# Is there a term for either: a person who starts to believe their own lies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126 "2012-02-07T22:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/1 "2012-02-07T22:01:24Z")
I’m not talking about a person who is delusional and believes he’s telling the truth in spite of evidence to the contrary, etc., but who begins by telling lies and, through repetition, eventually convinces himself they’re true. Examples that come to mind: -A politician tells the same heartwarming story so many times that even though in fact it either is grossly embellished or never happened at all even he seems to think it’s true. Or- and this one I completely believe happens- A minister tells about a vision he has (vision with small ‘v’- think, goal) and he talks about it so much it becomes a ‘Vision’ in the mystical sense that he had, and it grows more until it was something he saw 'just as clear as day with Jesus Christ standing right there close as you are now and telling me ‘Billy Joe, this is what I want you to do…’, and accelerates until it’s roughly on par with the Book of Isaiah and the minister himself seems to have forgotten its origins. To use a TV parable, Don Draper on _Mad Men_: he doesn’t have amnesia or anything like, he can remember everything in his past, but sometimes it seems that by reinventing himself and living under another name and another lifestyle and all for so many years, he forgets his past for long periods until something happens that sends him a flashback scene. Is there a name for this type of syndrome of turning myth into fact? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/2 "2012-02-07T22:43:14Z")
“in denial”? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/3 "2012-02-07T23:27:45Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > -A politician tells the same heartwarming story so many times that even though in fact it either is grossly embellished or never happened at all even he seems to think it’s true. Ronald Reagan told various stories in speeches, seeming to be true, but which turned out to be scenes from movies that he had been in. Especially as he got older. But I think the word that describes that would be “senility” or “Alzheimer’s onset”. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/4 "2012-02-07T23:28:54Z")
The phenomenon is called [confabulation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confabulation), but I’m not aware of a particular term for a person exhibiting it. Confabulator, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/5 "2012-02-08T01:31:11Z")
Thanks for all answers. Confabulation is closest- that happens a lot when family members, each telling the truth as they remember it, tell a story (the Rashomon effect). In fact confabulation is the condition I’m looking for, but I suppose what I’m really looking for is the process by which memory becomes confabulation. It occurs that Rev. Jim Jones would be applicable as well. I think he really and truly start to believe some of the things he began by telling as flat out lies about his powers and his divinity, etc., even when it totally contradicted other things he said or provable facts. With no offense to Mormons, my personal belief is that Joseph Smith, whose early tales were not only outlandish but constantly contradicted themselves, began as a con-man but somewhere along the line started to believe in his own religion. A non-religious example- my opinion only- is Jefferson Davis. Reading his 1860-1861 writings and speeches, he makes no bones about the fact secession and the Confederacy and the war are about slavery first with every other cause combined being a distant second. Reading not just his official writings but even his private correspondence in later years, I think he had actually managed to convince _himself_ “No, it wasn’t really about slavery, it was about state’s rights and self government and kindness to kittens and buttermilk biscuits…” stuff that’s now the Lost Cause dogma. With all of the above, egomania is perhaps a part as is going through lots of suffering for your statements or actions or beliefs. (This isn’t to say the suffering wasn’t often justified, but it was suffering no less.) I think with some of the ministers I’ve seen and known they have a process similar to “okay, I made it up… but it serves a much higher purpose… and perhaps I was being divinely led to make it up… and if I was being divinely led then I really wasn’t making it up at all, was I? Hey, I’ve really been telling the truth all along!” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/6 "2012-02-08T03:26:00Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Ronald Reagan told various stories in speeches, seeming to be true, but which turned out to be scenes from movies that he had been in. Especially as he got older. I totally believe you. But cite? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/7 "2012-02-08T03:28:42Z")
\*\*Is there a term for either: a person who starts to believe their own lies? \*\* Republican > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Ronald Reagan told various stories in speeches, seeming to be true, but which turned out to be scenes from movies that he had been in. Especially as he got older. > > But I think the word that describes that would be “senility” or “Alzheimer’s onset”. Reagan’s favorite story was about the time as a baseball announcer on the radio the wire broke, and he had to make up the action in the game. That’s right, he was bragging about what a good liar he was. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/8 "2012-02-08T08:41:06Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > The phenomenon is called [confabulation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confabulation), but I’m not aware of a particular term for a person exhibiting it. Confabulator, perhaps? [The term does exist:](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/confabulator) > [@Wiktionary](#): > > confabulator (plural confabulators) > > 1. One who confabulates. Admittedly, though, it is usually applied to those who “confabulate” in the sense of making conversation, and not in the sense of someone who has deluded themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Jamodu\_Green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Jamodu\_Green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamodu_Green)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/9 "2012-02-08T12:14:24Z")
Could they be victims of their own hubris? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/10 "2012-02-08T12:17:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Reagan’s favorite story was about the time as a baseball announcer on the radio the wire broke, and he had to make up the action in the game. > > That’s right, he was bragging about what a good liar he was. It wasn’t that he was making up action (in that hits and runs were being scored) but he had a batter fouling off a continuous string of pitches until the wire came back. After one “foul ball” he described two kids chasing the ball and one falling down.. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/11 "2012-02-08T14:28:14Z")
I think this describes O.J. Simpson. I think he has convinced HIMSELF that he didn’t kill his wife. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/12 "2012-02-08T15:01:33Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I think this describes O.J. Simpson. I think he has convinced HIMSELF that he didn’t kill his wife. Seriously. I don’t believe that the OJ situation qualifies as he convinced himself **and** a jury as well of his lies. ☹ Sort of a mass hallucination/insanity type thing. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/13 "2012-02-08T15:23:16Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > \*\*Is there a term for either: a person who starts to believe their own lies? \*\* > > Republican > > Reagan’s favorite story was about the time as a baseball announcer on the radio the wire broke, and he had to make up the action in the game. > > That’s right, he was bragging about what a good liar he was. [Moderator Warning] **TriPolar** , you’ve been around long enough to be aware that political jabs like this are against General Questions rules. This is an official warning. Don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/14 "2012-02-08T15:51:13Z")
For more about the reconstructive nature of memory, see [this Wiki page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory) and go to the section on “Memory Construction”. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/15 "2012-02-10T07:09:12Z")
With each repetition, the story becomes more convincing. It could start out as a conscious untruth, but it could also be constructed with indifference to accuracy. In the second case, it’s known as bullshit and the person is a bullshit artist. Euphemisms include horsepucky and smoke blowing. A third beginning could be defensive, where the person will say what sounds best to reply to a criticism, perhaps accusing their opponents of their own central vice. But in all cases reinforcement through repetition plays a central role. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/16 "2012-02-10T18:07:01Z")
Is Munchausen Syndrome appropriate here? ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/17 "2012-02-10T18:23:41Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderator Warning] > > **TriPolar** , you’ve been around long enough to be aware that political jabs like this are against General Questions rules. This is an official warning. Don’t do this again. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Glad I saw this, I was just about to reply to that with the obvious retort. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/18 "2012-02-10T18:56:49Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > Glad I saw this, I was just about to reply to that with the obvious retort. 😉 That’s why we have the rule - so people don’t get into political slagging matches in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/19 "2012-02-10T19:04:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > That’s why we have the rule - so people don’t get into political slagging matches in GQ. Duly noted. Thanks, **Colibri**. \ Reread the rules for posting in the various forums. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126/20 "2012-02-10T19:09:52Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > \ Reread the rules for posting in the various forums. Turns out to be rule #1 in GQ. Realizing that now, I would have been disappointed if he didn’t give me a warning. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-either-a-person-who-starts-to-believe-their-own-lies/612126.md?page=2)