How many times have you heard a guy tell you he will do something which he never ends up doing? Yes, I will wash the dishes, yes, I will take out the trash, yes, I will take you to the doctor, and the infamous, yes, I will marry you. How many times have you heard a woman lie about something? Most of my readers, especially women, will not be able to make out a list of 101 lies told by women, unlike for men, but is this really true? Do men really lie more than women? Are men pathological liars?
Who is a Pathological Liar?
The term “pathological liar” means someone who lies persistently, one who likes to lie without any good purpose behind the lie, who does not take into account any consequence of his lies, and one who feels a rush after lying. Needless to say, it affects the social life of the person in many ways. Now, to use this adjective for just any person, man or woman, would be unjustified, since a person who lies frequently can be called a frequent liar, but not a pathological one who needs psychological help.
Do Men Lie More than Women?
This question has been around for ages, since the time women started to be hurt by their fellow men lying to them, and the men started to feel confused by the discrepancies in stories of their fellow women. So, let’s break this down. Lying is a universal human trait and cannot be one hundred percent eliminated in any person. So, to associate this derogatory habit with a particular gender, in my opinion, is unjustified and uncalled for. However, let’s review what some research has to say about this.
According to a 2016 study from the University of London on the rate of lying between genders, men lie more than women in general, but the discrepancy between both is not huge. On average, men lie three times a day, while women lie two times a day. Moreover, the general intent behind each gender’s lies varies too. Mostly, men lie in social situations to gain the upper hand in social or professional settings, whereas women lie more in emotional and personal aspects in order to protect themselves or their relationships. In separate studies, it was also found that it is generally easier for men to lie in non-emotional situations, whereas a woman may feel greater moral pressure to lie in similar settings.
Why Do Men and Women Lie?
Lies coming from a guy are generally directed towards others. They want to be liked, accepted, or appreciated by other members of society. Sadly, society has deemed this necessary for men to reach certain levels of status and stature to be socially respected, so they are either in a full-time grind or in a continuous loop of validation-seeking, which gives rise to such lies. On the other hand, women’s lies are seen to be directed towards themselves; this means they are either protecting themselves or others from emotional harm or saving a relationship, most probably romantic ones, through their lie. Psychologically speaking, this also makes sense because a woman holds her emotions and relationships very close to her heart, and in order to safeguard them, she more often than not seeks the support of a lie.
Conclusion
According to the aforementioned studies, it seems right that men lie more than women, but there is not a stark difference between both averages. Moreover, both of them lie with different perspectives, each satisfying the demands of an important aspect of their life. However, understanding any individual’s reason behind the lie cannot make the lie any less wrong. A lie can save certain difficult situations or lower the degree of imminent harm, but in many other situations, it is just an easier way to give in to the demands of your lower self. A healthy, strong, and confident individual in society will be more likely to stay firm in his choices, good or bad, and learn from them for his future self. So, for the question: Are men pathological liars? No, dear reader, spare your man another label and give him the acknowledgment he deserves, because as of now, he is not.