Is pathological lying a mental disorder?

The reason I ask, is because I have known a few people that for no reason at all, lie about just about everything they can. I simply do not understand this type of behavior, to someone that doesn't really know a pathological liar they might just think they are an asshole that wants attention, however I wonder if it is an actual disorder with the way their brain thinks.

My dad, and a couple friends are this way. It doesn't matter what they are talking about, they frequently will start talking about something is either obviously false, or I know for a fact is untrue. Most of the time these lies do not benefit them, so I don't understand how they can consciously lie to people they care about, and because they get so enveloped in their lies, I wonder if they even realize what they are saying isn't true?

Does anybody understand pathological liars? The people I know that lie don't seem to have any motive, but my dad's new wife even seems to get in on his lies! (I know my dad well enough to know when his stories go from true to completely BS, and his wife seems to jump right in and add to the crap).

One of the lies I was told that really made me wonder about people that do this, is when a friend of mine who has a band told me in all honesty in private about his band being signed up by Sony. He went into great detail about how they were sending each of the band members a large check and would be promoting them and distributing their CDs. Now, this makes me wonder if these people have a mental problem because if he knew he was telling a lie he would know that I would eventually find out the truth and he would look like a complete idiot. Of course, as time went on, nothing happened, and he never mentioned this ever again.

I can understand why someone would lie for attention, or to get a head, but in this case, as in many others, the attention was there even without the lie, and there was absolutely no benefit, in fact, the lie caused distrust and now I don't believe a damn thing that person says, and I also don't have very much respect as well.

Anybody understand this? Is this some mental disorder? Do they even know they are lying?
Nailhead Reviewed by Nailhead on . Is pathological lying a mental disorder? Is pathological lying a mental disorder? The reason I ask, is because I have known a few people that for no reason at all, lie about just about everything they can. I simply do not understand this type of behavior, to someone that doesn't really know a pathological liar they might just think they are an asshole that wants attention, however I wonder if it is an actual disorder with the way their brain thinks. My dad, and a couple friends are this way. It doesn't matter what they are Rating: 5