Pathological liars are defined as people who lie uncontrollably, have extreme difficulty telling the truth and often believe their lies. They are narcissists at their core with sociopathic tendencies, so if they find it necessary to lie to you or anyone else, then this is what they will do without batting an eyelid. They are not necessarily born liars but are often made this way by other factors, such as abuse or neglect in early childhood.
Unfortunately, because they are so good at what they do, it can be challenging to spot the signs of lying. Here is the list that provides some tricks that you can use when having any conversation with the liar to see if they are telling the truth or not.
1.) Listen for Modifiers and Exaggerations
Pathological liars will make their lies as dramatic as possible, so you should listen out for words such as “always” or “never.” These words indicate that something is being exaggerated, which could mean that the person is not being truthful. They could also use phrases such as “I swear to God” or “cross my heart and hope to die,” which are often used by children but are just as effective when employed by adults because of their childlike nature.
2.) Watch Out for Repeating Words
Pathological liars have an inability to tell the truth and will often repeat words such as “that,” “it,” or “I.” If they misspeak and say something different from their original sentence, this is a good indication that they lie. People who speak honestly do not need to change another word in the sentence because it makes no difference, so there is no point in doing so.
3.) Observe Body Language
Pathological liars will often speak the truth, but their body language will be giving them away, so you should look out for any signs of discomfort or unease. For example, if someone is wringing their hands or rubbing their face, this could indicate that they are not being honest with you.
4.) Listen to the Tone of Their Voice
Pathological liars will often use a higher pitch when narrating, which could make you think they sound nervous or scared. This is because, at their core, they might be suffering from anxiety, which manifests itself in this way during an emotional conversation. Additionally, they are often very good at what they do, so if you can identify this, then it’s a clear sign that the person is lying.
5.) Watch Out for Repeating Questions
Since pathological liars have trouble telling the truth, they will often ask questions in the same way they answer them. This could be due to their narcissism, as they don’t want to admit that they have lied and feel the need to justify their story. They will also often change a question into a statement that again indicates lying as it’s something that they would do if trying to convince you of what they are saying.
6.) Look for Changes in Behavior
Pathological liars will often have a sudden behavior change if confronted with their lies, which is another good indication that they are dishonest. For example, if someone suddenly becomes aggressive when all you did was accuse them of lying, then there is a high chance that you hit a nerve and found out what they were really up to all along.
7) Ask for Something Impossible to Prove
If you have doubts about someone’s honesty, then ask for something that it would be impossible for them to provide. If they give you a straightforward answer and seem unworried about what you are asking from them, then this is an indication that they are not lying. However, if there is any sign of hesitation or discomfort, you should be wary and question what they are really up to.
Conclusion
Pathological liars are very good at lying. So, the tricks mentioned above are very useful when dealing and spotting these types of people. You should also be aware of their behaviors, so you won’t be victimized by receiving false news and stories.
