The Sociopath at the Breakfast Table Recognizing and Dealing With Antisocial and Manipulative People

by McGregor, Jane; McGregor, Tim

• ISBN13: 9780897936965
• ISBN10: 0897936965
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-02-11
• Publisher: Hunter House

Summary

Sociopaths can be found in every facet of life: personal relationships, work, school, and family. Most people have been in a relationship or interacted with more than one sociopath in their lifetime, often not recognizing their danger until it was too late. The Sociopath At the Breakfast Table breaks new ground in the field of abusive relationships. It presents an emerging theory about sociopathic interaction: SEAT, or the "Sociopath-Empath-Apath Triad." With this new found understanding of how sociopaths worm their way into people's lives, readers can use the tips and techniques found in this book to protect themselves from potential harm. More importantly, the authors show how empathy can be used as an antidote to sociopathic abuse - thus, victims are able to seize back power and ultimately regain control over their lives. This book presents readers information and tips on every aspect of interactions with a sociopath, from avoiding meeting one, to getting rid of them, dealing with the aftermath, and regaining control of their life.

Author Biography

Dr. Jane McGregor is a lecturer at Nottingham University Institute of Mental Health. With a PhD in public health, she has worked with addiction treatment for years and is a member of the Association of Higher Education on Alcohol and Drugs. Tim McGregor is a consultant, writer and mental health practitioner who has worked with the NHS and UK voluntary sector as a commissioning adviser. They live in Nottingham, UK.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 - Introduction: what the book is about
*Sociopaths in society
*Sociopath-induced distress and trauma
*Defining the problem
*Outline of the book
Chapter 2 - Everyday sociopaths
*Case histories
Chapter 3 - A profile of a sociopath
*Traits of a sociopath
*Gender differences
Chapter 4 - Interactions of a sociopath
*The apath
*The empath
*The sociopathic transaction
*The Sociopath-Empath-Apath Triad
*The 'gaslighting' effect and how it works
*The effects of haslighting from the targeted person's point of view
Chapter 5 - Coping in the aftermath of a destructive relationship
*Witnessing sociopathic abuse
*Dealing with the draining effects of trauma
*Coping emotionally
*Stages of grieving
*Dealing with anxiety, stress and anger in the early days
*When the stress and anxiety aren't shifting
Chapter 6 - Establishing boundaries and regaining control of your life
*Coping with the aftermath of trauma
*Establishing control following prolonged contact with a sociopath
*Coping day to day
*How other people coped
Chapter 7 - Dealing with complex family situations
*Coping with the fallout
*Parental Alien Syndrome
*Child protection
*Sociopathic relatives
*Laying down the law with problem grandparents and other family members
*What if you suspect your child has sociopathic traits?
Chapter 8 - End-stage recovery
*Dealing with stigma
Appendix: The Empathy Quotient (EQ) test