Do you know someone who is too manipulative and full of himself? Does someone you know charm the masses yet lack the ability to deeply connect with those around her? Grandiosity and exaggerated self-worth. Pathological lying. Manipulation. Lack of remorse. Shallowness. Exploitation for financial gain. These are the qualities of Almost Psychopaths. They are not the deranged criminals or serial killers that might be coined “psychopaths” in the movies or on TV. They are spouses, coworkers, bosses, neighbors, and people in the news who exhibit many of the same behaviors as a full-blown psychopath, but with less intensity and consistency—and with a higher degree of awareness of the impact they have on others. They possess charm, glibness, and a lack of empathy that allow them to live their lives somewhere between the boundaries of commonplace “not-so-bad” behavior and psychopathy. In Almost a Psychopath, Ronald Schouten, MD, JD, Harvard Medical School, and James Silver, JD, draw on scientific research and their own experiences to help you identify if you are an Almost Psychopath and, if so, to guide you to the interventions and resources you need to change your behavior, creating a better life for yourself or those around you. If you think you have encountered an Almost Psychopath, they offer practical tools to help you • recognize the behavior, attitudes, and characteristics of the Almost Psychopath; • make sense of interactions you’ve had with Almost Psychopaths; • devise strategies for dealing with them in the present; and • make informed decisions about your next steps. The Almost Effect™ Series presents books written by Harvard Medical School faculty and other experts who offer guidance on common behavioral and physical problems falling in the spectrum between normal health and a full-blown medical condition. These are the first publications to help general readers recognize and address these problems. Reviews: “At a time when the label “psychopath” has devolved into a mere epithet, Schouten and Silver provide the understanding that comes from recent research in the field, as well as their many years of education, training, and clinical practice. Most importantly, their “operational” approach to interactions with those who demonstrate psychopathic behaviors provides a primer for all who might otherwise fall prey to psychopathic behaviors of colleagues, co-workers, and yes, even family members.” —Gregory Saathoff, MD, Author; Criminal Poisoning: Clinical and Forensic Perspectives Associate Professor of Research, University of Virginia School of Medicine “Psychopaths are the predatory and very dangerous few. Those who are “almost a psychopath” create mischief and misery for many. In this marvelous book of knowledge, wisdom, and sound advice, the subclinical—or should we say subcriminal—psychopath is brought to life. He can be dangerous but not lethal, duplicitous but not completely fraudulent. We finally have a book to help us recognize and cope with this personality. —Reid Meloy, PhD Forensic Psychologist and author, The Psychopathic Mind “The Almost Effect Series of books captures the fundamentally hum experiences and helps readers interpret what the symptoms might mean—both for themselves and others. The Almost Effect collection should be required reading for those interested in psychology and human behavior.” —Howard J. Shaffer, PhD, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Division on Addiction at the Cambridge Health Alliance Co-author; Change Your Gambling, Change Your Life "Most of us have had an inexplicably uncomfortable feeling upon meeting certain people. They do not fit the psychopath mold, but they leave us with the proverbial hairs on the back of our necks standing alert. Schouten and Silver have done a masterful job explaining both why we have this reaction and how we might deal with almost psychopaths." —Mark Albanese, MD, is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Director of Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance. "By highlighting the continuum of psychopathy and placing its associated symptoms and behaviors within the context of everyday encounters, the authors make understanding these difficult to manage people a little bit easier for everyone." —Sally C. Johnson, MD About the Authors: Ronald Schouten, MD, JD, has assessed individuals ranging from victims of child abuse, professional misconduct, and domestic violence to those accused of crimes that include bank robbery, campus shootings, and multiple murders. He is currently on staff at Harvard Medical School. James Silver, JD, is a former federal prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney who has tried cases and handled appeals on offenses spanning the gamut of illegal behavior, from shoplifting to murder.
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