Is there a difference between lying and being in denial?

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   swilliamsposted 10 years ago

   Is there a difference between lying and being in denial? And if there is...then what's the difference?

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      wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Lies are the deliberate telling of things that are not true.  Mistakes are false words that were never deliberately false.
      
      If truly in denial, then the speaker is mistaken, not lying.  If they know better but don't want to admit it even to themselves, however, it is a lie.

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         swilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Very well put. What a tangled weave deception. Thanks for feedback  wilderness!

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      Rad Manposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Very good question. I suspect it would depend on wether the person who is in denial is honest or not. For example one can deny that the Holocaust happened knowing full well that it did in order to manipulate others for ones own agenda. It can be said that such a person is in denial, but we have no idea if the person is being honest with others or himself.

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         swilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Wow Rad Man! That is a deep and revealing concept. Thanks!

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   cecileportillaposted 10 years ago

   There is a difference. Lying is intentional deceit. A false response caused by denial  is not based on intent since there is no conscious desire to mislead.

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      swilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Intentional deceit verses no conscious desire to mislead. Ceileportilla your response is beautifully written.Thanks!

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