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Hot Buttons and Weak Spots
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6. Understand How Psychopaths
Manipulate Others
The more that you understand about how psychopaths operate, their
modus operandi, the better prepared you will be to avoid being manipulated
by them. In chapter 3, we reviewed the phases that make
up the parasitic lifestyle adopted by many psychopaths: (1) assessment
of the individual’s potential utility, weaknesses, and defenses; (2) the
use of impression management and manipulation to ingratiate themselves
with the individual and then to siphon off resources; and (3)
abandonment, the phase in which the individual is no longer of use
to the psychopath.
Nonetheless, even the most experienced psychologists can be taken
in by the blandishments of a charming psychopath, so there is never a
guarantee that you will be safe. However, this should not dissuade the
reader from learning more about how psychopaths manipulate others.
Powerful Allies
Crime is the result of a complex mix of socioeconomic and
psychological factors, many of which are beyond the control of
the individual. However, loopholes in the law, inconsistent judicial
responses, fascination with the dark side of human nature,
thinly disguised fascination with those who bend the rules or do
it their way, and a curious tendency to rationalize even the most
egregious misbehavior also are important reasons for the prevalence
and tolerance of criminal behavior in our society.
As a society, we tend to attribute the causes of an antisocial
or criminal act more to outside forces than to choices an individual
makes. Indeed, this diffusion of responsibility is big business;
witness the large number of psychologists, psychiatrists,
social workers, and counselors ready and eager to explain or exculpate
criminal behaviors. This is good for criminals in general
and for psychopaths in particular. The latter make effective use