The Manipulative Man: Identify His Behavior, Counter the Abuse, Regain Control (Paperback)

~ Dorothy Mccoy (Author) "WOMEN ARE MESMERIZED by the forbidden relationship, the exciting stranger who radiates danger and yet seems vulnerable and wounded by life..." (more)
Key Phrases: Mama's Boy, Dependent Man, Eternal Jock (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Did he promise you the stars and play you like a musical instrument?" Then you know the manipulative man. Psychotherapist McCoy presents a chilling exposé of 10 types of manipulators ("Mama's Boys," "Eternal Jocks," etc.) who prey on women's neediness and gullibility. This is not a feel-good book, yet it's compellingly readable. McCoy (The Ultimate Book of Personality Tests) is a police consultant, and her work may be what creates the grim undertone. She uses case studies from her counseling practice, blow-by-blow deconstructions of each type's manipulative techniques and tests to determine which type the reader may be dealing with. Most valuable are the chapters on narcissists and psychopaths. These predators are the most dangerous because they can make themselves seem so appealing, flattering and fun at the beginning of the relationship. The author also has good advice for women involved with violent manipulators. In all cases, McCoy warns, "You do not 'know' a manipulative man; he has worked diligently at spinning a web of contradictions, confusion and falsehoods." Wrapping up, McCoy offers suggestions for women seeking healthy relationships, noting those who are self-confident are less likely to fall for a charmer's manipulative wiles. (June 7)
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Product Description

Conventional wisdom says that women are the manipulative ones-but tell that to the thousands of desperate women suffering at the hands of a manipulative man. Men can be just as sneaky, passive-aggressive, needy, underhanded, whiny, guilt-inducing, and emotionally demanding as women are accused of being-and more so! As any woman in love with a manipulative man can tell you, it's not easy to get past his charm and your guilt to a place where you can see your relationship for what it is-out of balance, extraordinarily stressful, emotionally exhausting, and potentially dangerous. The Manipulative Man is a groundbreaking prescription for dealing with the manipulative men in your life by using:

Tests to help women determine if they are involved with mama's boys, narcissists, sociopaths, or even psychopaths

Techniques for defining and setting boundaries with their men

Tools to help women improve their relationships with manipulative men
In The Manipulative Man, acclaimed psychotherapist Dr. Dorothy McCoy shows readers how to identify the type of manipulative man they're involved with, deal with the issues his behavior provokes, and, ultimately, salvage the relationship-or move on.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media (May 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593376235
• ISBN-13: 978-1593376239
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #37,177 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #10 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Abuse & Self Defense > Domestic Violence
  #21 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Personality Disorders
  #32 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Family Relationships > Dysfunctional Relationships

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You can learn a lot!, June 23, 2006

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Written for women, The Manipulative Man is a detailed breakdown of the various kinds of men (behaviors). The subtitle really says it all, giving women help with these three main areas of identifying, countering and regaining.

The types are:
-- Mama's Boy
-- The Workaholic
-- The Eternal Jock
-- The Dependent Man (Woe-is-me complex)
-- Exciting Risk Taker & Full-blown Antisocial
-- The Womanizer
-- The Passive-Aggressive Man
-- The Narcissist
-- The Psychopath (and she says they are NOT all in prison)
-- Violent Manipulator

The last section is about why you might have chosen Mr. Wrong and how to make new choices--how to avoid the manipulation trap.

In each of the "kind of guys" section listed above, the author thoroughly explains the traits, behaviors, beliefs of each every guy does not have all traits), including their manipulative techniques.

Read the case studies, you can clearly see and hear the interaction and help you identify these kinds of guys. Most of the interactions are frustrated women who have already married one of these guys. The test at the end of each chapter will help you "score" him and what the score means.

Dr. McCoy explains that it's all about rules, consequences (likes like parenting) in dating or marrying these types. And the bottom line is: What do you want to do?

Some of this information was so real, so scary the book should carry a warning labels that says: Don't Read This Alone, in the Dark!

In Eternal Jock, for example, the popular athlete who all the girls wanted to date in high school and college, does not make a good husband and father until he "grows up" and realizes that THAT THE GAME OF LIFE can be exciting and give him the praise and attention his type needs.

Who should read this book? My copy goes to a single daughter and I've suggested to several dating friends why need to get their own copy--it's that good. It is like "Man 101" for all its easy-to-understand insights.

Armchair Interviews says: A woman of any age who is dating can learn a lot about men before it's too late--and she's been latched onto by one of these manipulators.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not me..., December 26, 2006

By	Kelly Ramsey (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a must read for anyone who has found themself in a relationship and second guessed their own sanity. I found myself glued to each chapter, seeing red-flags and finding answers to questions that I would not dare ask anyone. This is a great reference book to be picked up again and again.
The insight gained is invaluable.
The author's style is sprinkled with humor, and the reader is anxious to delve deeper into the human psyche. Once started, you cannot put it down.
Great advice for dealing with Emotional Vampires.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, December 18, 2006

By	C. Carpenter - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Manipulation doesn't have a gender, so when I read the Manipulative Man I thought of many men and women who would fit the "case" characters in the book. I just wish I had known how to recognize them at the times I was dealing with them and thinking that "I" was the one who was going crazy. I guess that was my first clue. The descriptions in this book make it easy to stop a manipulative person. It is good to know there are things that I can do to protect myself from these high maintenance people. I look at people from a slightly different perspective now. It really is a very readable and insightful book.