'A pathological liar tells lies in order to get their way, save face, get out of trouble, or avoid blame.' -Ramani Durvasula, PhDīecause the real effect of lying is, again, so dependent on the context (think: a friend lying about liking your dress versus a partner lying about cheating), it’s worth reiterating that the type of lie-and not just the frequency of the lying-is an important factor to consider. By contrast, the compulsive liar fibs out of pure habit, often to minimal consequence and for little to no tangible reason, says Dr. Though both types of liars tend to fib very often (no surprise there), a pathological liar tells lies with a particularly manipulative bent in order to get their way, save face, get out of trouble, or avoid blame, says clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, PhD, author of 'Don’t You Know Who I Am?' How To Stay Sane in an Era of Narcissism, Entitlement, and Incivility. Ramani Durvasula, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Should I Stay Or Should I Go?.