Spotting The Pathological Liar: 10 Subtle Characteristics

Have you ever had an experience with a person who always seems mysterious and nothing they say ever comes to fruition?

Well…if so, you might have been dealing with a sociopath, narcissist, or even a pathological liar. This article will discuss 6 important characteristics we should all be aware of with the pathological liar.

In this video, I discuss characteristics of pathological liars and typical disorders that involve pathological lying. I focus on the following characteristics and define them for you:

Habitual/frequent lying that is consistent
Triangulation (which I will discuss further next week)
Listening to respond ONLY
Manipulating you into "playing" roles in their life
Seducing you
Exaggerating things to distract from the truth
Using emotions to control and dominate
Studying you and looking for your weakness
Rehearsing their lines and lies

There are also common characteristics of pathological lying that can be found in the following diagnoses:

-CHILDREN & TEENS:
Oppositional defiant disorder
Conduct disorder
Juvenile Delinquency

-ADULTS:
Borderline Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder "sociopaths" and "psychopaths"
Histrionic personality

[TherapistTamaraHill]

Have any of you experienced the "wrath" of a pathological liar?

[BlackTechs]

That "listen to respond" part was my biggest take away from this just cuz recently I was arguing with a "friend" over something and even tho I explained to them Why they shouldn't have done what they did.... She didn't listen, she just gave her response again for the 3rd time to justify her actions.

[dlon]

I want to learn the power of silence. Smile, nod my head in response to lies. Then go about my business of staying focused on my goals. Life's too short people

[kevins]

I was engaged to one for 10 months...Finally things starting getting completely crazy and outrageous...So I fasted and prayed, and that's when God opened my eyes to the truth...Turns out she was married.

[Bresha_________]

I’m here because of the pathological liar article!! It helped me much! Thank you! May God continue to bless ❤❤❤❤

[kylieangelheart]

When you have a pathological liar mixed with a narcissist and witness the damage that they do is so exremley painful. Perhaps you could do a video of how to handle this.

[elizabethseiden]

Hi Tamara!! Amazing video!! I was a cheerleader in high school in 1987, with a lot of opportunity. However, at seventeen, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Fast forward to 2022, when I reached out to my narcissistic without a clue of his fury. I forgot not to poke the tiger! My father told me to put my puppy into the shelter. The Vet bullied me by lying about my beautiful dog. He was money hungry. I told him that I paid another kennel $500 for one month of dog boarding. I didn’t realize how neglecting I was to my beautiful, smart, puppy. I stopped sending my narcissistic, pathological father $120 Outback Steak house gift cards. He received a narcissistic injury. When I went to D.C. to visit him for my 50th birthday and showed him pictures of my dog Lilly, I was unaware of the severe danger, my innocent dog was in. My authoritarian father’s wrath was ignited. He called me and said we need to talk about Lilly. He said you can’t take care of her. I have left the family.

[mfar]

I had two types in my past. 1-my grandmother who was manipulative & played both ends against the middle regarding family drama, which she seemed to thrive on. 2-an ex who just lied all day, every day about anything & everything, regardless of the topic.

[gregoriamercado]

Listening from the Philippines. That last part is sooo true. Which is why pathological liars also stalk their prey. They are quintessential predators.

[ProliantLife]

Thank you so much for doing this series. I've been dealing with someone like this for about 10 years. This has helped alot in just the first hr of listening, sense I have to deal with this person for life you got a lifetime sub and fan here

[judyp.]

Dear Tamara, just want to give you a compliment for your Charisma, your authenticity and overall the way you are and produceyourtutorials!! Love watching your videos, for you just are so natural and agreeable, not like most of youtube girls whose videos are (badly) cut every 10 seconds! Very enjoyable to listen to your speeches! And then, after all of this, you are still competent, professional, intelligent and a wonderful teacher. Im sure you are a good person with a good heart. Sending Much love from Germany:))))

[jay-sezs]

I know a woman who is literally the definition of a pathological liar. I didn’t spot it at first because her story seemed believable. However overtime the stories grew arms and legs and were just so over detailed and unlikely, it gave me doubts. She would make her life sound so exciting. If you questioned it she would mention something completely unrelated and then reply with a long detailed far fetched response. She is so committed to her own lies that she will actually agree to organise something and everytime the most extraordinary circumstance happens which is used as an excuse.

She truly believes that she’s fooled me 😂 It’s funny being able to see right through it.

I don’t know whether it’s manipulative of me to go along with her manipulation thirst.

[ladennayoung]

I'm surprised that they can look you in the face and lie, and appear to be telling the truth.

[MonkeySpanner]

I love your clarity and delivery. Thanks. Just having issues with a new friend who I suspect knows I'm onto his lies and manipulations, and I feel he has laid groudwork with 'my' friends already as I'm warning them

[EM-pskr]

My husband lies perpetually. Seems like a lot of work. I’m over it. Definitely a power game.

[feebee]

So good! I have seen this video before but always good to get back to it once in a while

[ranbymonkeys]

I would define it as someone who lies when the truth has ZERO consequence.

[mannysumaya]

Do they think everyone else thinks like them therefore they think we are lying too?

[AnnaMishel]

What everybody gets wrong is:
Narcissists/psychopaths are a different species of human from empaths.
Just like there are dolphins and sharks. They are entirely different!
So are golden retrievers and rottweilers. Both dogs but entirely different!
So are parrots and raptors. Both birds but entirely different!

[PabloMartinez-zvgp]

OMG... You are AWESOME!! Thank you so much for your videos! Question though, I only counted & noted 8 characteristics.