Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pseudologia fantastica

A consideration of “The Lie” and a case presentation

  • Published:
Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The literature on lying, psychopaths, and pathological lying is reviewed in part in an attempt to consolidate and clarify the concept of pseudologia fantastica. Classifications of lying and social reactions to lies are described. The lie, consciously recognized as a falsehood and designed to produce a certain result, is distinguished from the pseudologic production, whose falsity and goal fall some place between consciousness and unconsciousness. The differentiation from delusion and memory disturbance is described. The pseudolog's story is analogous to fantasies and daydreams, and his degree of belief may lie in the halfway stage between ordinary daydreaming and the full and absolute belief of a delusion. Basic memory is structurally intact, but memories are freely and almost unconsciously invented to satisfy pressing and specific psychological needs. The factors felt by various authors to be important in the dynamic understanding of pseudologia are presented. A case presentation illustrates these factors which are seen to be (a) unresolved Oedipal conflict with severe castration anxiety, (b) successful ridicule and revenge on adults for earlier disappointments, and (c) the need to increase and maintain selfesteem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kanner, Leo: Child Psychiatry. Thomas. Springfield, Ill. 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Karpman, Ben: Lying: a minor inquiry into the ethics of neurotic and psychopathic behavior.Psychiat. Quart., 23:1, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wile, Ira S.: Lying as a biological and social phenomenon. Nerv. Child, 1:293, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bromberg, Walter: The liar in delinquency and crime. Nerv. Child, 1:35, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cleckley, Hervey: The Mask of Sanity. Mosby. St. Louis, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Risch, B.: Über die phantastische Form des degenerativen Irreseins (Pseudologia phantastica). Allg. Zeitschr. f. Psych., 1908. (Quoted in Ref. 8.) Hart, Bernard: The psychology of rumor. In: Psychopathology, its Development and its Place in Medicine. Cambridge University Press. 1939.

  7. Healy, W., and Healy, M. T.: Pathological Lying, Accusation, and Swindling. Little, Brown. Boston. 1915. (Quoted in Ref. 1.)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hart, Bernard: The psychology of rumor. In: Psychopathology, its Development and its Place in Medicine. Cambridge University Press. 1939.

  9. Inbau, Fred E., and Reid, John E.: Lie Detection and Criminal Investigation. Williams & Wilkins. Baltimore. 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fenichel, Otto: The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis. Norton. New York. 1945.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mack-Brunswick, Ruth: The accepted lie. Psychoan. Quart., 12:4, 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Freud, Anna: The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense. International Universities Press. New York. 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Freud, Sigmund: A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis. Permabooks. New York. 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  14. —: On the psychopathology of everyday life. In: The Basic Writings of Sigmund Freud. Modern Library. New York. 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  15. —: Screen memories. In: Collected Papers, Vol. V. Hogarth Press, and the Institute for Psychoanalysis. London. 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Deutsch, Helene: Über die pathologische Lüge (Pseudologia phantastica). Int. Zeit. f. Psychoan. VIII, 1922. (Quoted in Ref. 10.) Fenichel, Otto: The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis. Norton. New York. 1945.

  17. Freud, Sigmund: The Interpretation of Dreams. Basic Books. New York. 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kielholz, Arthur: Wer dem, der Lüge: Beitrag zur Pseudologia phantastica. Int. Zeit. f. Psychoan., XIX, 1933. (Quoted in Ref. 10.) Fenichel, Otto: The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis. Norton. New York. 1945.

  19. Binet, Alfred: La Suggestibilité. Paris. 1900. (Quoted in Ref. 8.)

  20. Stern: Beitr. z. Psychol. d. Aussage, Leipzig, 1903–1906. Zeitschr. z. angewandt. Psychol., Leipzig. (Quoted in Ref. 8.) Hart, Bernard: The psychology of rumor. In: Psychopathology, its Development and its Place in Medicine. Cambridge University Press. 1939.

  21. Borst: Recherches expérimentales sur l'éducabilité et al fidélité du témoignage. Arch. de Psychol., Genève, 1904. (Quoted in Ref. 8.)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Administration Hospital, Marion, Indiana

    Thomas V. Hoyer M.D.

Authors
  1. Thomas V. Hoyer M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Written as part of the requirement for residency training in psychiatry at Brentwood Veterans Administration Hospital, Los Angeles, California. Also accepted as part of the requirements for a certificate of postgraduate medical study, UCLA School of Medicine.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoyer, T.V. Pseudologia fantastica. Psych Quar 33, 203–220 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01575451

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01575451

Keywords

Search

Navigation