How to recognize and recover from everyday sociopaths - narcissists

You are here: Home / Lovefraud Blog

Sex differences in antisocial behavior (part 4):Personality explains it all

//  by //  17 Comments

Can sex differences in personality traits help to explain sex differences in antisocial behavior? Over the past month we have been discussing the results of the Dunedin Study of the development of antisocial behavior. In this study, researchers got to know over a thousand people through self reports, interviews, interviews of friends, teachers, parents and significant others, and official school/arrest records. One finding was a higher rate of antisocial behavior in males as compared to females. The study also explored the causes of the observed sex difference. The Dunedin findings Among both males and females antisocial behavior was positive associated with aggression, alienation, and …

Sex differences in antisocial behavior (part 4):Personality explains it allRead More

Why I Am Becoming an Ass

//  by //  133 Comments

By Ox Drover Many of you know that I have a background and interest in animal behavior, and that I look at the way animals behave and apply what I see to my own life. I have two mammoth (horse-sized) donkeys (correctly called asses) named Fat and Hairy that I frequently talk about on the blog. Someone called them the Lovefraud mascots, because I talk about them so frequently. I've ridden and owned various horses over the years and they are loveable creatures, but really not very bright. They will trust their safety to you without question once they are trained and will do what you tell them to, usually without protest, even if it gets them into a situation where they will be injured …

Why I Am Becoming an AssRead More

Lovefraud extra: It is time for Amy’s law

//  by //  106 Comments

May, 2008 I brought to your attention the tragic case of Dr. Amy Castillo, a pediatrician who lost her court fight to protect her children from their psychopathic father. Unfortunately, I have to inform you that another two children have been lost and another mother named Amy is left asking how we let her down. Yes I said we let her down. The judge who allowed the children's father, Michael Connolly to have unsupervised visitation was representing all of us. We have to put our heads together and figure out how to change the system. Children need and deserve protection from sociopaths. Mothers and fathers like Amy made a mistake in marriage and love, that shouldn't mean the children …

Lovefraud extra: It is time for Amy’s lawRead More

Identifying sociopathic behavior is easy; giving advice is hard

//  by //  83 Comments

Just about every day, Lovefraud receives e-mail from readers who are looking for answers about confusing, contradictory and abusive behavior exhibited by people in their lives. The new readers don't understand what they are dealing with; they just tell, either in a few paragraphs or lengthy compositions, their stories. The e-mails describe some or many of the following behaviors: Pathological lying Pity plays Shallow emotions Devalue and discard Cheating or promiscuity Addiction to drugs or alcohol Controlling demands Financial irresponsibility Manipulation of children Broken promises Claims of “you made me do it” Pleas of “I'll never do it again” The …

Identifying sociopathic behavior is easy; giving advice is hardRead More

After the sociopath: How do we heal? Part 7-Letting Go

//  by //  282 Comments

Letting go is the point at which our recovery turns around from darkness to light. In previous articles, we have discussed all the stages of magical thinking, how we progressively become more and more willing to accept reality. In a trauma or extended trauma, like a relationship with a sociopath, there is a lot of difficult reality to accept. Here is a recap of our healing stages or strategies: • Denial — the most “unreal” stage, where we say it is not important, where we are at war with our own feelings • Bargaining — we admit it hurts, but we still think it is in our power to change it • Anger — we blame the external cause, we recover our feelings of personal power over …

After the sociopath: How do we heal? Part 7-Letting GoRead More

Sex differences in antisocial behavior (part 3)

//  by //  15 Comments

Antisocial behavior is behavior that harms others or infringes on their rights. Sociopaths are antisocial in that this behavior has become a lifestyle for them. Although some might say that this lifestyle is “learned” volumes of research show that genes determine who learns this lifestyle. Furthermore, the learning begins in childhood and adolescence. In the last few weeks we have been discussing some of the findings of researchers who followed over 1000 people born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972. This week we will see how they answered the following questions: 1. Are men more violent than women? 2. Is antisocial behavior stable in individuals over time? 3. Is the degree of stability t …

Sex differences in antisocial behavior (part 3)Read More

E…Evil Woman

//  by //  143 Comments

Remember the Electric Light Orchestra? I couldn't resist. But I really want to say something about an e”¦evil woman. Actually, not really. I just wanted an excuse to say e..evil woman. Okay, I've said it, again. Now I've got it out of my system. I'll stop with that. But I do want to talk about evil. Evil's such a dicey word. Evil? What is evil? What really makes someone evil? Do evil people exist? That is, can someone even be evil: Are people evil, or just their behaviors? I remember a friend of mine, a close friend, years ago, once called me an “evil m*therf*cker,” and I laughed. Did I laugh because I'm evil, thereby validating his accusation? Or did I laugh because I was secure enough t …

E…Evil WomanRead More

When relatives suspect child abuse

//  by //  77 Comments

A woman contacted Lovefraud seeking advice in dealing with an extremely disturbing situation. This woman, we'll call her Rosalyn, suspects her sister-in-law of child abuse. Rosalyn has been caring for the child regularly ever since she was small, and the girl is now starting school. The little girl if fine in Rosalyn's care, but when it's time for her go home, when Rosalyn says, “Mommy's coming to get you,” the child starts crying and carrying on. Several times Rosalyn has noticed that the child had bruises. “How did your hurt yourself?” she asked. The girl said she didn't remember. Other incidents also have Rosalyn concerned about her young niece's wellbeing. Rosalyn sees behavior in her …

When relatives suspect child abuseRead More

After the sociopath: How do we heal? Part 6-Getting Over Not Being Angry

//  by //  490 Comments

This article continues our discussion of anger as a stage of healing after a trauma or an extended trauma, such a relationship with a sociopath. I have a friend who has been angry for all the years I have known her. She talks about being insulted or scapegoated at work, despite taking responsibilities well beyond her job title for the welfare of the company. She has been instrumental in eliminating several people who managed her. More people were hired and she is still talking about how she is mistreated. I have another friend who calls me to talk about how his boss doesn’t appreciate him. He details how he has been swindled out of bonuses, how there is never a word of praise, …

After the sociopath: How do we heal? Part 6-Getting Over Not Being AngryRead More

Sex differences in antisocial behavior (part 2) intimate partner violence

//  by //  76 Comments

Last week I introduced the Dunedin study a 30+ year look at the lives, behaviors and personalities of a group of New Zealanders born in 1972. We learned that a small percentage of males and females in the study population were responsible for a high percentage of the antisocial acts reported by the group. Next week, I will discuss the personalities and early histories of this group of people. This week I want to tell you about the one exception to the observation that men were more antisocial than women. In the realm of intimate partner violence, women were as antisocial as men. Furthermore, a general tendency to be antisocial was found in both men and women who were violent toward their …

Sex differences in antisocial behavior (part 2) intimate partner violenceRead More