Category Archives: Empowerment

Love Bombing Is Covert Aggression

Love bombing has little to do with genuine love. It’s a tactic to charm, disarm, and seduce you into doing what you otherwise might not.

Malformed Conscience and Character Disturbance

When a malformed conscience, virtually nonexistent conscience, or absent conscience lies defines someone’s character pathology, intervening in traditional ways is futile. That’s why it’s so important that toxic relationship survivors, who have most likely already endured years of gaslighting and other trauma, get the right kind of help should they manage to drag their character-impaired partner into therapy.

Reverence for the Truth and Character Integrity

Reverence for the truth is crucial to integrity of character.

Discerning Character Requires Certain Skills

Discerning decency of character in our times is a challenge. With all manner of character dysfuntion “normalized,” we’ve largely become desensitized, even to the most egregious forms.

Narcissistic Pomposity and Pretense

Pomposity and pretense are common in narcissists. Sometimes, it’s an act. But it can also reflect grandiose, nearly delusional beliefs.

Narcissistic Rages and Their Forms and Causes

Narcissistic rages are common in abusive relationships. But characterizing every rager as “thin-skinned” is a potentially fatal mistake.

Falling Under the Spell of a Charmer

Falling under the spell of a charmer can be the beginning of heartbreak. Not all charmers are malevolent. But some will seduce, then use and abuse. Best to beware by being informed.

Skilled Manipulators Know How To Prey

Skilled manipulators know how to prey on others. They know how to look good, so you don’t know how bad they are until it’s too late.

Manipulative Seduction Takes Many Forms

Manipulative seduction is a tactic I first described in In Sheep’s Clothing. It can include heaping attention and praise on you, and ego-massage. Put these things all together and you have what’s now commonly called “love-bombing,” which can be anything but genuine love.