Do these definitions help ?
com•pul•sive
[ km púlssiv ]


1. driven to do something: driven by an irresistible inner force to do something
2. powerfully interesting: exerting a powerful attraction or interest
3. somebody under psychological compulsion: somebody whose actions are driven by a usually irrational psychological force
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path•o•log•i•cal
[ pàth lójjik'l ]


1. extreme: uncontrolled or unreasonable
2. of disease: relating to disease, or arising from disease
3. of pathology: relating to pathology, or used in pathology

compulsive is lying from a habit. truth bending and such. telling the truth may be awkward or seen as a weakness. most often times feeling guilty in the process.

pathological is more of a sociopathy. one who doesn't care what their lies do to others. someone who manipulates others. they spend a lot of time crafting their lies in order to get the most out of it. they see nothing wrong with hurting others to get what they want.

It's frightening to look at the statistics of how many sociopaths there are estimated to be. my guess is, most of the people on here are compulsive. If they were sociopathic, they would be looking for support or help of any kind.

would in the last paragraph SHOULD be "wouldn't"

That was exactly the distinction between the two I was looking for... I just couldn't get it into words. Thanks guys! :)

Laura O.