How to recognize and recover from everyday sociopaths - narcissists

You are here: Home / Archives for Explaining the sociopath

A chilling short film portraying sociopathic domestic violence

//  by //  44 Comments

I did not experience violence at the hands of my sociopathic husband, and for that I am eternally grateful. But 36 percent of the people who completed the Lovefraud Romantic Partner Survey said they were physically abused, and 34 percent said their lives were threatened. A short film by Sharon Wright, called Tell Me That You Love Me, provides a chillingly accurate depiction of violence in an intimate relationship. It's chilling and accurate because she experienced it. Sharon explains why she made the film in a separate YouTube video. I cannot add anything to her words, except to thank her for making the film. It captures, in a little over five minutes, the horror of domestic violence, …

A chilling short film portraying sociopathic domestic violenceRead More

Sentencing and Psychopathy

//  by //  18 Comments

There is increasing evidence that psychopathy results from an interaction between genes and environment. In fact the genes responsible and their interactions with early life experiences have already begun to be elucidated. (See Bad Nature Bad Nurture). Eventually individuals we call sociopaths will be shown to have extremes of physiology that contribute to the disorder. Note that I say extremes of physiology; there will always be people who have various physiological findings in common with individuals with psychopathy who do not manifest the disorder. I spend many hours a week talking with people who have been victimized by psychopathic individuals. This past week, a severely affected …

Sentencing and PsychopathyRead More

Can narcissists become leaders?

//  by //  17 Comments

An article in Harvard Business Review says that narcissists make poor leaders. I'd agree with that. Then the article claims that through mentorship, companies can transform high-achievers with narcissistic traits into quality leaders. What do you think? Is it possible? Read: Narcissism: The difference between high achievers and leaders, on blogs.HBR.org. Link supplied by a Lovefraud reader. …

Can narcissists become leaders?Read More

When the emotionally abused “behave badly”

//  by //  37 Comments

Has the emotionally abusive individual in your life ever "encouraged" you to behave badly?  Were you "pushed" into an emotional response that placed you in a less than favorable light?  Did this response seem to bring satisfaction to your abuser?  Did he or she gain sympathy or affirmation from others because of your upset?  Were you "baited," into confrontations that ultimately left you very visibly shaken, angry, scared, or feeling out of control?  Afterward, were you left confused and wondering what just happened?  Worse, yet, were you then accused of being "crazy" or "abusive" by your abuser?  Did the events ever cause you to question yourself? If you are or were involved with a psycho …

When the emotionally abused “behave badly”Read More

Do we really just stand by and let these people hurt others?

//  by //  28 Comments

Last week I heard from a woman who realized that her work supervisor was probably disordered. The Lovefraud reader was hired by a school system to work one-on-one with a special needs child, but what she was directed to do made no sense. When she asked the school district's "professionals" about the "therapy," since, in her experience, it was inappropriate for the child's needs, they seemed uncomfortable and never really answered her. The supervisor, in the meantime, became belligerent. The Lovefraud reader saw that the supervisor was controlling, the professionals were intimidated, and the child was not receiving the right care. The Lovefraud reader was so upset that she took medical …

Do we really just stand by and let these people hurt others?Read More

About Stolen Lives

//  by //  41 Comments

Over the years, hearing many victim stories, I often felt the pain and loss of “stolen lives.” Note that having one's life stolen is not the same process as giving one's life away. There are some who spend 30 or more years in a relationship with a sociopath/psychopath and it is important people understand that there is always coercion involved in the process of making and maintaining these relationships. Consider that the coercive behavior that begins and maintains relationships occurs on a continuum from persuasion, to lying/manipulation to taking someone physically by force. The point is that there was never informed, freely given consent. If the victim had known the truth of what they w …

About Stolen LivesRead More

An analysis of what society should do with psychopaths

//  by //  7 Comments

How did early hunter-gatherer societies deal with psychopaths? And how should we deal with them now? Joe Brewer, author of Cognitive Policy Works, takes a thoughtful look at the problems psychopaths present for society as a whole. Read: How will the 99% deal with 70 million psychopaths? on CognitivePolicyWorks.com. Story suggested by a Lovefraud reader. …

An analysis of what society should do with psychopathsRead More

When is enough, enough?

//  by //  61 Comments

The only constant in life is that very little remains constant.  None of us know exactly what our futures hold.  This is true for everyone, regarding most aspects of life.  However, when recovering from relationships with psychopathic individuals or those with psychopathic features, it is an especially important concept for us to understand. Why?  The reality is that sometimes they like to hold on to us.  While the notion seems to defy logic, it is extremely common.  As a result, we must be ready for what this brings, so that we do not allow them to get the best of us or hinder our recoveries.  Their inabilities to release us can rapidly turn bizarre and cause significant harm, emotional o …

When is enough, enough?Read More