Some of these things you might catch normal people doing from time to time (after all, no one is perfect) but, for those who are morally handicapped - psychopaths, sociopaths, personality disordered individuals, these deplorable tactics are an innate part of their being. They display some or all of these behaviors on a daily basis, especially when they are alone with the people who know them best. It's chronic; it's who they are.
I am not a mental health professional, but I've chosen to cite some examples from personal experiences with emotional vampires to make the subject more relatable. If you recognize these behaviors in someone close to you, I strongly urge you to consider spending as little…show more content… Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse in which false information is presented with the intent of making a victim doubt his or her own memory and perception. It may simply be the denial by an abuser that previous abusive incidents ever occurred, or it could be the staging of bizarre events by the abuser with the intention of disorienting the victim.
The term "gaslighting" comes from the play Gas Light and its film adaptations. In those works a character uses a variety of tricks, including turning the gas lamps lower than normal, to convince his spouse that she is crazy. Since then it became a colloquial expression which has now also been used in clinical and research literature. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting)
NPD liked to tell me one thing one minute, and then later on try to convince me that he'd said the exact opposite. For example, he would tell me that he hated a certain type of candy, but I'd catch him eating it. When I'd comment on it, he'd tell me he never said that he couldn't stand it, or he'd say it was some other type of candy (which had never even been mentioned in conversation). Or he'd tell me one day that he liked a certain type of food, and I'd buy it, and then he'd tell me he had always hated whatever it…show more content… I don't think Tim will contact you, but if he does, the new guy's name is New Victim and you can say you went to school together and he's a good guy. I'm so sorry I potentially put you in this position. I'm such a terrible friend, and you are completely awesome. I love you! BPD.
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In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
"Dr. George Simon knows how people push your buttons. Your children--especially teens--are expert at it, as is your mate. A co-worker may quietly undermine your efforts while professing to be helpful, or your boss may prey on your weaknesses. Manipulative people have two goals: to win and to look good doing it. Often those they abuse are only vaguely aware of what is happening to them. In this eye-opening book, you'll also discover...
* 4 reasons why victims have a hard time leaving abusive relationships
* Power tactics manipulators use to push their own agendas and justify their behavior
*Ways to redefine the rules of engagement between you and an abuser
* How to spot potential weaknesses in your character that can set you up for manipulation.
* 12 tools for personal empowerment to help you maintain greater strength in all
