Lying – Between Normality and Pathology

Abstract

This paper presents the difference between the so-called normal lying and pathological lying. Pathological lying is a fascinating topic, still lacking a professional consensus on etiology, treatment and prognosis. The paper explores some of the possible psychological mechanisms underlying pathological lying and considers the forensics significance of normal versus pathological lying. The relationship between pathological lying and mental disorders is also discussed. The paper suggests that lying should be considered as a heterogeneous and multidimensional behavioral model. The paper also highlights how important it is to assess the patient’s control over the lie,the role attributted to lying, the acknowledgement and awareness of the lieby the patient, and the effect of the lie on their daily routine.