A compulsive liar is someone who lies with ease and finds comfort in it. The person may even continue to lie when presented with the truth in cold, hard facts. Getting a compulsive liar to admit he or she lied can be nearly impossible. Lying as a Symptom of a Disorder Compulsive lying disorder is not actually a documented psychiatric disorder. Instead, it's a term used to describe what may be a symptom of another psychiatric disorder such as borderline personality disorder, narcissism or bipolar disorder. Not all people who are compulsive liars suffer from a psychiatric illness, but there is usually an underlying reason for the behavior. People with psychiatric disorders lie for a variety of reasons. Admiration and Popularity The person wants reward or acclaim for something he or she did not do. He or she craves attention and esteem from others to combat feelings of inadequacy. They may also seek attention by pretending to be victims of crimes or creating other dramatic situations that didn't really happen. Control and Manipulation People will sometimes lie because they want something they wouldn't be able to get otherwise. The lying continues because the person craves the attention and thrill of getting away with it or in an attempt to manipulate the victim of the lies even further. Sometimes, they use "gas lighting," a technique where they convince others that their realities are incorrect and only the liar knows what "really happened." Low Self Esteem People who feel down on themselves and want to look better in the eyes of the people around them will often make up stories about themselves. The goal here is to gain sympathy or empathy. Perhaps they fear people will reject them if they think they have any bad qualities, so they exaggerate good ones. The sad thing is this gang believes the lies they tell. They border on being either Compulsive Liars or Pathological Liars and actually believe the lies they spin. And when someone releases the truth the lies become bigger, more fantastical and more unbelievable. Any logical reasonable person can see that their lies have no basis. They have nothing to back up these lies except their word and they continue to lie to cover up the last lie. Note: that the lies become more and more exaggerated. For example: I was ripped off $100. And before you know it they will have been ripped off thousands upon thousands of dollars. The more incredible the story is generally speaking it is because it is incredible and not actually true. Each of us are responsible for spreading rumor or untruths. And each of us has the ability to use general reasoning before spreading someone else's rumors and untruths. Because actually doing so is a crime. It is not your right. You are taking away another human being's rights - both human and civil by doing so.