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Almost a Psychopath: Do I (or Does Someone I Know) Have a Problem with Manipulation and Lack of Empathy?
Do you know someone who is just a bit too manipulative and full of himself? Does someone you know charm the masses yet lack the ability to deeply connect with those around her? You might have an Almost Psychopath in your life.
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.
In Almost a Psychopath, Ronald Schouten, MD, JD, 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, guide you to interventions and resources to change your behavior.
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; make informed decisions about your next steps; and learn ways to help an Almost Psychopath get better control of their behavior.
The Almost Effect™ Series presents books written by Harvard Medical School faculty and other experts that 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.
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.
In Almost a Psychopath, Ronald Schouten, MD, JD, 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, guide you to interventions and resources to change your behavior.
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; make informed decisions about your next steps; and learn ways to help an Almost Psychopath get better control of their behavior.
The Almost Effect™ Series presents books written by Harvard Medical School faculty and other experts that 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.
280 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2012
75 people are currently reading
949 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 26, 2016
Well done. The authors tackle the basic challenge of the gray areas between truly psychopathic people and actions and those that are healthy and benign. They offer quite a few useful examples at least some of which will probably remind most readers of people and situations they know.
Our culture includes widespread misconceptions about what it means and how it looks for someone to be a psychopath. Even the mental health field is divided on the details, as reflected in the literature. However, in broad terms, a psychopath is a person without conscience, without compassion, without a moral compass beyond what he or she thinks is in his or her interest. That doesn't necessarily mean the psychopath is a criminal, is violent, or is unable to succeed in professional or personal life (depending on how you define 'succeed'): although the term does cover serial killers and mass murderers, those people are a tiny minority of them. Psychopaths are often charming, charismatic, eloquent, smart, funny people and may be beloved to those around them, though usually not to those closest to them. Many hold positions of power, authority, and prestige in business and politics.
The challenge in understanding comes when a person is sort of a psychopath without meeting the full requirements to earn the label - maybe he or she is ruthless and cutthroat at work but a teddy bear at home (or vice versa); maybe the person straddles some line of what's morally okay and what isn't. Further, the 'almost psychopath', as these authors use the term, tends to be smoother and harder to spot over time than the full-fledged version, being more able to defer gratification, work hard for goals, and/or limit the terrible behavior to parts of his or her life, and he or she may really feel at least some compassion, remorse, or desire to be better. When you find yourself with the uneasy feeling that something just isn't right but can't pinpoint why, you're more likely dealing with an almost-psychopath than with an out-and-out monster.
This book paints the picture clearly and even compassionately but without illusions and offers some good down-to-earth guidance on how to ID an almost-psychopath and what to do when you realize you're dealing with someone like this. Unless you work alone in a cave and have no family or friendships, you'll probably find this handy at some point. Recommended for general readers, and also for professionals as an aid in helping clients and patients understand and cope with the almost-psychopaths in their lives.
Our culture includes widespread misconceptions about what it means and how it looks for someone to be a psychopath. Even the mental health field is divided on the details, as reflected in the literature. However, in broad terms, a psychopath is a person without conscience, without compassion, without a moral compass beyond what he or she thinks is in his or her interest. That doesn't necessarily mean the psychopath is a criminal, is violent, or is unable to succeed in professional or personal life (depending on how you define 'succeed'): although the term does cover serial killers and mass murderers, those people are a tiny minority of them. Psychopaths are often charming, charismatic, eloquent, smart, funny people and may be beloved to those around them, though usually not to those closest to them. Many hold positions of power, authority, and prestige in business and politics.
The challenge in understanding comes when a person is sort of a psychopath without meeting the full requirements to earn the label - maybe he or she is ruthless and cutthroat at work but a teddy bear at home (or vice versa); maybe the person straddles some line of what's morally okay and what isn't. Further, the 'almost psychopath', as these authors use the term, tends to be smoother and harder to spot over time than the full-fledged version, being more able to defer gratification, work hard for goals, and/or limit the terrible behavior to parts of his or her life, and he or she may really feel at least some compassion, remorse, or desire to be better. When you find yourself with the uneasy feeling that something just isn't right but can't pinpoint why, you're more likely dealing with an almost-psychopath than with an out-and-out monster.
This book paints the picture clearly and even compassionately but without illusions and offers some good down-to-earth guidance on how to ID an almost-psychopath and what to do when you realize you're dealing with someone like this. Unless you work alone in a cave and have no family or friendships, you'll probably find this handy at some point. Recommended for general readers, and also for professionals as an aid in helping clients and patients understand and cope with the almost-psychopaths in their lives.
May 11, 2016
Not gonna lie. I made my husband pick this shit up from the library when I got the email 'you have a hold available! come pick up in the next 5 days.' We're new to town and I don't need homies whispering about THAT WOMAN who got a book with the subtitle 'Do I (or Does someone I Know) Have a problem with Manipulation and Lack of Empathy. It's paging the Department of Ominous. I sort of like the fact that it somehow reminds me of the camp horror movie title 'I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER'.
But damnit, Janet. Did they have to throw that subtitle in so I have to worry about using the self check kiosk or default to having my husband grab it for me like it's covert ops? Anyway. Splitting hairs!
It's safe to say Psychopaths have been having 'A moment' in pop culture. Look at the cultish following of shows like long running 'Dexter'. It's human nature to be riveted by the aberrant; we wonder why/how they became that way. And yes, part of us wonders if , in the right circumstances, we'd react to a situation in the same way one of these superfreaks would. ADMIT THIS.
Also, invariably we've armchair diagnosed as 'Psychopaths' oh, exes, ex bosses, current bosses, current coworkers, former friends, that man who lives close by who gives you the stink eye and makes you walk a little faster to your car. ALL THAT. Psychopath is a word like the word AMAZING or AWESOME in the American lexicon, it's everywhere. And yes, many people have no goddamned idea what it really means. It's a catchall phrase for lazies who want to throw people they hate under the bus.
I should mention the credentials of the authors; a successful lawyer (James Silver . JD) and a doctor who then decided, naw, I'm a slacker. I need to do this doctor thing. (Ronald Schouten, MD, JD)
This is salient as it separates this particular book from the spate of books on this very subject. They have solid credentials and also (given their fields of expertise) have had close access to diagnosed psychopaths. They offer solid examples based on experience as well as culling statistics/well known case studies to back it all up as well. In their words, the objective of the book is "..this book is not about labels, as attractive as they may be for helping us organize our thinking about the world.Rather, it's meant to shed light on the complexities of human behavior to encourage situational awareness. Our goals are to help you make sense of almost psychopaths in the past and provide strategies for dealing with them in the present and future. And for those who recognize some of these concerning {note from me: concerning is not a word in the English language, editors, wherefore art thou? another 3 martini 'bidness lunch'?} behaviors in themselves or who think they might also be almost psychopaths. "
So, it's a self help guide in a few ways. If you're dark as hell, and don't WANNA NO MORE, well, they'll help you set your sails straight. But for most of us reading it serves as a solid field guide to spotting (and coping) with people who exhibit these destructive behaviors. Granted, true psychopaths are estimated to be about 1% of the population (larger percentage when evaluating incarcerated inmates) so luckily our chances of having regulars run ins are not too high. But. BUT. Especially in the workplace (with many top level execs ranking high on the PCL-R checklist. The Psychopathy Checklist Revised that is) you have likely dealt with some aspects of the 'almost psychopath' - aka the subclinical psychopath. This is someone who exhibits the behaviors on the spectrum but is not a full fledged 'PATH. Think PATH LITE. And it sounds cute and innocuous but it's not. They still suck 'BIGLY' (Shout out to Trump's pidjin English words! )
The book lists various behavioral disorders and that's pretty interesting. Some cases (people the authors have dealt with in the line of their work, names changed like it's a Lifetime movie and everything). Something I didn't know: some underlying medical disorders can have patients present as being psychopathic in their actions but really , a dedicated thorough doctor will discover a medical reason. For example, toxins. We are exposed to many , daily, without noticing or worrying much really. An interesting case study showed a professor (and his cat) displaying aggressive, menacing behavior and it was down to use of a flea powder that blocked some enzyme (too tired ot reference the exact name if it) and thus made for a radical change in man and pet. Wild. Literally.
And brain injuries or trauma can easily create a change in someone's behavior- depending on where the injury is it can utterly transform someone into someone who presents as a 'Path.
A section in recognizing the 'path traits in children was well written. Due to the vast hormonal fluctuations in children and adolescents the tests used for adults are not used to evaluate young people. In fact the kids who present as having 'almost psychopath' traits can sometimes end p fine with a little early intervention, some medication and parental involvement. Many scientists agree the cause of being a 'Path is half nature half nuture but of course studies continue so that might be subject to change at some point in the future.
I found the 'working with an almost psychopath' section helpful. I had experience with one boss being one I long suspected was based on his incredible behavior.After I left the job and moved a friend told me he ended up arrested by the feds, placed on house arrest and since he was an old man he never had to go to prison. He was Satan's Handmaiden! And he was most definitely a 'Path, it was amazing seeing that in action. Like a runaway freight train! My friends used to pump me for stories about ol' boy after a few drinks, the laughs! They don't stop.
The epidemic of workplace bullying is also attributed to some of these people , almost 'paths who basically wreak havoc on the lives of their targets (and even the hapless coworkers who aren't and just in the same workplace, suffering the fallout) The authors give a good 'how to' in terms of handling these beasts. Of course, document ALL THE THINGS but read in details for more specific steps to cover your ass and not have any blowback.
(insert HAHA BUSINESS! meme here)
There is a section investigating psychopathy in the helping professions. WHICH I LOVE. Why? Because some rubes blindly think all people in these professions walk on water by default. SAINTS! And no, because the whole 'human nature' thing makes it impossible to be that way. There's always a bad apple or three and it's good to keep that in mind when seeing a health care professional or a therapist. They posit you MUST heed your instincts, always, and to ask questions, pay attention to anything that doesn't sit right. Sounds simplistic but it's so often overlooked. And of course the go into much more detail in the book than I am here. They include some cases where therapists manipulated and crossed ethical lines. While they assert that sometimes the person is not a 'path just made an error in judgment some of those cases I thought the person acted like a sociopath instead.
I cannot keep all the PATHS straight I guess.
Finally, the people who defraud institutions with false disability claims or insurance claims are mentioned. AKA PUTZES. But oddly the authors felt that while many of these people might be otherwise responsible and upstanding citizens, feeling like after a life of hard work they can scam the system- that, to them could be attributed to poor judgment and does not necessarily make them an 'almost 'path' And to me, that's kind sociopathic to do that kind of thing. I know there is grey in the world m, not black or white. But in this case I disagreed with the authors' opinion.
Also they mentioned how forgiveness of 'path behavior can be freeing, even good for the person victimized. Well, sometimes people don't get forgiveness if it's an egregious transgression. I kind of think there is a weird fixation on 'closure' and forced forgiveness in our society. Who knows. Luckily I don't have to forgive a 'path for anything BUT IF I DID? Nope. I'd carry that hatchet and grind it.
PEACE!
But damnit, Janet. Did they have to throw that subtitle in so I have to worry about using the self check kiosk or default to having my husband grab it for me like it's covert ops? Anyway. Splitting hairs!
It's safe to say Psychopaths have been having 'A moment' in pop culture. Look at the cultish following of shows like long running 'Dexter'. It's human nature to be riveted by the aberrant; we wonder why/how they became that way. And yes, part of us wonders if , in the right circumstances, we'd react to a situation in the same way one of these superfreaks would. ADMIT THIS.
Also, invariably we've armchair diagnosed as 'Psychopaths' oh, exes, ex bosses, current bosses, current coworkers, former friends, that man who lives close by who gives you the stink eye and makes you walk a little faster to your car. ALL THAT. Psychopath is a word like the word AMAZING or AWESOME in the American lexicon, it's everywhere. And yes, many people have no goddamned idea what it really means. It's a catchall phrase for lazies who want to throw people they hate under the bus.
I should mention the credentials of the authors; a successful lawyer (James Silver . JD) and a doctor who then decided, naw, I'm a slacker. I need to do this doctor thing. (Ronald Schouten, MD, JD)
This is salient as it separates this particular book from the spate of books on this very subject. They have solid credentials and also (given their fields of expertise) have had close access to diagnosed psychopaths. They offer solid examples based on experience as well as culling statistics/well known case studies to back it all up as well. In their words, the objective of the book is "..this book is not about labels, as attractive as they may be for helping us organize our thinking about the world.Rather, it's meant to shed light on the complexities of human behavior to encourage situational awareness. Our goals are to help you make sense of almost psychopaths in the past and provide strategies for dealing with them in the present and future. And for those who recognize some of these concerning {note from me: concerning is not a word in the English language, editors, wherefore art thou? another 3 martini 'bidness lunch'?} behaviors in themselves or who think they might also be almost psychopaths. "
So, it's a self help guide in a few ways. If you're dark as hell, and don't WANNA NO MORE, well, they'll help you set your sails straight. But for most of us reading it serves as a solid field guide to spotting (and coping) with people who exhibit these destructive behaviors. Granted, true psychopaths are estimated to be about 1% of the population (larger percentage when evaluating incarcerated inmates) so luckily our chances of having regulars run ins are not too high. But. BUT. Especially in the workplace (with many top level execs ranking high on the PCL-R checklist. The Psychopathy Checklist Revised that is) you have likely dealt with some aspects of the 'almost psychopath' - aka the subclinical psychopath. This is someone who exhibits the behaviors on the spectrum but is not a full fledged 'PATH. Think PATH LITE. And it sounds cute and innocuous but it's not. They still suck 'BIGLY' (Shout out to Trump's pidjin English words! )
The book lists various behavioral disorders and that's pretty interesting. Some cases (people the authors have dealt with in the line of their work, names changed like it's a Lifetime movie and everything). Something I didn't know: some underlying medical disorders can have patients present as being psychopathic in their actions but really , a dedicated thorough doctor will discover a medical reason. For example, toxins. We are exposed to many , daily, without noticing or worrying much really. An interesting case study showed a professor (and his cat) displaying aggressive, menacing behavior and it was down to use of a flea powder that blocked some enzyme (too tired ot reference the exact name if it) and thus made for a radical change in man and pet. Wild. Literally.
And brain injuries or trauma can easily create a change in someone's behavior- depending on where the injury is it can utterly transform someone into someone who presents as a 'Path.
A section in recognizing the 'path traits in children was well written. Due to the vast hormonal fluctuations in children and adolescents the tests used for adults are not used to evaluate young people. In fact the kids who present as having 'almost psychopath' traits can sometimes end p fine with a little early intervention, some medication and parental involvement. Many scientists agree the cause of being a 'Path is half nature half nuture but of course studies continue so that might be subject to change at some point in the future.
I found the 'working with an almost psychopath' section helpful. I had experience with one boss being one I long suspected was based on his incredible behavior.After I left the job and moved a friend told me he ended up arrested by the feds, placed on house arrest and since he was an old man he never had to go to prison. He was Satan's Handmaiden! And he was most definitely a 'Path, it was amazing seeing that in action. Like a runaway freight train! My friends used to pump me for stories about ol' boy after a few drinks, the laughs! They don't stop.
The epidemic of workplace bullying is also attributed to some of these people , almost 'paths who basically wreak havoc on the lives of their targets (and even the hapless coworkers who aren't and just in the same workplace, suffering the fallout) The authors give a good 'how to' in terms of handling these beasts. Of course, document ALL THE THINGS but read in details for more specific steps to cover your ass and not have any blowback.
(insert HAHA BUSINESS! meme here)
There is a section investigating psychopathy in the helping professions. WHICH I LOVE. Why? Because some rubes blindly think all people in these professions walk on water by default. SAINTS! And no, because the whole 'human nature' thing makes it impossible to be that way. There's always a bad apple or three and it's good to keep that in mind when seeing a health care professional or a therapist. They posit you MUST heed your instincts, always, and to ask questions, pay attention to anything that doesn't sit right. Sounds simplistic but it's so often overlooked. And of course the go into much more detail in the book than I am here. They include some cases where therapists manipulated and crossed ethical lines. While they assert that sometimes the person is not a 'path just made an error in judgment some of those cases I thought the person acted like a sociopath instead.
I cannot keep all the PATHS straight I guess.
Finally, the people who defraud institutions with false disability claims or insurance claims are mentioned. AKA PUTZES. But oddly the authors felt that while many of these people might be otherwise responsible and upstanding citizens, feeling like after a life of hard work they can scam the system- that, to them could be attributed to poor judgment and does not necessarily make them an 'almost 'path' And to me, that's kind sociopathic to do that kind of thing. I know there is grey in the world m, not black or white. But in this case I disagreed with the authors' opinion.
Also they mentioned how forgiveness of 'path behavior can be freeing, even good for the person victimized. Well, sometimes people don't get forgiveness if it's an egregious transgression. I kind of think there is a weird fixation on 'closure' and forced forgiveness in our society. Who knows. Luckily I don't have to forgive a 'path for anything BUT IF I DID? Nope. I'd carry that hatchet and grind it.
PEACE!
March 21, 2013
If the people in this book are all "almost psychopaths" then so is almost anyone who has ever experienced anger, sadness, depression, or mania in their lives. Through the lens of a broken relationship, almost anyone can appear to be "almost a psychopath". Selective memory "almost" guarantees it.
On the other hand, reading this book will surely reassure you that whoever wronged you is pathologically damaged and it is nature which conspired against your perfect union.
Bullshit.
On the other hand, reading this book will surely reassure you that whoever wronged you is pathologically damaged and it is nature which conspired against your perfect union.
Bullshit.
July 8, 2022
This was recommended to me by someone who knows my backstory. 1 in 4 women have been in an abusive relationship and this book explains the difference between psychopaths and other disorders that can show up in an abusive relationship. One of my favorite terms mentioned is “interpersonal terrorism” because that phrase is the perfect description of what I went through. The book also talks about the psychological warfare as well as sexual abuse that happens when you live with an abuser. My abuse happened over 25 years ago and I still suffer from PTSD. Even while reading the CASE STUDIES included in this book, I had heart palpitations and got sweaty. A good read if you need help describing what is going on in a personal/work relationship
June 17, 2013
Psychopath is one of those words that people tend to throw around a lot, like schizophrenic or insane, without, perhaps, knowing the exact diagnostic criteria for such an evaluation. Sure, that jerk you work with might be tough to deal with, but is he actually a psychopath? This book will help you figure that out. It is also helpful if you want to know what borderline personality disorder or other mental health designations look like, at least in a strictly professional sense. It's a light enjoyable read, goes by quickly, and has some useful tips. The author is a pretty entertaining speaker,if you ever have to opportunity to hear him.
June 21, 2014
Could not put it down. My ex had all these traits and it is interesting to see that this is the way they are. Most people who didn't like it have never dealt with people this was so they don't understand. It's a great book. Full of useful information and details about why they do this. It helps victims of them recover from this and move on to know never to fall for it again.
July 1, 2019
Dry, yet not academic. Some questionable information. Written, it seems, for people who might not have any ability to read their own internal red flag responses to a dangerous, manipulative person. The non-clinical "dumbed down" version of the DSM is more informative and engaging.
September 16, 2012
This book was useful. I would have liked more examples of the behavior and how to deal with it, but it was still a helpful book to read. Sadly there are a good deal of Almost Psychopaths out there.
Read
May 27, 2013This it is a fairly decent review of current thought about sociopaths. I expected much more about how to deal with them, but the fact is they are difficult to deal with. Most people don't know what to do when faced with this kind of behavior. I guess the best this book has to offer is comfort in knowing that we're not crazy when we we find ourselves dealing with someone who displays this pattern of characteristics. The almost psychopaths really are out there and most of us will run into a few of them at some point during our lifetimes.
October 13, 2015
This book was a homework assignment for me. The subject is not a pleasant one, but chances are that sometime in your life, you will run into a person like this. Far better that you are armed with the knowledge necessary to navigate your way through it without getting into a dysfunctional, unhealthy mess. My challenge to you is to read this book and live your healthiest life!
September 8, 2012
What I learned. "Almost" or "definitely" psychopaths are to be avoided.
February 2, 2013
Almost interesting. Suffered in comparison to books I've read recently by Bill Eddy, so maybe better on its own terms than I'm giving it credit for.
March 1, 2016
Pues realmente no sé qué esperaba, pero no era esto...
August 4, 2012
Informative and more academic, but not as entertaining as Jon Ronson's The Psychopath Test.
November 3, 2021
I have always been interested in psychology, but since I got on my true crime kick I cannot get enough. I want to read the goddamn DSM-5.
I also feel like I have experience with NPD and low empathy individuals, and have often wondered if I myself suffer from BPD.
That being said, I was here for this. And it had some great information. However:
1. There is some misinformation about BPD in this book. While Harvard accolades seem very credible, it did not seem like the author was truly familiar with BPD. BPD individuals are known for having extremely high empathy, except in certain circumstances. While they certainly share traits with sufferers of NPD, and can even emulate them, the pathology is totally different. I was disappointed with the facts and theories surrounding BPD in this literature, not from any personal affront, but because it seemed so out-of-line with other texts and materials. This shook my faith in some of the other information.
2. I was put off, as other reviewers were, by the "take charge" attitude of the final chapter, which encourages readers to report people and launch investigations in the workplace if they believe they coexist with a troublesome psychopath/almost psychopath. That seems like a really bad strategy, for a multitude of reasons. It is also likely to cause YOU, the totally misguided office employee, to make a mistake 9/10 times and look absolutely insane doing it.
Otherwise, some great information.
I also feel like I have experience with NPD and low empathy individuals, and have often wondered if I myself suffer from BPD.
That being said, I was here for this. And it had some great information. However:
1. There is some misinformation about BPD in this book. While Harvard accolades seem very credible, it did not seem like the author was truly familiar with BPD. BPD individuals are known for having extremely high empathy, except in certain circumstances. While they certainly share traits with sufferers of NPD, and can even emulate them, the pathology is totally different. I was disappointed with the facts and theories surrounding BPD in this literature, not from any personal affront, but because it seemed so out-of-line with other texts and materials. This shook my faith in some of the other information.
2. I was put off, as other reviewers were, by the "take charge" attitude of the final chapter, which encourages readers to report people and launch investigations in the workplace if they believe they coexist with a troublesome psychopath/almost psychopath. That seems like a really bad strategy, for a multitude of reasons. It is also likely to cause YOU, the totally misguided office employee, to make a mistake 9/10 times and look absolutely insane doing it.
Otherwise, some great information.
June 13, 2017
3.5/5 stars.
What's the difference between a psychopath and sociopath?
On a curious whim, I decided to consult a nearby bookstore. While bent, spine curled sloppily to the side and head loosely dangling from my neck, I spotted this book near the bottom shelf. Admittedly, the title seemed a bit removed from what I had wondered, but the first chapter made a good impression and I was pleasantly surprised. I learned the answer to my initial question, and many other questions I'd had for a long time, regarding psychopathy.
Having digested this book over a season of sporadic Barnes&Noble sittings, I can say that I found it light enough to pick up time and again - good for a few pages or a chapter, here and there; memorable enough to recall my page between visits. A handful of anecdotes are sprinkled throughout each chapter. These altered-for-confidentiality stories are the foundation of the book. They entirely sustain the more technical sections by conveying memorable distinctions between various and often subtly different psychoses and/or "levels" of psychopathy.
By exploring how these experts have come to discuss psychopathy and various states of mental disorder, I think we can dispel much of the fear surrounding these topics.
And I know I'm not even almost a psychopath, but I still wonder what I'd score on one of those psychopathy tests :P
What's the difference between a psychopath and sociopath?
On a curious whim, I decided to consult a nearby bookstore. While bent, spine curled sloppily to the side and head loosely dangling from my neck, I spotted this book near the bottom shelf. Admittedly, the title seemed a bit removed from what I had wondered, but the first chapter made a good impression and I was pleasantly surprised. I learned the answer to my initial question, and many other questions I'd had for a long time, regarding psychopathy.
Having digested this book over a season of sporadic Barnes&Noble sittings, I can say that I found it light enough to pick up time and again - good for a few pages or a chapter, here and there; memorable enough to recall my page between visits. A handful of anecdotes are sprinkled throughout each chapter. These altered-for-confidentiality stories are the foundation of the book. They entirely sustain the more technical sections by conveying memorable distinctions between various and often subtly different psychoses and/or "levels" of psychopathy.
By exploring how these experts have come to discuss psychopathy and various states of mental disorder, I think we can dispel much of the fear surrounding these topics.
And I know I'm not even almost a psychopath, but I still wonder what I'd score on one of those psychopathy tests :P
December 31, 2019
The idea behind this is quite interesting - if psychopathy is defined by a numerical scale (the PCL-R) then what about those individuals who are just the right side of the cut off point? These are the almost psychopaths of the books title.
Unfortunately the execution is poor. The book seems muddled in what it is trying to be. In places it reads like a self help book, in places like a collection of case studies, in other places little more than lists of generic advice.
It states clearly that to assess psychopathy in an individual requires a qualified professional and talks about the limitations of even that approach, yet by the end of the book it is chucking in enormous generalisations like
"For some claimants,scamming the disability system may be consistent with their behaviour in the rest of their lives. Such people are true psychopaths or close to it."
Firstly that is a preposterous claim. Secondly are they true psychopaths or not? Given that the whole book is about that distinction that is a remarkable throwaway comment.
Perhaps the book on psychopathy the authors wanted to write has already been written so they were looking for a different angle. Much as I'd love to say it "almost" worked, it simply didn't.
Unfortunately the execution is poor. The book seems muddled in what it is trying to be. In places it reads like a self help book, in places like a collection of case studies, in other places little more than lists of generic advice.
It states clearly that to assess psychopathy in an individual requires a qualified professional and talks about the limitations of even that approach, yet by the end of the book it is chucking in enormous generalisations like
"For some claimants,scamming the disability system may be consistent with their behaviour in the rest of their lives. Such people are true psychopaths or close to it."
Firstly that is a preposterous claim. Secondly are they true psychopaths or not? Given that the whole book is about that distinction that is a remarkable throwaway comment.
Perhaps the book on psychopathy the authors wanted to write has already been written so they were looking for a different angle. Much as I'd love to say it "almost" worked, it simply didn't.
January 22, 2018
I read this book years ago after a friend mentioned hearing about it on NPR. It's written by folks from Harvard Medical and was part of a series that details conditions that people can "almost" suffer from, hence the title. Most physical medical conditions (cancer, AIDS, etc.) you either have or you don't, but many behavioral and psychological disorders are on a spectrum where someone can almost suffer from them. I thought this book did a great job of explaining psychopathy (all those times growing up when we called someone we thought was acting crazy a "psycho", yeah, that's a very inappropriate misnomer). While the book helped me to better identify someone who falls into this "almost psychopath" territory, I do wish it did more in helping identify strategies one can use when encountering these sorts of people. There was some of that definitely, but not enough for me. Overall it was very fascinating, and while I had originally forgot I had read this book, it came to mind recently when I was watching an interview with our current President....
September 18, 2018
Mediocre
This text seems to contradict itself. It outlines clear, clinical diagnostic criteria for a psychopath. It explains that psychopathy is the result of biological differences in the brain and its abilities. Then it claims that some people, by being different than the mean on certain social factors, are “almost” psychopaths. Diagnostic criteria would indicate that one simply is or is not.
Furthermore, they claim that an “almost” psychopath can change while a true psychopath is incapable of changing and immune to treatments. Again, this would lead to the conclusion that an “almost” psychopath is not at all a psychopath - merely an individual who conforms less to certain social norms and societal expectations.
Didn’t gain anything from this book. Wouldn’t recommend it, unless you’re trying to learn about clinical diagnostic criteria for psychopathy and what they are not.
This text seems to contradict itself. It outlines clear, clinical diagnostic criteria for a psychopath. It explains that psychopathy is the result of biological differences in the brain and its abilities. Then it claims that some people, by being different than the mean on certain social factors, are “almost” psychopaths. Diagnostic criteria would indicate that one simply is or is not.
Furthermore, they claim that an “almost” psychopath can change while a true psychopath is incapable of changing and immune to treatments. Again, this would lead to the conclusion that an “almost” psychopath is not at all a psychopath - merely an individual who conforms less to certain social norms and societal expectations.
Didn’t gain anything from this book. Wouldn’t recommend it, unless you’re trying to learn about clinical diagnostic criteria for psychopathy and what they are not.
July 15, 2018
This is an excellent book for those that are dealing with someone who is refusing to co-parent after a divorce, controlling in a relationship, hard to work with at a job, or just a family member that you are unable to deal with. It is an honest ex0plaination at what motivates these difficult individuals and how a person can best work around them in order to have a better life. I found myself using this book in order to deal with my ex-narc who falls into many of these characteristics. Being able to understand what you are working with makes it easier to approach the person civilly in both everyday life and in court when necessary. I highly recommend this for other parents that are dealing with ex partners that refuse to co-parent and to therapists that are learning about narcissism and its destructive behavioral patterns.
January 8, 2020
I love case studies and case examples! This book was full of them, and it provided an array of different situations in which you may find an almost psychopath. The subclinical psychopath is an interesting case. No case study went incredibly in depth, and there wasn’t too much in this book concerning the etiology of psychopathy and personality disorder. Etiology can be avoided in mental health counseling these days, depending on the type of treatment, but it’s still interesting!
I definitely recommend this book if you want to learn more about psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder, though it’s dated back in the days if DSM IV, and you will find more information that insight regarding psychopathy.
I definitely recommend this book if you want to learn more about psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder, though it’s dated back in the days if DSM IV, and you will find more information that insight regarding psychopathy.
May 14, 2020
I liked this book alright it was interesting to see what he author thought made a psychopath and how it is different from the DSM disorders that are associated with it. I found that the examples fell into the DSM diagnosis neatly so I wonder why a new disorder needs to be made. As a therapist I wanted more in dept look at a psychopath and not so many case studies. I can see how someone without my background could find it helpful. Psychopath is a common phrase and I have heard of some good research on it but I did not feel this book lived up to my expectations.
September 10, 2019
Found an ARC on the weeding cart at work. Wondering if it was my office neighbor's. Good news: If you're concerned or worried that you might be a psychopath, you probably aren't one. Psychopaths don't feel guilt about using others, so they wouldn't consider their behavior problematic if it serves their ends. The "Almost A" series is an interesting concept, but I don't feel like I learned anything new in this book. The case studies were good though.
May 30, 2023
I finally gave up on this book. Life's too short to read books that go nowhere. After reading about examples of "almost psychopathic" behavior, I wanted to know how to handle such people. Even better, how to avoid such people. Maybe even how to help them. If someone else has finished this book and can share such assistance, that's great. I just couldn't do it.
December 22, 2018
I definitely picked up this book with a specific person in mind. It gave me insight and clarity that I really appreciated. Quick read, and highly recommended for anyone with any mental health interests!
November 23, 2017
technical
September 5, 2019
Kind of meh on the distinction between 'psychopath' and 'almost psychopath' presented in this book.
September 11, 2019
Love it. Although it does make me question everyone I meet 🤣😂🤣
October 10, 2019
Amazing cheerful for such a depressing topic.
The author outlines the various manifestations of near psychopaths with wonderful vignettes.
The author outlines the various manifestations of near psychopaths with wonderful vignettes.
October 30, 2019
Thin on scholarship but the story anecdotes were interesting!
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