pathology of lying-第29章
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led to show defect。 Complained of frequent headaches； but these were not of great severity。 After information from the mother we felt that Libby's feelings of weakness and tremblings were probably of the hysterical variety。
During the period in which we had Libby under observation she showed more or less emotional disturbance； but even so we were able to assure ourselves that her mental ability was fair。 We did not expect good results from formal education because in her case it had been very irregular。 Many of our ability tests； however； were done well； but she failed where she was asked to demonstrate good powers of concentration and attention。 We noted that she showed a very eager attitude toward her work； but was nervous about it。 Always pleasant demeanor。
Most significant results were obtained on the ‘‘Aussage'' or testimony test。 After viewing our standard picture she volunteered only 8 details in free recital。 On cross…examination she gave 21 more； but no less than 7 of these were incorrectly stated。 Then she accepted the 4 suggestions which were given her。 This result from a girl of her age and ability was exceedingly poor。
We never found any evidence whatever of aberrational mental conditions。 Our final diagnosis was ‘‘fair in mental ability with poor educational advantages。''
It should be definitely understood in considering this case that even to the time of our last interview with Libby； after she had acknowledged her own extensive prevarications； we had evidences of the unreliability of her word。 In giving details she never made any special effort to tell the truth； whether it was in regard to the date of her father's death or any other immaterial detail。 We were inclined to classify her as a pathological liar； as well as a case of pathological false accusation。 Her traits as a liar and a generally difficult case have； we learn； been maintained during her stay up to the present time in an institution for delinquent girls。
From the fairly intelligent mother； who cooperated well with us； we obtained a carefully stated developmental history。 During pregnancy with Libby the mother was run over by a bicycle； but was not much injured。 The child was born at full term and was of normal size and vitality。 Instruments were used； but no damage was known to have been done。 Libby walked and talked early。 A couple of times when she was an infant she had convulsions； but never after that。 From 7 weeks until she was 3 years old there was constant trouble on account of some form of indigestion。 For a time at that age she was in the hospital； but the mother was never told exactly what the trouble was。 Her stomach was large。 As an older child she was subject to fits of anger when she could not have her way。 She never had anything that was suggestive of epilepsy。 Twice she fainted； but once was when she came home half frozen one winter's day。 At 11 years she had pneumonia。 She menstruated at 14 years。
The heredity and family history in this case is of great interest。 Libby's mother went to work for her first husband's family in the old country。 At about that time this man's first wife died； but he had previously left her。 He came of a good family； he was himself； however； a hard…drinking man。 He left two children by his first wife with his parents and came to this country with Libby's mother。 Here they lived in a common…law marriage relationship for many years； and two children （one of them Libby） were born to them。 The man continued to be a terrible drunkard and was probably insane at times。 He once bought a rifle to kill his family。 He was notorious for his great changeableness of disposition。 Sometimes he would be very pleasant； and then quickly be seized by some impulse when he would grind his teeth； become very angry； and use vile language。 Even when sober he would go along talking to himself and people would follow him on the street to hear what he was saying。 He threatened often to kill his wife。 He deserted her at times for months together。 He only partially supported his family and his wife worked as a washerwoman。 She left him once； but later went back to him。
In evidence of the character of this man and his wife we have seen several statements from reliable people。 The man's son by his first wife came to this country and lived with them。 He found his own father impossiblea terribly bad man who was continually fighting at home。 He himself urged his step…mother to break up the home on account of the way in which she was abused。 He made a statement of this fact under oath。 （It is only fair to say in this whole connection that these people all came from a part of Europe where what we call a common…law marriage is an ordinary relationship。） It was from the language of her father that Libby first gained acquaintance with bad sex ideas； we are assured by the mother。 After a terrific time of stress Libby's mother was rescued from her miserable conditions by the man who later lived with her and finally married her； and who has supported her and been true to her ever since。 He is a sympathetic man of good reputation。
Libby's maternal grandparents died early and her mother had to begin very young to support herself。 All that we know of the mother's developmental history is that she had some sort of illness with convulsions once as a child and is said to have been laid away for dead。 She has brothers and sisters who are said to be quite normal。 She knows her own relatives and her first husband's； also； and feels very sure there has been no case of insanity； feeblemindedness； or epilepsy among them。
Libby's moral history is of great import。 She became definitely delinquent very early in life。 At 13 years she had already been in an institution for delinquent girls in an eastern State and the superintendent writes that she was notorious for disobedience； lying； and stealing。 She was placed there twice； besides having been returned once after an escape。 When she was 6 or 7 years of age she began thieving。 She took things from her mother's trunk and pawned them。 The child stole from the people's rooms where her mother worked as janitress。 Later she was truant and associated with immoral girls。 In Chicago she stole a bracelet and a ring from a down…town store； wearing the bracelet later。 She took 15 from a neighbor's house。 She went to saloons in company with an immoral woman； and at least on one occasion she had been drinking。 At 12 or 13 she was known to be ‘‘crazy about boys；'' but probably was not immoral then。 The mother insists that the girl； resembling her father in this； is most changeable in disposition。 Long before the trial for murder her pastor had urged the mother to put the girl away in an institution； but the mother's heart was too soft。 （It seems strange that all this evidence of the girl's own bad character and unreliability； which was readily obtained by us； was not utilized at the time when she first made the charges of murder。）
The mother's explanation of Libby's behavior is that it was spite work。 However； that is； of course； unsatisfactory。 The mother not long previously earnestly had warned the girl against pursuing her downward path and had stated she must be sent away again if she did not do better。 Libby then was doing pretty much as she pleased； for the mother； who was all along a frail woman； sick much of the time； had really no control over her daughter。 Another feature of the case that is interesting came out in the fact that Libby herself had neglected the little epileptic girl who died。 When the mother was ill in bed Libby had refused to properly care for the child。 To some extent she also engaged in bad sex practices with the little girl。 Libby never gave us the slightest indication that her false testimony was incited by spite。 Anyhow； she involved the step…father； who she always insisted had been very good to her。 The motive undoubtedly is not so simply explained。 A really deep analysis of the behavior could not be undertaken。
… Mental conflicts： About sex experiences Case 13。 and own Girl； 16 yrs。 misbehavior。 Bad companions： Including father。 Home conditions： Notoriously bad in early life。 Heredity： Father alcoholic； brutal； and perhaps insane。 Delinquencies： Mentality： False accusations。 （Extreme case。） Fair ability。 Stealing。 Sex immorality； etc。 …
CASE 14
Summary： A girl of 13 during the last year or more had been lying excessively and in uncalled…for ways。 She also obtained money by misrepresentations and had made false charges of sex assault against a stranger。 To be thought of as causative factors were defects of environment and possibly heredity； markedly imperfect vision； improperly obtained sex knowledge； and a distinct mental conflict。
We were asked to study this Emma X。 on account of the various social issues involved in her case。 Her family found her beyond control； she had been expelled from school； by her false accusations she had created much trouble for the police in her home town； officials of a public welfare agency found her altogether difficult to understand。 We obtained an account of the case from several sources； including the mother。
The trouble with her had begun about a year previously。 She had been notoriously untruthful； and had forged a relative's name to the extent of obtaining 40in small sums。 Emma remained out late in the evening sometimes； and on three occasions stayed out all night。 The first time this happened she came home scratched and untidy and told a sensational story which led to much newspaper notoriety。 She said a man took her to the woodsthis was in the summertimeand kept her there all night。 A loafer in the town； who was arrested the next day； she positively identified as the one who had assaulted her。 This man was later discharged in the police court； however； because he abundantly proved an alibi； and because by this time the girl's story had become so twisted that even the mother did not believe it。 A physician's examination also tended to prove that no assault had been attempted。
After this Emma was known to sleep one night in a cellar coal…bin。 In stealing and general lying she became worse until with a change of residence to an uncle's home she improved for a time。 It was after a little backsliding that we saw her。
The mother frankly tells us that the girl's mind must be affected； otherwise how could she act as she does。 Emma has complained frequently of headaches and of a little dizziness。 She has lately been lonely for a sister who went away。 For the last two years Emma has not seemed altogether well； she has been nervous。 A time ago she had for a friend a girl who spoke too freely with men； and her mother stopped the companionship。 This other girl has a sister in the Industrial School。 Emma's mother does not know of any definite harm done by the companionship。
During the pregnancy with Emma the mother had a rather hard time for a while on account of the severe illness of another child。
