Guilt is most likely when the liar shares values and respects the target of the lie. It is much harder to lie or cheat someone who has acted fairly. But if the wages are too low, the spouse cold and inconsiderate, the parent too strict – the liar may feel entitled to cheat, and feel no guilt about doing so.
Lacking remorse. Someone who engages in pathological lying may not feel sorry or remorseful for habitual lying. They may be confident in their lies, even when they're obviously not true. Changing their story or denying the truth.
The three emotions most frequently experienced by people when they are lying are fear, guilt, and somewhat surprisingly, delight.
People who lie pathologically often tell lies about things that don't matter, for no apparent reason. They may do it unconsciously and may not even realize they're lying in the moment, although they can often tell afterward.
Liars withhold information
Even though good liars can remember small details, they know it's best to avoid getting tangled up in too much information. Liars will also purposefully leave details out of their fabricated stories as a way to manipulate you. Remember: not telling the whole truth is still considered lying.
Loyal liars don't just rationalize their lying after the fact; instead, they have different standards for loyal lying than they do for honesty.
The liar lacks the ability to consider what you might feel in response to their lie (which is empathy).
A liar will constantly change their story
While in some cases this is true, the opposite is more likely. It's in a liar's best interest to sound credible, and stumbling over the details of a story may not sound very credible.
Becoming angry and defensive
If they feel that someone closes in on their lies and raises questions, liars tend to get angry and defensive. Even if no one is outright accusing them, they have an overblown reaction due to their fear of being caught.
People lie occasionally to save themselves from awkward situations.
Research indicates pathological lying can occur because of low self-esteem and a false sense of self. People who lie pathologically may want others to view them positively, making things up to make them look better. Their desire to create a false sense of self could indicate that they are unhappy with themselves.
According to the researchers, older adults have a more difficult time keeping track of lies because lying requires cognitive control, which declines with age.
Pathological lying is a possible symptom of certain personality disorders, including: borderline personality disorder (BPD) narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) antisocial personality disorder (APD)
"Compulsive liars usually get away with it because they tell the lies we want to believe." Fortunately, neither type of liar is common, according to Feldman and Ekman. Ekman estimates fewer than 5 percent of people lie compulsively or pathologically.
Itching and fidgeting: Rocking the body back and forth, cocking the head to the side or shuffling the feet can also be signs of deception, says Glass, who completed a post-doctoral fellowship at UCLA focusing on Psychology and Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication.
They Leak Cues In The Cluster of “Three”
For example, a person may touch their nose, then their neck, and then their face. Or, they may scratch their head, ear, and chin. A liar might also answer with a question infection.
In many cases, stories are exaggerated to make the person appear smarter, more attractive, and more certain of themselves. It's very difficult for pathological liars to make true friendships or have long-lasting relationships because their loved ones tend to notice their lying after some time.
People that lie very often get defensive. Chronic liars may appear fidgety and uncomfortable. Not only do they get defensive, but they may also go on and on. They tend to give an excess of information in an attempt to try to justify their position.
A narcissistic liar is a person who lies to get what they want. They are often charming and persuasive. But their primary goal is always self-promotion. They want to present themselves in a certain light and believe they can get away with it.
In the end, being a friend with a chronic liar is ultimately based on your personality. Knowing yourself and what you feel like you can accept in a friendship is key to building a foundation.