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Wednesday, 6 August 2008

The Sociopath Next Door ::

Yesterday and today I read The Sociopath Next Door.

After a friend recommended the book, I read the reviews on Amazon and had some reservations about it. Most particularly, the idea that some people’s character flaws are fatal doesn’t align well with what I believe about forgiveness. But I’m still trying to understand what happened with one person who passed through my life tumultuously. This book offers insight.

I’m reviewing my last email from this person, and almost every sentence matches one of the signs:

• pity plays
• gaslighting (suggestions designed to induce doubt in my own perceptions)
• excessive risk-taking behavior (thrill-seeking), possibly in connection with substance abuse
• a turning-around of one of the major incidents along the way to our falling out; no acceptance of his responsibility, blame all on me

And then there’s the hypochondria and complete lack of drive...

There are parts of the book that struck me as excess dramatic embellishment, possibly inspired by an editor (the first chapter approaches a constant drone about how 4% of the population are defective), but the insight into the character of the sociopath is worth the read.

<< COBOL programmers rebel

2008 > August

28:52 in the can >>

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