Compulsive lying/fabricating/embellishing (sociopath, husband, pathological, mistakes)

[xz2y]

I interact regularly in a work setting with people who perpetually fabricate and outright lie about situations and conversations. It doesn't matter what the topic is, they make things up when responding, or just twist and fabricate the facts. It's almost as if they live in a fantasy world of their own creation, and I often wonder if they are conscious of it, or if it represents some kind of disorder. These are otherwise "normal" people who hold down jobs and seem to function in a reasonable manner (not outwardly crazy).

Much of the time they seem to be on the defensive, and if they are confronted with the obvious contradictions (you said xyz yesterday and now you are saying abc, or how can xyz be true since I just checked and it isn't) they deny saying the original statement. It's really amazing. Kind of like a used car salesman who says whatever they want to "make the sale" even if it's a distortion of facts or an outright lie, except the people I'm involved with aren't selling anything.

[Ruth4Truth]

That seems strange that there would be more than one person at your workplace like this.

btw, there was a thread on this topic a few months ago, titled something like: "Factitious disorder".
The psychology of lying/factitious disorder

[gentlearts]

My husband changed careers out of necessity and his new job required him to work with a trainer for a month or so. The first week he really enjoyed the guy, but then DH started to realize that the trainer was a total fake, and a real psycho.
The man would do nothing but spin yarns all day. The atmosphere got rather hostile when my husband had trouble hiding the fact he was not buying into the lies.

[Billy_J]

I once knew a sociopath who was like that. He would lie when there was no logical reason to do so. But he was the one oddball out of many regular people.

So seems strange many people all in one place would be like that? However quite a few young people these days can't think on their own. They follow the "group". (Sheep.) Perhaps the leader of the "flock" is a sociopath and the rest are following along?

[xz2y]

Thanks for the comments! Lots to think about.

[xz2y]

Originally Posted by Billy_J

I once knew a sociopath who was like that. He would lie when there was no logical reason to do so. But he was the one oddball out of many regular people.

So seems strange many people all in one place would be like that? However quite a few young people these days can't think on their own. They follow the "group". (Sheep.) Perhaps the leader of the "flock" is a sociopath and the rest are following along?

Interesting perspective.

[kat949]

Probably relates to shame and saving face.

I like to call that behavior "coward".

Anyone with the audacity to not own up to their own mistakes, to me, probably lives a pretty sad and pathetic life. No potential for personal growth when one constantly lives in denial.

I guess that's my way of explaining that kind of behavior, and perhaps build some kind of compassion for those who don't seem to have the backbone to be real even to themselves. Sad.

[cdnirene]

Here are some insights about pathological liars: https://www.achievesolutions.net/ach...contentId=9704