Compulsive liars - only child syndrome

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

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I live with a compulsive liar. 95% of the things that come out of his mouth are b/s. He claims he has a heart condition when he's not the centre of attention, is constantly playing up his family wealth even though he's really not that rich, says his father is going to buy him a Porsche etc, that he has his own PLANE - it's all rubbish.

Then about a month ago was talking with one of my best friends from uni about his flatmate and I was saying how so much of what his flatmate does is similar to mine. We then realised they were both only childs.

Now just speaking to one of my best friends from home who has been living with someone for a month and has just realised most of what she said was utter b/s - she too is an only child.

I've done a bit of googling and not found that much - anyone have experience to offer of this?
 
Some people BS and some don't. I'm not sure the only child thing is right. It's just how some people are.

I suppose when there are people around that can say 'what?? thats complete BS' when they're lying then they'll do it less because they will simply look foolish when they're trying to talk themselves up.
 
My girlfriend is an only child but definately not a liar, however saying that a kid I used to know in secondary school had a billion uncles all with jobs relating to what we were talking about.
 
I'm an only child, I don't come out with loads of untrue crap, some people do, some don't.

Oh and I do have a billion uncles that do all those jobs, seriously :p
 
I hardly think the OP is saying that all single children are compulsive liars. More that most compulsive liars are single children.

I guess this may make sense, since there isn't anyone to ask. If you've both children and a friend says something outragous, you wouldn't ask their parents if it was true. But if they had a brother/sister, you would be able to ask them, and they would call bs.
 
my younger brother used to talk a good load of BS about a number of random things, as above not related to being an only child
 
I know an only child who chats out of his arse 100% of the time, very similar to the OP in fact, he would lie about EVERYTHING, he would forget what he lied about and have lies to cover up lies, it was just one big mess. :/
 
iviv said:
I hardly think the OP is saying that all single children are compulsive liars. More that most compulsive liars are single children.

I guess this may make sense, since there isn't anyone to ask. If you've both children and a friend says something outragous, you wouldn't ask their parents if it was true. But if they had a brother/sister, you would be able to ask them, and they would call bs.
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That's an aspect i'd never considered.

My theory was that if you were an only child and you told a lie that your parents would just know it was a lie for sure and then not really get that cross - parents aren't anything like as harsh on children as siblings.

If I broke something and then told my parents it was brothers then they would have made it hell for me I can tell you - so I got that 'telling lies will only haunt you in the future' message pretty soon.
 
Yeah it's just so boring. He used to tell me he was an amazing skiier then one day when there was actually snow in Glencoe I said we were going and he was just like 'oh yeah, I haven't skied for a long time because actually I had a really bad skiing accident when I was good and I'm afraid it will happen again'. He so obviously can't ski.
 
I'm an only child and I honestly can't even remember the last time I lied to someone. My cousin is a year older than me and also an only child and probably the most honest person I have ever met. Although he was like a brother and always around when I was growing up so maybe I don't count.

I can understand how with nobody around to discredit your stories only children could be liers however.
 
I know a compulsive liar, we don't pick him up on it any more, but just compare what different stories we each get. I'm also an only child and am not delusional :)
 
I knew a compulsive liar in college, he had a couple of sisters. One was quite hot actually.

I'm an only child, and I'd like to think I'm usually as honest as they come.
 
Sounds like they are lying as a way of attention seeking which may or may not be a symptom of being an only child rather than a condition caused by being an only child. It may be because they don't know how to fit in as well as those who have had siblings or haven't had that fear of being discovered - however I think how you are brought up determines how you behave - so a child who has an over-achieving sibling or one who demands attention from parents is just as likely to lie compulsively to get attention, in fact probably more likely to do so than an only child who is brought up well and who enjoys a secure and happy childhood.

I can understand why a lot of only children, especially those brought up in single parent families may seek attention through lying although I can't say it would be any more than a child brought up with siblings and both parents, but who isn't given enough attention.
 
Well im an only child, and I would like to think im truthfull with everyone.... so dont stereotype us you Only Childist! :p
 
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my mate at school was an only child ,he too had lots of uncles . But they paid him money to go to the pictures/bowling .Also they all slept with his mum as well.
 
I think you are drawing the correlation simply becuase he's an only child & most people blame that for a lot of things.

Also when you ask people you know in big families - where they were born i regard to the bros/sisters (ie, 1st, 2nd 3rd or even 4th born) - you would not remember where they where placed as opposed to an only child, so it's easier to blame it for any number of things you think they suffer from.

One of the reasons people assume or believe only children are quiet, extrovert, shy, high-achievers, resourceful, weird, odd, eccentric or any of the other ridiculous traits people think only children display. Never would you hear a particular trait associated with a 3rd born, or 2nd born - simply because no one remembers they were 2nd or 3rd born.

I'm an only child - and I find these types of notions quite funny, as people have always stated things similar to this (about only-children) even before getting to know me. The most common thing people say is when I tell them 'you must have had a very lonely childhood' - or 'Do you have trouble chatting to people' - What a load of rubbish TBH, I talk more easily and openly than 90% of people I know & how the hell do people know how my childhood was simply based on me being an Only child ???
 
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Interesting points raised and I have to admit the biggest bs'ers I have come across happen to have been only childs. Coincidence? I DOUBT IT.
 
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