Tag Archives: disturbed characters

Denial – What It Is and Isn’t

December 30, 2010Abuse, Manipulation, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Relationshipscharacter, character disturbance, defense mechanisms, denial, disturbed characters, manipulation tactics, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

The tactic of denial can be expressed in several other subtle variations such as feigning innocence, feigning ignorance, and acting surprised. But no matter what form in which it comes, it’s most often merely a way of lying.

Are Possessive, Controlling, Persons Necessarily “Insecure” Underneath?

February 19, 2010Abuse, Manipulation, Manipulators, Neurotics, Personality and Character Disordersabuse, character, character disturbance, disturbed characters, insecurity, manipulation, personality, possessiveness, self-esteemDr. Simon

There are many reasons possessiveness, not all of which are rooted in insecurity and low self-esteem.

Hedonistic Thinking

August 23, 2009Abuse, Personality and Character Disorders, Relationshipscbt, character disturbance, distorted thinking, disturbed characters, Personality and Character Disorders, personality disorders, problem relationships, thinking errors, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

Disturbed characters tend to crave stimulation and excitement and have an inordinate distaste for anything they might regard as “boring,” tedious, or mundane.

Bullies Manipulators Narcissists and other Problem Characters

October 29, 2008Abuse, Manipulation, Personality and Character Disorders, RelationshipsAdd new tag, bullies, bully, character disorder, difficult people, disturbed characters, manipulator, manipulators, narcissist, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

Recently, a woman in Sweden wrote to inform me that she has had In Sheep’s Clothing featured on her site for several years because she believes it “to be of immense help to everyone who has ever had to deal with manipulative individuals.”

Minimizing – Manipulation Tactic 5

October 2, 2008Abuse, Manipulation, Manipulators, Neurotics, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Relationshipsavoid responsibility, blaming, catastrophizing, character disorder, disordered character, disordered characters, disturbed character, disturbed characters, externalizing, impression management, impression managment, lying, manipulate, manipulation, manipulation tactic, manipulation tactics, manipulator, manipulators, minimizing, Personality and Character Disorders, responsibility avoidance, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

Disordered characters use the tactic of minimizing to manage the impression others have of them. It’s a way to manipulate others into thinking they’re not so bad despite the horrible things they’ve done.

Denial – Manipulation Tactic 4

September 24, 2008Abuse, Manipulation, Manipulators, Personality and Character Disorders, Relationshipsdefense mechanism, denial, disturbed characters, manipulation, manipulation tactics, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

“Denial” has traditionally been conceptualized as an ego defense mechanism. But disordered characters use denial as a tactic to feign innocence, and to manipulate and manage the impression of others who might otherwise have their number.

Lying – Manipulation Tactic 1 Pt 2

September 15, 2008Abuse, Manipulation, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Relationshipsdisturbed characters, lying, manipulation tactics, manipulators, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

Like most disturbed characters, manipulators are skilled liars. Most people, however can’t understand why such people lie so much, especially when it seems to serve no purpose.

Neurotic or Character Disorder? Criterion 5 Awareness

September 4, 2008Abuse, Manipulation, Manipulators, Neurotics, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Relationshipsanxiety, character, character disorder, conscience, disordered character, disordered characters, disturbed character, disturbed characters, fully aware, guilt, lying, Personality and Character Disorders, shame, unconscious, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

The “problems” neurotics experience often stem from emotional conflicts that rage deep within their unconscious minds. They’re typically unaware of what’s at the root of the “symptoms” they report. If a woman already knew that the unexplained funk she’d been in lately was related to her suppressed feelings of grief and loss that just happened to be … Continue reading Neurotic or Character Disorder? Criterion 5 Awareness →

Neurotic or Character Disorder? Criterion 4 – Shame

August 28, 2008Abuse, Neurotics, Personality and Character Disorders, RelationshipsAdd new tag, character, character disorder, disordered characters, disturbed characters, guilt, neurotic, pop psychology, shame, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

Disordered characters don’t feel shame like neurotics do. Although pop psychology has given shame a bad name, the ability to feel it is a mark of good character. I wrote recently about how neurotic individuals and disturbed characters differ greatly on the issue of guilt. Guilt and shame are related. Guilt is the bad feeling we get … Continue reading Neurotic or Character Disorder? Criterion 4 – Shame →

Neurotic vs. Character Disorder? Criterion Three – Guilt

August 25, 2008Abuse, Manipulation, Manipulators, Neurotics, Personality and Character Disorders, Psychological Manipulation, Relationshipsdisturbed character, disturbed characters, emotional abuse, emotionally abusive, guilt, guilt-tripping, manipulated, manipulative, manipulator, neurotic, Neurotics, people get manipulated, Personality and Character Disorders, problematic relationships, Unhealthy RelationshipsDr. Simon

People often get manipulated because they misjudge the character of their manipulator. We have a tendency to want to see everyone else as basically pretty much like us. We want to think that they think the same way, care about the same things, and feel the same way we do. But individuals with disturbed characters … Continue reading Neurotic vs. Character Disorder? Criterion Three – Guilt →

Dr. George Simon

A Resource for Understanding and Dealing with Narcissists, Manipulators, and other Problem Characters