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When we see the breakdown of honesty in our society, we have to distinguish between a person who has only practiced deception their entire life and the complex relationship between pathological lying and dementia. Both situations may look similar on the surface, but the \u201cwhy\u201d behind them tells two very different stories about the state of our social contract.<\/p>\n
In keeping with my recent musings on why good manners are the foundation of a more just world, I’ve been wondering about the “other side” of that coin. If etiquette is about respect and shared reality, then habitually lying is the ultimate way to disrespect the person standing in front of you. It makes one wonder whether some people are simply “wired” for deception, or if they are actually losing their grip on reality as they age.<\/p>\n
Research published in boundaries in psychology<\/em> Suggests that for many people, this is not a new hobby. It often starts in childhood. When children are not taught how to handle their emotions or when they feel they have to “perform” to be loved, they develop lying as a method of coping.<\/a><\/p>\n Over time, that “white lie” muscle becomes stronger until it becomes a lifelong reflex. This is basically a complete breakdown of internal etiquette. Instead of giving importance to the truth, these individuals put their ego above everything else. This behavior often applies to their professional lives, even as they move into leadership roles.<\/p>\n We must also look at the neurological side of the coin. There’s also a darker, more clinical side to consider. research on PubMed<\/em> sheds light on the role of the frontal lobe<\/a>– The “CEO” of the brain is responsible for decision making and social behavior \u2013 and how its decline can trigger these confusing patterns. When this area becomes damaged or begins to degenerate, we see an increase in pathological lying and dementia.<\/p>\n This is where it becomes difficult for us as observers. Is a person deliberately deceiving because of a lifelong habit, or is his brain physically incapable of distinguishing fact from fiction? In medical language it is often called Conversation<\/a>. The brain is essentially making it up as it goes to fill in the blanks left by memory loss. Although we feel for the individual, it’s hard to ignore how this reflects the confusion we see in larger social structures today.<\/p>\n Whether it is a lifelong habit formed in childhood or a symptom of cognitive decline, the impact on a just society is the same. This creates a “gaslighting” effect where the public is forced to live in a world that makes no sense. If we can’t agree on what is real, we can’t have decency, and we certainly can’t have justice.<\/p>\n True civilization requires us to be “present” and honest. The social contract depends on truth. When that integrity disappears, whether due to moral failure or medical decline, the foundation of our society breaks down. This leaves us with a difficult question to ponder: How do we maintain our manners when the person in charge of the conversation is living in a different reality altogether?<\/p>\nWhen brain CEOs start failing<\/h2>\n
The social cost of a fractured reality<\/h2>\n
Like this:<\/h3>\n