pathology of lying-第50章
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On account of the peculiar inhibitory phases which arose nearly always during observation； we never relied merely on the results of laboratory tests for our judgment； and her success in some social situations has proved the wisdom of this。 Our earliest feeling that we had to do with a temporary and mild psychosis was perhaps justified； but further observation of her has led us to see clearly that she is not to be considered as a deeply aberrational type。 Could she ever have been free from the extraordinarily upsetting home conditions one could have gauged much more accurately her mental capabilities。 As time went on； the moral difficulties； which were largely induced by family conditions； led to mental as well as moral upsets which could be considered as little else than normal reactions to the situation。 Her conduct lapses； under the circumstances； are no indication of any mental breakdown。 On the contrary； it is clear by our own examinations and the accounts of other observers that she gradually has showed greater mental stability。
（Since writing the above； we have had； by chance； the opportunity of getting some important information about this case from an entirely new source。 A person who knew the family many years ago corroborates the father's remarkable story of antecedents。 The father himself remains in about the same state of social incapacity。 Annie； now married to a young man with a long criminal record； has a child。 Her word has recently been found absolutely unreliable； and testimony lately given by her in court concerning her husband was grossly false when it would seem that her interests and welfare demanded her testifying the truth concerning his non…support。）
… Mentality： Psychoneurotic。 Case 20。 Heredity： Extremely defective。 Girl； age 16。 Developmental conditions： Defective antenatal conditions。 Difficult birth。 Earlier neurosis。 Physical conditions： Earlier dental defects。 Defective vision； usually uncorrected。 Stigmata of eyes。 Stimulants： Excessive use of tea。 Home conditions： Highly erratic and unstable。 Many bad influences there。 Excitement and suggestion from revival。
Delinquencies： Mentality： Self…accusations。 Abilities irregular； Running away。 and as above。 Sex affairs。 …
CASE 21
Summary： This case illustrates the fact that pathological lying and accusation may arise first during a period of special stress。 A young woman of 19； after illegitimately becoming pregnant； was found home after home by a charitable organization。 In each place she made false accusations of immoral proposals against some one in the family or neighborhood。 This created much trouble and lost her several good homes。 Her lies persisted after an abortion had been secretly produced； but it is to be noted that she now； as a sequel to the operation； suffered from irritative pelvic conditions。
A short statement of this case will suffice to bring out the point that during a period of social and mental upset pathological lying and accusation may be first indulged in。 We studied the case of a young woman of 19 who had been the source of much trouble in a certain locality on account of her false accusations。 She was taken in hand by a charitable organization and found a home； after she had become pregnant at a wedding feast where alcoholic stimulants flowed freely。 There was then no one to look after her but an invalid father。 She was placed with an estimable family。 In a short time she made the shocking announcement to the wife； and to others； that the husband had made immoral advances to her。 He was a man of excellent character and of course this could not be believed。 She was then placed on a farm； where she showed erotic tendencies and insisted that one of the helpers about the place wanted to take liberties with her。 She was observed flirting and making advances to thrashers and others。 She had to be found a new home； and this time it was in a city； where new accusations were made against a delivery boy。 After this the young woman made off and shifted for herself for a time； and succeeded in getting some shady character to produce an abortion on her。 Later； she again came to the official attention of the social agency by reason of making new accusations。 From the date of her impregnation to the time we first studied her； a period of about 10 months； she had made serious accusations against many。 When her lies were told in a new environment they； of course； always made new trouble。 Each time； however； the girl herself was the loser。 Her real partner at the wedding feast had early deposited several hundred dollars for the expected infant。
We found a strong； normally developed young woman of rather attractive appearance for the grade in society from which she came。 No sensory defect。 Diseased tonsils。 Complained of constant suffering from pelvic conditions； perhaps induced by the abortion。 However； being such a strong type she has been able to get about well and do her daily work。 When we saw her she was employed in a factory。
The question put to us was concerning her mentality。 She came of a Slavic peasant family； had been in this country only 6 years； and her relatives spoke only Slavic。 She had been to school but a very short time； either in the old country or here。 Because of the language difficulty； the giving of many tests； such as those in the upper years of the Binet system； could be regarded as most unfair。 However； the simpler language tests she did fairly well； especially those where she could understand the commonsense questions。 In regard to her acquirement of English； she has done better than her relatives； who continue to live in a neighborhood where their own Slavic dialect is spoken。 When it came to dealing reasoningly with concrete situations； such as those presented by our performance tests； this young woman did comparatively wellquite above the grade of the feebleminded。 Our diagnosis； then； was that she could best be regarded as poor in ability or possibly subnormal as compared with our general population； but as correlated with her peasant type she was probably normal。
From the standpoint of aberration one could find no evidences of anything but eroticism and a constant tendency to deviate from the truth。 About the affair of the abortion she showed herself unexpectedly shrewd； maintaining that she had had to work very hard carrying stones when a new silo was being built on the farm； and at her next menstrual period she had flowed for a week or so； and that was all there was to it； except that she had been suffering from pains continually since。 （The charitable organization knew she had visited the office of a notorious abortionist。） She smiled much in a silly way when in the company of men； she proved herself easily led。 Taking it altogether； there was no reason for considering her insane； or as being in any way a psychopathic personality。 She showed no stigmata of degeneracy。
There was no opportunity to get a satisfactory family history。 Many of the relatives were still in the old country。 A sister and brothers have been known in the neighborhood where this girl lived； and are said to appear quite normal in their simple ways of living。 They are of the peasant type and good laborers； but given to occasional indulgence in feasting with alcoholic embellishments。 From the sister we learned that this girl had passed through a sickly childhood and had been most irregularly brought up on account of the illnesses of her mother。 She was not known as a liar when younger。 Her short school record showed nothing of value for diagnosis。 What happened to this girl was no great exception； among these people； we know from their own accounts； free and easy sex relationships are common。 We are advised that it was long ago known that this girl was going with
