What is pathological lying?
In medical and psychological literature, the term "pathological lying" was described in the early twentieth century. Sometimes such a mental disorder called "mythomania" (the term was identified by French scientist-psychologist Ernest Dupre), or "Munchausen's".
For the average person, lying is intentionally declared the statement that is not true. But, as strange as it may sound, a pathological liar lies for no good reason, just like that. The truth is usually easy to expose, but it does not bother you a liar, because he is firmly convinced of the truthfulness of the said information.
Pathological lying should be considered as part of the basic psychological personality disorder, rather than a separate disease. It should be noted that the disorder is one of the most controversial subjects in the modern world of psychology.
The reason for the rejection.
Most scientists agree that this type of personality occurs as a result of psychiatric illness or extremely low self-esteem. Often a pathological liar trying to make any kind of impression on others, but too committed to the role.
It often happens that a similar syndrome occurs in people who have experienced trauma in childhood. Here are a few possible reasons for the formation of mythomania in the transition to adulthood: problems in communicating with the opposite sex, lack of attention from parents, the constant criticism from other people, unrequited love, etc.
Very often the disorder occurs in the age of as a result of traumatic brain injury.
Pathological lying is a congenital illness?
Another very controversial but no less interesting hypothesis put forward by American scientists, pathological liars do not become, them are born. As a result of the studies, it was proven that the human brain with "Munchausen's" is very different from the brain of an ordinary person.
In the cerebral cortex of pathological liars by 14% reduced the volume of gray matter (neurons) and on average 22% increase in the volume of white matter (nerve fibers). These results also prove that the condition of the frontal part of the brain plays a role in this and many other psychological characteristics of personality.