Survey Of Pathological Lying Behaviors

Do you ever find yourself fibbing for no reason? Find out if your lying behaviors are a cause for concern with this test.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | November 2, 2023

Pathological lying, formerly known as pseudologia phantastica, refers to the habitual and compulsive need to fabricate information. Psychologists describe it as “falsification entirely disproportionate to any discernible end in view, may be extensive and very complicated, manifesting over a period of years or even a lifetime.”

Pathological lying is a phenomenon that can cause significant distress to those affected by it; it can damage relationships, reputations, and can even put individuals in danger. In light of this fact, as well as the fact that it is not considered a legitimate mental disorder, researchers have sought to develop a diagnostic tool that can aid individuals in identifying these behaviors in order to treat and assess it.

The Survey of Pathological Lying Behaviors (SPL) is a questionnaire that measures the functioning, experience of pain and risks that lying behaviors can create and impact. This survey is the first of its kind, as no previous measures have been created to identify pathological lying behaviors, and is an invaluable tool for psychologists, clinicians and individuals who are concerned with how pathological lying can influence well-being.

You can take this test here. Please follow all of the steps to receive your results.

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. My lying behaviors have resulted in impairment for me in my occupation, social relationships, finances and/or legal contexts.

2. My lying causes me significant distress.

3. My lying has put myself or others in danger.

4. My lying is something out of my control.

5. After I lie, I feel less anxious.

6. My lies tend to grow larger from an initial lie.

7. Most of the lies I tell are for no reason.

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores to people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.

References: Curtis, D. A. & Hart, C. L. (2020). Pathological lying: Theoretical and empirical support for a diagnostic entity. Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice, 2(2), 62-69.