Ego Protection: A Person Becomes Disrespectful After Being Caught In A Lie, Is A Common Psychological Defense Mechanism, Often Referred To As Deflection Or Blame-Shifting. It Stems From An Attempt To Protect Their Ego And Avoid The Shame, Guilt, And Potential Consequences Of Their Dishonesty. Being Exposed As A Liar Damages Their Self-Image. The Disrespectful Comments Are An Attempt To Regain A Sense Of Power Or Control In The Conversation And Protect Their Fragile Ego
Deflection and Blame-Shifting: By attacking you or changing the subject, they shift the focus away from their own actions and onto your character or the way you are confronting them. This makes you the “problem” instead of their lie.
Fear of Consequences: They may fear the loss of reputation, trust, or the relationship itself. Anger is a common manifestation of this fear and a way to push back against the truth.
Cognitive Dissonance: They may experience psychological discomfort because their actions (lying) conflict with their self-perception (e.g., as an honest person). The anger helps manage this internal conflict.
Lack of Accountability: Individuals who react this way often struggle to admit fault or take responsibility for their mistakes. They may have a learned behavior of deflection from childhood or traits associated with narcissism.
Attempting to Convince: In some cases, the person might be trying to convince themselves and others nearby that they are telling the truth, and a show of righteous anger is a tactic to lend credibility to their false story.