Mitomania is a condition of chronic lying, called pathological lying, pseudology fantastica or imaginative lying, as a result of compulsive impulses or habit. Individuals with this disorder are defined as mythomaniacs or pathological liars. Some people may tell white lies in order not to hurt the other person's feelings and not to upset them. Mythomanic people, on the contrary, may lie without any reason.
Although the exact cause of this condition is unknown, it is thought to develop due to some reasons. At present, there is no fully articulated explanation for this condition that is accepted by psychiatrists. Some psychiatrists distinguish compulsive behaviors from this disorder, while other specialists may consider them related. In addition, a different group of experts is completely against compulsive lying and rejects it.
What Causes Mythomania?
Although there seem to be many possible causes for mythomania, the underlying factors for the development of this condition are not fully known. While people with mythomania may lie to make themselves look like heroes and to gain acceptance or sympathy from those around them, it is observed that in different cases, there is no situation gained from the lies told.
Lying is also known as one of the characteristics of some personality disorders, which can also be seen in antisocial personality disorder. Research shows that some problems that suppress and negatively affect the central nervous system make people more prone to this condition. In addition to hormonal abnormalities and disorders in the body, trauma or head injuries are also said to be effective in the development of this condition.
In a study conducted on what happens in the brain during lying, it was observed that the more a person resorts to lying and makes false statements, the easier it is for that person to lie and repeat it continuously. According to the data obtained as a result of the research, it was stated that individual interests and benefits support being prone to lying. However, although this study was not conducted directly on mythomaniacs, it offers some ideas about pathological lying.
What are the Symptoms of Mythomania?
The most important symptom among thesymptoms of mitomania is the person's tendency to lie continuously. Among the scientifically known characteristics of pathological lying, the first one is considered to be lying without any interest or benefit.
- The characteristics of mythomanic people and the symptoms observed in these cases can be listed as follows:
- Mythomaniacs may not realize that they are lying and believe that the thoughts they produce with their imagination are real.
- Mythomaniacs do not feel any guilt or shame during lying.
- They usually tell impressive and imaginary lies. In most cases, the other person believes these lies.
- Mythomaniacs who present themselves as an important person or a hero when they lie usually believe the lie themselves.
- They tell new lies to justify old lies.
- They do not need a reason to lie and do not gain anything from it.
- In some cases it can be self-incriminating and damaging.
- They have a superior verbal intelligence and usually begin after the age of 15 and may continue into adulthood if left untreated.
- It occurs equally in males and females.
- They may resort to lying to escape stressful situations.
- They resort to lying much more in situations of extreme anxiety and detached from their own reality.
- Mythomaniacs cannot accept themselves as they are and generally have low self-confidence.
- They exaggerate, magnify and describe the real discourses they express in unbelievable dimensions.
- Family relationships deteriorate over time. They constantly promise that they will not lie to their family members and themselves, but they cannot keep these promises.
The Difference Between Pathological Lies and White Lies
Most people lie in some situations. According to research on lying, on average a person may tell between 1 and 2 lies a day. Most of these lies are so-called "white lies".
Pathological lying, on the other hand, is the habitual habit of telling a lie and believing it oneself. They are also lies told without any purpose or reason.
White lies are told occasionally, do not carry any malicious intent and are usually small lies told to avoid offending or hurting the feelings of different people.
Pathological lies, on the other hand, are those that are told continuously and triggered by an impulse. The lies portray the person as a victim or a hero and they do not feel guilty or fear the possibility of being caught. It is not always easy to detect the lies told by these people. This is because they do not always exaggerate the lies they tell, and they can also tell the kind of lies that can be told by normal individuals.
People who tell pathological lies usually tell about experiences and achievements that they are proud of and feel heroic about. People who tell detailed and elaborate stories, who usually try to gain victims or sympathy, who answer questions about these stories very quickly and in detail, and who tell different versions of the same event can be diagnosed with mythomania.
Differences between Mythomania and Psychological Disorders
Mythomania is sometimes confused with personality disorders. However, unlike personality disorders, mythomaniacs do not benefit from falsehood and do not expect anything. The excessive emotionality observed in personality disorders is not seen in mythomaniacs.
This type of disorder can often be confused with confabulation disorder, also called storytelling, fiction and speculation. In these cases, they are similar to each other.
The difference between confabulation and mythomania is that confabulation is an attempt to fill the gaps in the mind by natural means. It was first described in alcohol addicted patients. It may develop as a result of brain trauma or rupture of forebrain vessels. It occurs for more organic reasons.
How is mitomania treated?
Beforethe treatment of mitomania, it should first be determined whether there is a different underlying cause or a psychological disorder. If a condition such as personality disorder, mood disorder, depression or anxiety, which are among the psychological disorders, treatment methods are applied to these conditions. Psychotherapy techniques have an important place among the treatments applied.
- After the diagnosis of mitomania, the duty of the patient's relatives is also very high. The person should be supported psychologically. How to approach the relatives of the patient on this issue is conveyed by experts.
- The things to be considered in case of contact with mythomanic people are as follows:
- In relationships with mythomanic people, one should be conscious and patient and not use judgmental words.
- It should be accepted that the lies told are not conscious but a psychological impulse, and they should not be resented or blamed.
- When it is realized that they are lying, communication can be stopped and it can be stated that if they continue to lie, communication with them will be cut off. With such approaches, lying can be prevented.
- When discussing lying with mythomaniacs, supportive approaches should be made and they should be reminded that they do not need to influence other people.
- No judgmental words or sentences should be used and professional medical support should be encouraged.