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It’s All Your Fault episode 308

Manipulators in Plain Sight: Spotting Antisocial Personality Disorder

Podcast hosts Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter tackle listener questions about antisocial personality disorder. Bill clarifies common myths.

Recognizing Antisocial Patterns in a Spouse

The first section covers a listener asking how to respond to a psychiatrist claiming their spouse doesn’t have antisocial traits. Bill explains professionals can get manipulated by antisocials’ victim stories. Key antisocial patterns include blaming, aggression, rule-breaking, and lying. Make your own assessment using pattern awareness.

Seeing Antisocial Personalities in Generations of Family

Next, they discuss a listener noticing antisocial patterns across generations of their family. Bill confirms antisocial personality tends to run in families due to genetic factors. However, early childhood environment plays a role too. Having one antisocial family member doesn’t mean all siblings will be.

Comparing Antisocial and Narcissistic Patterns

Finally, Bill contrasts antisocial personalities from narcissistic patterns. Antisocials straightforwardly lie while narcissists exaggerate. Both invest in false public images. However, antisocials fabricate entire stories while narcissists distort real events.

Key Takeaways:

  • Antisocial doesn’t mean shy or introverted
  • Lying, aggression and rule breaking are common
  • The genetic link is strong but environment plays a role
  • Narcissists exaggerate while antisocials fabricate
  • Maintain healthy skepticism of far-fetched stories

Understanding personalities helps respond cautiously. Don’t assume you can change them. Focus on protecting yourself. Manipulation knows no limits or social status. Maintain healthy skepticism.

Bill busts myths about antisocial personalities. Learn to recognize concerning patterns and behaviors to protect yourself.

Links & Other Notes

Note: We are not diagnosing anyone in our discussions, merely discussing patterns of behavior.

Further Listening

Each week, Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter will be exploring the five types of people who can ruin your life — people with high conflict personalities — and how they weave themselves into our lives in romance, at work, next door, at school, places of worship, and just about everywhere, causing chaos, exhaustion, and dread for everyone else.

Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq.

Bill Eddy is HCI’s co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer. He pioneered the High Conflict Personality Theory (HCP) and is viewed globally as the leading expert on managing disputes involving people with high conflict personalities.

Bill Zoom
Megan Zoom

Megan Hunter, MBA

Megan Hunter is HCI’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. Within her role at HCI, she also serves as a leading expert in high conflict personalities in all settings, focusing primarily on the workplace, customer service, government/public service, ombuds, and religious organizations. Her degrees in business and economics combined with her years of experience in the legal arena are a valuable blend for many conflict settings.

Bill Zoom

Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq.

Bill Eddy is HCI’s co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer. He pioneered the High Conflict Personality Theory (HCP) and is viewed globally as the leading expert on managing disputes involving people with high conflict personalities.

Megan Zoom

Megan Hunter, MBA

Megan Hunter is HCI’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. Within her role at HCI, she also serves as a leading expert in high conflict personalities in all settings, focusing primarily on the workplace, customer service, government/public service, ombuds, and religious organizations. Her degrees in business and economics combined with her years of experience in the legal arena are a valuable blend for many conflict settings.