pathology of lying-第6节
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egocentric。 To the pathological liar his own creation is reality； so he walks securely； is open and amiable。 All these cases are gifted with lively imaginations and inclined to autosuggestion。 Vogt calls the pathological lie a wish psychosis。 This statement opens the way to an interesting and valuable interpretation of the psychological significance of this phenomenon of the mental life。 He finds many more girls than boys among his cases； boys lie from need of defense and protection； girls more from autosuggestion。 This type of lie is of greater interest to social than to clinical psychology。 He emphasizes the point that very refined and complicated lies appear in healthy young people in the stress of difficult situations。 Obstinate and stubborn lying of itself is no disease among children； examination must reveal that the lie has a morbid cause。
The resemblance of pathological lying to poetic creation was first suggested by Delbruck＇12＇ in a reference to Keller's ‘‘Der grune Heinrich；'' a German novel in which the lies of a boy of seven years； lies of a creative type of the nature of retroactive hallucinations； are described。 Hinrichsen＇13＇ discusses at length the resemblance of pseudologia phantastica to poetic creation in Goethe； Grillparzer； Hoffman； and others。
＇12＇ loc。 cit。
＇13＇ ‘‘Zur Kasuistik und Psychologie der Pseudologia phantastica。'' Arch。 fur Kriminal Anthrop。 umd Kriminalistik； 1906。
In an inaugural dissertation Anna Stemmermann＇14＇ presents exhaustively a series of cases。 These cases were studied over a long period catamnestically。 Commenting upon one case she says： It is worthy of note in this history that the patient in a hypnoidal condition； with headache and flushed face； crochets in a senseless way and thinks she is weaving a wreath for her mother's grave； her mother being still alive。 We often meet with actions like this。 Characteristic is the report of spontaneous； fearful headache； without the patient's putting this in relation to her peculiar behavior。 We lay more stress upon this condition than has been done previously in the literature。 We believe that this symptom is wanting in no classic case of pseudologia phantastica。 Often in this condition of narrowed consciousness； the daydreams are spun and have such a power of convincing that they later make the basis for pathological lies and swindling。 In this hypnoidal state a strongly heightened suggestibility exists and trivial external causes give daydreams their direction。 The general trend of fancy reveals naturally the inclinations and ideals of the affected individual。 Stemmermann also maintained that the pathological lie is a wish psychosis。 Even outside of the hypnoidal state； these cases are more suggestible than the general run of people。
＇14＇ ‘‘Beitrage und Kasuistik der Pseudologia phantastica。'' Geo。 Reimer； Berlin； 1906； pp。 102。
Of Stemmermann's own cases； ten in number； only four at most were normally endowed； the remainder were either stupid or slightly imbecile。 This agrees with the experience of previous writers。 Study of her cases showed that there was report of previous mendacity； four had been liars from childhood。 She found in them the combination of the general habit of lying underneath the more accentuated form of pseudologia phantastica。 One case had perverted sex feeling； one was a prostitute at sixteen years。
In her dissertation some points for the differentiation of the pathological lie have been added to those offered by Delbruck； Risch； Koppen； and Vogt。 The pathological liar lies； not according to a plan； but the impulse seizes him suddenly。 This propensity grows stronger。 Under strict supervision it comes to only an abortive attack； similar to what happens in cases of dipsomania； or of tendency to rove in which the repressed outbreak expresses itself in tormenting psychical and physical unrest。 While the normal liar and swindler is forced to be on his guard lest he divulge something of the actual state of affairs； and is therefore either taciturn or presents an evil and watchful appearance； or； if a novice at his trade； is hesitating in his replies； the pathological liar has a cheerful； open； free； enthusiastic； charming appearance； because he believes in his stories and wishes their reality。 The inconsequential way in which such persons go to work is to be explained by the fact that consciousness of the real situation is partly clouded in their minds。 In any special act it is impossible to say whether the consciousness of the lie； fancy； or delusion preponderates。 Inability to remember delinquencies Stemmermann regards also as added proof of pathological lying。
She speaks of another class of prattlers； chattering people that might be confounded with pathological liars from the stories they tell in full detail。 But they have no system which they develop； often change their subject and do not paint in a lifelike way because they do not believe their own stories or live in them in a self…centered manner。
Of the 17 cases Stemmermann studied from the literature （Delbruck； Hinrichsen； Jorger； Redlich； Koelle； Henneberg ； Wellenbergh） 10 were periodic。 Of her own 10 cases； 6 were periodic。 Sex abnormalities were present in 5 out of the 17 in the literature。 Among possible causes of pathological lying she places any factor which narrows consciousness and increases suggestion and weakness； such as pregnancy； overexertion； chronic alcoholism； monotonous living； long； close work； head injuries。
Concerning prognosis she finds little detailed in the literature。 The general opinion is that such cases arising from a background of degeneracy are incurable。 One of her cases was free from attacks for two periods of three years each； and had been blameless in an honorable position as editor for seven years at the time of the publication of her monograph。 She suggests that the profession he has chosen may be particularly suited to the talents of the pathological liar。 She also ventures to state that where pathological lying is merely an accompaniment of puberty it may disappear。
The fact that so many of the cases cited by Stemmermann were clearly abnormal and found places in insane asylums makes much citation of them by us； in turn； hardly worth while。 However； a short summary of a couple of her more normal cases will show the problems and conditions as she found them。 I。 Annie J。； 19 years old； father a tailor； had been employed in several places as a servant。 Aside from the fact that it was stated she always had an inclination to lie； nothing more was known about her early life。 She complained of headaches and fainting attacks； and mourned over the death of her fiance。 She said he had gone to Berlin to learn tailoring and had died there of inflammation of the lungs。 He left her 650 marks which her mother got hold of。 On investigation it was found that this man was still alive and never had been engaged to her。 She then accused her mother of taking 50 marks from her and said that a man； purporting to be her real father； came from another town and told her she had been brought up by foster parents。 Through the quarreling which arose from these various stories Annie was taken before the police physician and pronounced mentally unsound。 Then she told of another engagement with the brother of her departed fiance； who had discovered her real mother。 The latter was going to leave her 30；000 marks。 He had formed a plot with the foster mother to put Annie out of the way and to divide the money。 He followed her on the street and threw a drugged cloth over her head。 She fainted and was carried home。 She said she brought action for attempt to murder。 （Whether this fiance and the rich mother were real persons is not known。） Later in the same year； Annie being again at large； a new father； der Graf von Woldau； appeared and bought her beautiful clothes costing 100 marks。 He wanted to take her away； but quickly disappeared and was not seen again。 When Annie told this story she was employed by a woman who attempted to get traces of the count； but failed。 Later this employer missed a sum of money equivalent to that spent for the clothes。 Annie's responsibility by this time was still more questioned and she was sent to an insane asylum。 There she was found normally oriented； orderly； industrious； but suffered from periodical headaches。 When questioned in the asylum concerning her tales she hesitated and would say； ‘‘Now I believe them and now I don't。'' It is remarkable in this case that her different employers believed all her fabrications and took the girl's part against the supposed offenders。 For a year she engaged in a sort of orgy of pathological lying and then this phase of her career stopped。 After a few months in the asylum she returned home and later married。 The last report from her mother was that she was nervous and easily excited； but showed no further signs of insanity。
II。 This was a boy； Johann P。； who was studied mentally first when he was 16 years old。 A thoroughly good history was forthcoming。 He was brought for examination on account of his extreme changeableness； his failure in several occupations； his tendencies to swindling and
