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Pathology of Lying； Etc。
by William and Mary Healy
PATHOLOGICAL LYING； ACCUSATION； AND SWINDLING A STUDY IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
DIRECTOR； PSYCHOPATHIC INSTITUTE； JUVENILE COURT； CHICAGO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASES CHICAGO POLICLINIC； AUTHOR OF ‘‘THE INDIVIDUAL DELINQUENT'' AND
MARY TENNEY HEALY； B。L。
TO MERRITT W。 PINCKNEY JUDGE OF THE JUVENILE COURT CHICAGO
‘‘Bonus et sapiens et peritus utilitatis dignitatisque civilis。''
EDITORIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
This volume is one of a series of Monograph Supplements to the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology。 The publication of the Monographs is authorized by the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology。 Such a series has become necessary in America by reason of the rapid development of criminological research in this country since the organization of the Institute。 Criminology draws upon many independent branches of science； such as Psychology； Anthropology； Neurology； Medicine； Education； Sociology； and Law。 These sciences contribute to our understanding of the nature of the delinquent and to our knowledge of those conditions in home； occupation； school； prison； etc。； which are best adapted to elicit the behavior that the race has learned to approve and cherish。
This series of Monographs； therefore； will include researches in each of these departments of knowledge insofar as they meet our special interest。
It is confidently anticipated that the series will stimulate the study of the problems of delinquency； the State control of which commands as great expenditure of human toil and treasure as does the control of constructive public education。
ROBERT H。 GAULT； Editor of the Journal of Criminal COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION Law and Criminology； OF THE Northwestern University。 AMERICAN INSTITUTE FREDERIC B。 CROSSLEY； OF CRIMINAL Northwestern University。 LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY。 JAMES W。 GARNER； University of Illinois。
PREFACE
Careful studies of offenders make group…types stand out with distinctness。 Very little advancement in the treatment of delinquents or criminals can be expected if typical characteristics and their bearings are not understood。 The group that our present work concerns itself with is comparatively little known； although cases belonging to it； when met； attract much attention。 It is to all who should be acquainted with these striking mental and moral vagaries； particularly in their forensic and psychological significances； that our essay is addressed。 In some cases vital for the administration of justice； an understanding of the types of personality and of behavior here under discussion is a prime necessity。
The whole study of characterology or the motivation of conduct is extremely new； and there are many indications of immense values in uncovered fields。 Some appreciation of this fact may be gained from the following pages which show the possibility of tracing one form of behavior to its source。
We have laid under contribution practically the entire literature on the subject； almost none of which is in English； and also the thorough…going longitudinal case studies made by the Juvenile Psychopathic Institute of Chicago。 In the latter material there was found much of value bearing upon the subject of lying； false accusation； and swindling of pathological character。
Our institute； later taken over officially by the Juvenile Court of Cook County； was for five years maintained upon a foundation provided by Mrs。 W。 F。 Dummer。
WILLIAM HEALY MARY TENNEY HEALY
WINNETKA； ILL。 June； 1915。
CONTENTS
CHAPTER EDITORIAL ANNOUNCEMENT PREFACE I。 INTRODUCTION II。 PREVIOUS STUDIES III。 CASES OF PATHOLOGICAL LYING AND SWINDLING IV。 CASES OF PATHOLOGICAL ACCUSATION V。 CASES OF PATHOLOGICAL LYING IN BORDER…LINE MENTAL TYPES VI。 CONCLUSIONS INDEX OF AUTHORS INDEX OF TOPICS
PATHOLOGICAL LYING； ACCUSATION； AND SWINDLING
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Through comparison of the literature on pathological lying with our own extensive material we are led to perceive the insistent necessity for closer definition of the subject than has been heretofore offered。 Reasons for excluding types earlier described as pathological liars will be found throughout our work。 Better definition goes hand in hand with better understanding； and it is only natural that formal； detailed contemplation of the subject should lead to seeing new lines of demarcation。
Definition： Pathological lying is falsification entirely disproportionate to any discernible end in view； engaged in by a person who； at the time of observation； cannot definitely be declared insane； feebleminded； or epileptic。 Such lying rarely； if ever； centers about a single event； although exhibited in very occasional cases for a short time； it manifests itself most frequently by far over a period of years； or even a life time。 It represents a trait rather than an episode。 Extensive； very complicated fabrications may be evolved。 This has led to the synonyms：mythomania； pseudologia phantastica。
It is true that in the previous literature； under the head of pathological liars； cases of epilepsy； insanity； and mental defect have been cited； but that is misleading。 A clear terminology should be adopted。 The pathological liar forms a species by himself and as such does not necessarily belong to any of these larger classes。 It is； of course； scientifically permissible； as well as practically valuable； to speak of the epileptic or the otherwise abnormal person through his disease engaging in pathological lying； but the main classification of an individual should be decided by the main abnormal condition。
A good definition of pathological accusation follows the above lines。 It is false accusation indulged in apart from any obvious purpose。 Like the swindling of pathological liars； it appears objectively more pernicious than the lying； but it is an expression of the same tendency。 The most striking form of this type of conduct is； of course； self…accusation。 Mendacious self… impeachment seems especially convincing of abnormality。 Such falsification not infrequently is episodic。
The inclusion of swindling in our discussion is due to the natural evolution of this type of conduct from pathological lying。 Swindling itself could hardly be called a pathological phenomenon； since it is readily explicable by the fact that it is entered into for reasons of tangible gain； but when it is the product of the traits shown by a pathological liar it； just as the lying itself； is a part of the pathological picture。 It is the most concrete expression of the individual's tendencies。 This has been agreed to by several writers； for all have found it easy to trace the development of one form of behavior into the other。 As Wulffen says； ‘‘Die Gabe zu Schwindeln ist eine ‘Lust am Fabulieren。' '' Over and over again we have observed the phenomenon as the pathological liar gradually developed the tendency to swindle。
Notwithstanding the grave and sensational social issues which arise out of pathological lying； accusation； and swindling； there is very little acquaintance with the characteristics of cases showing this type of behavior； even by the people most likely to meet the problems presented。 Lawyers； or other professional specialists have slight knowledge of the subject。 Perhaps this is due to the fact that the pathological lying does not follow the usual lines of abnormal human behavior； unless it be among the insane where other symptoms proclaim the true nature of the case。 Another reason for the slight acquaintance with the subject is the fact that almost nothing has been written on it in English。
The important part which behavior of this type sometimes plays in court work is witnessed to by the records of our own cases as well as those cited in the previous literature。 The legal issues presented by pathological lying may be exceedingly costly。 These facts make it important that the well…equipped lawyer； as well as the student of abnormal psychology； be familiar with the specific； related facts。 For such students the cardinal point of recognition of this class of conduct may at once be stated to be its apparent baselessness。
The only method by which good understanding may be obtained of the types of personality and mentality involved in pathological lying； accusation； and swindling； as well as of the genetics of these tendencies； is by the detailed reading of typical case histories。 In this fact is found the reason for the presentation of this monograph。 Appreciation of the nature of the phenomena can only be obtained through acquaintance with an entire career。 Any of us may be confronted by fabrications so consistent as to leave at one or several interviews the impression of truth。
Our selection of literature to summarize needs no explanation。 We have simply taken all that we could find which specifically bears on the problem。 Lying； in general； especially as a form of delinquency； has received attention at the