pathology of lying-第55节
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ith the great differences which exist between peasant and noble； leads in itself to much opportunity for cheating。
With us； especially in the newer work of courts； which are rapidly becoming in their various social endeavors more and more intimately connected with many phases of life； the pathological liar becomes of main interest in the role of accuser of others； self…accuser； witness； and general social disturber。
Here again； we may call attention to the fact； which is of great social importance； namely； that the person who is seemingly normal in all other respects may be a pathological liar。 It might be naturally expected that the feebleminded； who frequently have poor discernment of the relation of cause and effect； including the phenomena of conduct； would often lie without normal cause。 As a matter of fact there is surprisingly little of this among them； and one can find numerous mental defectives who are faithful tellers of the truth； while even； as we have found by other studies； some are good testifiers。 Exaggerated instances of the type represented by Case 12； where the individual by the virtue of language ability endeavors to maintain a place in the world which his abilities do not otherwise justify； and where the very contradiction between abilities and disabilities leads to the development of an excessive habit of lying； are known in considerable number by us。 Many of these mentally defective verbalists do not even grade high enough to come in our border…line cases； and yet frequently； by virtue of their gift of language； the world in general considers them fairly normal。 They are really on a constant social strain by virtue of this； and while they are not purely pathological liars they often indulge in pathological lying； a distinction we have endeavored to make clear in our introduction。
It stands out very clearly； both in previous studies of this subject and in viewing our own material； that pathological lying is very rarely the single offense of the pathological liar。 The characteristics of this lying show that it arises from a tendency which might easily express itself in other forms of misrepresentation。 Swindling； sometimes stealing； sometimes running away from home （assuming another character and perhaps another name） may be the results of the same general causes in the individual。 The extent to which these other delinquencies are carried on by a pathological liar depends again largely upon environmental conditionsfor instance； truancy is very difficult in German cities； a long career of thieving； under the better police surveillance of some European countries； is less possible than with us； while swindling； for the reason given above； seems easier there。
Running away from home and itineracy show in a wonderfully strong correlation with pathological lying； both in previous studies and in our own material。 Several authors； particularly Stemmermann in her survey of the subject； comment on this。 This phenomenon； not only on account of the numerical findings； but also from a logical standpoint； is easily seen to be the expression； in another form of conduct； of the essential tendencies of the pathological liar。 It is part of the general character instability； the unwillingness to meet the realities of life； the inclination to escape consequences。 As a matter of fact； frequently the pathological liar gets himself in a tight place by lying； and then the easiest escape is by running away from the scene。 The delinquencies of our present group as given below can with profit be compared with our previous statistics＇26＇ on a large group of offenders。 We gathered the facts concerning a series of 1000 carefully studied youthful repeated offenders。 Of 694 male offenders； 261 were guilty of running away to the extent that it made a more or less serious offense。 Of 306 female offenders； 76 committed the same type of offense。 For comparison with the present group it is to be remembered that 18 out of the 19 mentally normal pathological liars were females。
NORMAL BORDER…LINE Running away 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 12 6 Stealing。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 7 6 Swindling 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 7 2 Vagrancy。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 0 4 Attempt at suicide 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 0 2 Sex offenses 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 8 1 False accusations。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 10 4 Self…accusations 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3 2 Abortion。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1 0
＇26＇ P。 140 ff。 William Healy。 ‘‘The Individual Delinquent。'' Pp。 830。 Boston： Little； Brown； and Co。 1915。
We have given figures on false accusations here； including other cases than were enumerated in our special chapter on the subject。 In that chapter the center of interest was on the false accusations； but it is true that in certain other cases of pathological lying false accusations were indulged in as a somewhat minor offense。 The 9 cases enumerated as swindlers showed this offense in varying degrees； as might naturally be expected by the differences in ages； which； if nothing else； makes for variations in the evolution of social and character tendencies。 Perusal of the cases shows the small beginnings as well as the flagrant offenses on this order。 As we previously have stated； we have avoided dealing with the older careers of notorious swindlers。 The nature of the sex offenses can be learned from the case histories by those who wish to make special inquiry。 Masturbation we have regarded more as a causative factor； and have spoken of it in a previous section。 Truancy we have not enumerated。 It goes without saying that it had been indulged in by practically all of the males and by a considerable number of the females in our cases。
The observer of delinquents cannot help being constantly impressed by the fact that the offense of lying seems to the usual offender small in proportion to the commission of other criminalistic deeds。 Particularly does this come out when one observes the chronic liar growing up in a household where grave sex and other delinquencies are habitual occurrences。 Should his lying be compared with these major anti…social transactions？ Indeed； it might be a field for speculation as to whether； given certain qualities of mind； imaginative powers； etc。； pathological lying may not play the part of a vicarious delinquencybeing to the delinquent apparently less pernicious than more objective offenses。 In our case histories may be seen some indications of this。
PROGNOSIS。 TREATMENT
In discussing prognosis and treatment we can eliminate at once consideration of pathological lying by the insane。 The outcome there depends upon what can be done for the underlying psychosis。 We have avoided intimate discussion of these cases； but many suggestions of the unalterableness of the full…fledged tendencies among the insane are found in the European literature cited by us。 Even discussion of the outcome of the border…line cases； such as we have given examples of； needs but short shrift。 Everyone knows the extreme difficulties of dealing with constitutional inferiors； marked cases are socially fit only for proper colonization。 The epileptic； in default of cure of his disease； is ever going to be prone to many peculiar mental states which may involve pathological lying。 The slight mental confusion of chorea； which may lead to false accusation； as we have seen in Case 23； is one of the most curable of all abnormal mental states。 With proper attention to diagnosis and treatment； favorable outcome of cases of hysteria； such as that in Case 24； is frequently seen。 Another type which cannot be handled except by permanent segregation is the thoroughly aberrational and socially dangerous class represented by Case 25； however one designates the type。 Much more； undoubtedly； can be done for such a border…line individual as Case 12； if there is sufficient cooperation among educational and reformatory institutions and the courts。 It has seemed to us that the chief cause of failure in this interesting case has been the fact that this young man could go on ever entering new social situations and finding new worlds for exploitation because no one had the means at hand for securing facts concerning his past or for ascertaining what any good diagnostician could easily perceive to be his limitations and tendencies。
Very much more to the point is consideration of the actual and possible outcome in cases of pathological lying by normal individuals。 Here； as in other matters where bodily； mental； and social issues are blended； no prognosis or outlook can be rationally offered without consideration of possible changes in the circumstances peculiar to the given case。 First and foremost stands out the fact that cure of the tendency sometimes happens even after long giving way to it。 In this statement we are not contradictory to some previous writers。
As Stemmermann says； out of the general literature there is not much from which one can deduce any principles of prognosis。 But； again； we would insist that one of the great weaknesses has been
