按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
dual was incapable of meeting life as it really was and he therefore wove a mass of phantasies。 II。 A young man charged with grave falsifications。 He had come from an epileptic family and himself had slight attacks in childhood。 He bore various pathological stigmata。 Koppen considered that the patient believed his own stories about his rather superior education and that in general his lies became delusions which influenced his actions。 He diagnosed the case as psychotic； insane in a legal sense。 III。 A young man undoubtedly insane brought forward his pathological lies with such force that Koppen was persuaded that the patient believed in them。
Bernard Risch＇10＇ has seen many cases of delinquents with more or less marked psychopathic signs in which pathological lying was the focal point。 He reports five cases at great length； in all of whom the inclination to fabricate stories； ‘‘der Hang zum fabulieren；'' is irresistible and apparently not to be repressed by efforts of the will。 Risch's main points； built up from study of his cases； are worthy of close consideration： 1。 Mental processes similar to those forming the basis of the impulse to literary creation in normal people lie at the foundation of the morbid romances and fancies of those afflicted with pseudologia phantastica。 The coercive impulse for self…expression； with an accompanying feeling of desire and dissatisfaction； plays a similar part in both。 That the making up of tales is an end in itself for the abnormal swindler； just as it is for the normal author； seems clear to Risch。 2。 The morbid impulse which forces ‘‘zum fabulieren'' is bound up with the desire to play the role of the person depicted。 Fiction and real life are not separated as in the mind of the normal author。 3。 The bent of thought is egocentric； the morbid liar and swindler can think of nothing but himself。 4。 There is a reduction of the powers of attention in these cases； only upon supposition that this faculty is disturbed can we account for the discrepancies in the statements of patients。 One has the impression that their memory for their delinquencies is not clear。 Careful investigation proves that they do not like to remember them and this dislike has to be overcome。 5。 There is a special weakness in judgment； which for general purposes is sound。 The train of thought is logical； but in ethical discernment the lack appears。 The pathological liar does not face openly the question of whether his lies can be seen through。
＇10＇ ‘‘ ‘Ueber die phantastische Form des degenerativen Irrseins； Pseudologia phantastica。'' Allgemeine Zeitschrift fur Psychiatrie； 65； 1908； H。 4； pp。 576…639。
Then follows a closer analysis of the qualities possessed by pathological liars： （a） Their range of ideas is wide。 （b） Their range of interests is wider than would be expected from their grade of education。 （c） Their perceptions are better than the average。 （d） They are nimble witted。 Their oral and written style is above normal in fluency。 （e） They exhibit faultiness in the development of conceptions and judgments。 Their judgment is sharp and clear only as far as their own person does not come into consideration。 It is the lack of any self criticism combined with an abnormal egocentric trend of thought that biases their judgments concerning themselves。 （f） Psychic traumata arise perhaps through a striking reaction in the emotional realm towards external occurrences。 （g） Nearly all of Risch's cases were burdened with bad inheritance。 He maintains that； above all； these cases show instability and psychic excitability。 The entire symptom complex arises upon a basis of degeneracy。
Essential similarities run through all of Risch's cases； it is perhaps valuable here to cite a couple of them。 His Case I is that of a soldier； who after being released from prison at 23 years had begun his military duty and in a short time attempted suicide。 He was then studied for insanity。 It was found that he gave long accounts of his experiences as a chauffeur； rendering his story with fluent details about hairbreadth escapes and other adventures。 He also told at length of his love affair with a young girl。 These stories were discovered to be false from ‘‘A to Z''； he did not clearly remember them later。 The evolving of such fabrications was all along one of his chief characteristics。 Examination showed no gross intellectual defect； but there were certain psychopathic signs which had been displayed from early childhood： he had little endurance and was unable to stand criticism。 Emotions befitting his stories were correctly expressed by him； there were no facial evidences of conflict or discomfort。 It was impossible to tell from his physiognomy that he was engaged in untruths。 Mentally he was well oriented and his thoughts flowed in orderly sequence。 Despite rather limited education he demonstrated very good style in his conversation and his letters。 The train of thought was expressed coherently and logically； so well that one could speak of him as having literary ability。 Physically he was quite normal。 Investigation of antecedents showed that he was born of an exceedingly nervous mother （more exact diagnosis not given） and that he had a feebleminded brother。 During his school career he was considered to have quite fair ability。 He learned no trade； and after stopping school would leave a position upon the slightest provocation。 Before he was 23 he had been legally punished many times for stealing and had spent； all told； over three years in prison。 Once before he had attempted suicide。 After the thorough study of him at 23 he was placed in an asylum。 There he was occupied at basket weaving and was chiefly notable for keeping up the characteristics that were peculiar to him before。 He continually lied and； indeed； seemed to get his main pleasure out of telling fabulous stories to the other patients。
Case IV was a man of 31 years； a decorative painter by trade； who presented himself at the states attorney's office and stated that in a fit of jealousy he had shot and killed a man。 Taking up the case it was soon found that this was quite untrue and that the man was a chronic liar。 He seemed much astonished when he was told that the man he claimed to have killed was still alive。 Further study of this self…accuser showed that he had been punished by the law every year since he was 16。 His offenses consisted of embezzling； theft； forgery； and swindling。 In all he had served about 6 1/2 years。 His lying was so much a part of his mental life that he seemed to be unable to discriminate between his real and his fancied crimes。 He not only invented stories； but was much inclined to play some role created by his fancy。 There seemed to be a method in his cheating and swindling which added to his undoubted pleasure in lying。 His peculiar career was much furthered by the possession of a fluent style and a good memory through which his creations were built up in most plausible fashion。 He proved to be willingly introspective and stated that his inclination to lie was a puzzle to him； and that while he was engaged in prevarications he believed in them。 He always was the hero of his own stories。 He further declared that inner unrest and love of wandering drove him forth even when he was living under orderly conditions。 He considered that his feeling of restlessness was a weighty motive in the deeds for which he had been punished。 At one time this man had simulated attacks of epilepsy and attempted in connection with these to swindle physicians and others。 His schooling had been continued to the gymnasium； ‘‘untertertia；'' then he had taken up his trade。 His intelligence and memory were considered excellent。 He had an insane brother。
Vogt＇11＇ has made a thorough analysis of six cases of pathological liars； ranging from the very stupid to the intelligent。 I。 A girl； who had done poorly in school was unable to hold a place and became a thief。 Her mother was epileptic。 Examination showed intelligence not equal to that of eight years with moral inferiority on account of this weakness。 II。 A feebleminded girl of vacillating； weak judgment。 Father insane。 Her lies were marked by their fantastic nature。 III。 Lively； fanciful； unstable； hysterical girl。 Poor record at school。 IV。 Hysterical liar with peculiarities united with splendid mental ability。 V。 Unusually intelligent； 15 years old； illegitimate child； normal mother who later had five sound children； father drunkard。 Her lies were neither of suggested nor dreamy type； they were skillfully dramatized means to an end in her fight for social position。 In the psychiatric examination she was found mentally normal。 VI。 Girl thoroughly intelligent； good at figures and puzzles； with no signs of degeneracy。
＇11＇ ‘‘Jugendliche Lugnerinnen。'' Zeitschrift fur Erforschung d。 jugend。 Schwachsinns。； Bd。 3。 H。 5。 1910； p。 465。
Vogt characterized the pathological lie as active； more elaborately constructed； more inclusive； and leaving the ground of reality more readily than ordinary lies。 Such lies he does not always find egocentric。 To the pathological liar his own creation is reality； so he walks securely； is open an