did my angels tell me? The dog did it. Years later they finally owned up to the truth. They were fighting in the bathroom and one pushed the other into the door.

Or my son telling his teacher that his homework wasn't turned in on time because it was in the back seat of my car, which had been set on fire. The fire part was true, the homework part not true. He just hadn't done it.

These types of lies are used to keep us from either getting in trouble or hurting someones feelings.

Regardless of the motive, lies are deceptions. Some we can laugh off, others destroy trust. Some are used to save hurt feelings, some we use to save our own skin, and some are purely destructive. I think that at one time or another most of us have told at least one lie. Where there is a problem is when you come into contact with someone who is a pathological liar. The problem is even greater when this type liar uses destructive lying.

What is a pathological liar?
"A deliberate liar knows he is lying. A pathological liar may not."
"The best lies, of course, are the ones that the liars themselves believe."

It may be that a pathological liar is different from a normal liar in that a pathological liar believes the lie he or she is telling to be true—at least in public—and is "playing" the role.

Liars' Brains Wired Differently
“Pathological liars can’t always tell truth from falsehood and contradict themselves in an interview. They are manipulative and they admit they prey on people. They are very brazen in terms of their manner, but very cool when talking about this.”

How can you tell if someone is a pathological liar?
"Obviously, they will contradict what they say. This will become very clear over time. They usually aren't smart enough to keep track of so many lies (who would be?)."