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Almost a Psychopath: Do I (or Does Someone I Know) Have a Problem with Manipulation and Lack of Empathy? (The Almost Effect) Paperback – May 22, 2012

by Ronald Schouten (Author), James Silver (Author)

4.2 199 ratings

Part of: The Almost Effect (4 books)

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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.

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.

Part of series

The Almost Effect
Print length

280 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Hazelden Publishing
Publication date

May 22, 2012
Dimensions

5.4 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
ISBN-10

1616491027
ISBN-13

978-1616491024
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Editorial Reviews

Review

--2012 IPBA Benjamin Franklin GOLD Award Winner in the category of Psychology

"Dr. Schouten and Mr. Silver have written a sophisticated self-help book aimed primarily at those victims--parents, spouses and co-workers--but also at those who might sense some of these traits in themselves. The authors include a detailed discussion of the thought processes behind a psychiatric evaluation and an overview of the still-tentative theories of causation.

The almost-psychopaths are inherently fascinating; they may rise high and fall low (certain scions of politics and finance come to mind) or simply cause smaller miseries in their roles as controlling spouses, manipulative colleagues or uncontrollable teenagers.

At work they may be competent, self-disciplined and high-achieving. At home they may be charming and lots of fun. And on the inside they may be just as morally empty as any true psychopath, but the almost-psychopaths are grounded enough to keep some of their worst instincts in check, staying employed and out of major legal trouble."
--Abigail Zuger, New York Times, June 26, 2012

"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, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Director of Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance.

"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 human 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

"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

"Almost a Psychopath is a powerful read for those who want to better understand this mental illness and how to work with such individuals."
--The Midwest Book Review

About the Author

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.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hazelden Publishing; 1st edition (May 22, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1616491027
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1616491024
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #819,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #550 in Personality Disorders (Books)
- #2,731 in Interpersonal Relations (Books)
- #15,834 in Personal Transformation Self-Help

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4.2 199 ratings

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Jim Silver
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James Silver, JD, is a Harvard Law School graduate who has been both a federal prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney. As an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, DC and a criminal defense attorney in Boston, Massachusetts, he has tried cases spanning the gamut of criminal charges from shoplifting to first-degree murder, and has argued numerous criminal appeals, including cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Several cases he has worked on received extensive media coverage, including the child kidnapping case of Clark Rockefeller. He is on the faculty at Bristol Community College in Massachusetts where he teaches Criminal Justice and Legal Studies.
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Ronald Schouten
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Ronald Schouten, MD, JD, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Director of the Law & Psychiatry Service at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Schouten is a former attorney who left the practice of law to pursue a career in medicine. His work focuses on forensic psychiatry, which is the application of clinical psychiatry to legal matters. In his career, he has assessed murderers, as well as victims and perpetrators of child abuse, domestic violence and other trauma. He has special expertise in the areas of threat assessment, including insider threat and violence in the workplace, as well as occupational behavioral health and professional misconduct. His professional activities range from teaching Harvard undergraduates to advising multinational corporations and government agencies. Dr. Schouten is a widely recognized expert in forensic psychiatry and has been interviewed by prestigious national media outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He has authored and coauthored over 60 professional publications on a range of medical and legal topics.
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4.2 out of 5

199 global ratings

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Shannon

Good, just wish it had more advice

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2013

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This book wasn't quite as helpful as I'd hoped it would be in learning to deal with "almost psychopaths," but it is helpful just to know that you're not crazy when you think there's something off about someone with these qualities. It does have suggestions for how to handle certain situations, but unfortunately the ultimate answer seems to be that there isn't much that can be done, short of getting away from the person or people if you can. The book is easy to read though, and does discuss other psychological conditions that display similar characteristics, which are helpful. Also helpful are the case studies, which sometimes show examples of how a situation with an "almost psychopath" could actually be worse than what you may currently be experiencing, which can be a sort of silver lining.

I think this book would be very helpful for anyone dealing with someone they think might be an "almost psychopath," especially if that person is a significant other or a coworker/boss. There are many more suggestions dealing with these situations (which seem more destructive and even dangerous) than with others.

One person found this helpful

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aellecee

Everyone knows a psychopath - know how to save yourself or someone else

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2014

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Essential information on a subject that desperately needs more attention. Everyone knows at least one psychopath. They're not hideous monsters who are easily detected. By the time one detects a psychopathic personality (IF), they're usually "trapped" and beaten down emotionally (sometimes physically) and feel completely alone without options or help from others. The psychopathic personality is incredibly engaging and charming and they are masters of manipulation and deception. They are extraordinarily perceptive and are able to adapt in such a way to exploit anyone for any reason because they know how to use a person's vulnerabilities and insecurities against them. It's not a subject to shrug off and these relationships are NOT controllable, no matter how much one has read or studied the subject. You will not have the upper hand in a relationship with a psychopath, ever. Perhaps the most dangerous time is when you *think* you have control and can "handle" the person. They keenly sense your emotions, oftentimes before you can articulate them fully in your own head. They use your friends and family - yourself - against you and they do not like to lose. Manipulation is a game to them and they do not simply "give up."

I have both personal and professional experience with the subject/pathology and when I look back on all the hours (adding up to days or weeks) conversations I had with friends trying to "diagnose" and analyze a person's behavior I become incredibly sad. It is crucial that one fully understands at least one basic fact about psychopaths (and even "normal" people): It is never your job to figure out why a person does what they do or behaves in a certain way. It all comes down to how YOU feel. Learn to identify who these people are so you can steer clear of them. Learn for yourself, even if you're already in a relationship with a person exhibiting this behavior. You are not "stupid" or "weak" for "falling for it," but only you are responsible for spotting it, saying no and standing your ground and getting away from them. They will always win and it will always be at your expense. It's a must read for men and women, especially those with compassion and a big heart. We are the ones they like best because we *want* to believe.

Fantastic reading for anyone, and you'll be doing yourself or someone you care about a favor bigger than you may ever fully realize.

26 people found this helpful

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Dianne

A combination of good information and some misinformation

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2014

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This book does offer a mostly good, useful overview of psychopathy, narcissism and other personality disorders. But its shortcomings are significant. The advice it offers to confront someone you suspect may have one of these conditions, however tactfully, is not only naive; it irresponsible because this advice is potentially dangerous. It is true that an incapacity for empathy and a lack of conscience, the most fundamental (and devastating) aspects of these mental illnesses, occur on a continuum. So there are people with narcissistic tendencies who are not completely without conscience. Yet anyone who is so far along the continuum that they could be considered "almost a psychopath" is someone who breeds misery, and very possibly enjoys doing so. Therefore a well-meaning conversation about their damaging conduct by someone who is not a mental health professional and who may even be one of their deliberate targets, at best is likely to exacerbate the problem. Such a conversation could even lead to tragedy, but is highly unlikely to improve the situation. The hallmark of personality disorders is that they typically hurt those who come in contact with the psychopath, narcissist etc., while the person with the condition, by definition, does not believe he or she has a problem. They act the way they do because, as one self-help guru has put it, "it works for them." (At least it seems to work in their favor in the short term, from their limited perspective.) The details of the advice in Almost a Psychopath about reporting the problem within the workplace should also be taken with a grain of salt. This is because, as the book actually admits, such reporting involves compounding, rarely reducing, the risk to yourself (which is one of the things a skillful psychopath is counting on). The best defense is to eliminate the personality-disordered individual from your life if possible, or at least to limit your interaction with them, and/or to work with a vetted, reliable mental health-care professional to address the serious problems caused by the presence of the (almost or otherwise) psychopath in your life. George Simon's book, In Sheep's Clothing, and Martha Stout's, The Sociopath Next Door, are the most useful books I have found for non-specialists, in the course of very wide reading on the subject of personality disorders.

96 people found this helpful

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MUM Becky

Superficial

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2014

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The authors of 'Almost a Psychopath', Ronald Schouten, MD, JD and James Silver, JD (2012 Harvard University) have backgrounds in the legal profession, which may explain their tendency to view issues in black and white and to prefer cut and dried assessments more appropriate to the rule of law than to a consideration of the human psyche.
Substantial significance is given to the statistical analysis of questionnaires in determining psychological states and mental stability. This approach relies on the belief that the questionnaires (and the creators and interpretors of the questionnaires) encapsulate infallible understanding, skill and wisdom and that the respondents have perfect self-awareness and accurately record their responses (and/or are not playing the system).
In the case studies provided, there is no analysis of the influences of significant others on an individual's development. In the case of Sammy, he and his "problematic" behaviour are viewed in isolation. There is implied criticism of the teenager's attempt at self-assertion: "Sammy - Sam, as he insisted they start calling him - began having more troubles with his studies and the paediatrician reluctantly suggested that Sam try a stimulant medication to address his ADHD."
There are several instances where medication is suggested even thought the authors say they don't promote it. In the case study of Sam, the authors later note: "medication might have been appropriate for the child early on." ADHD, a condition voted into existence by a board of psychiatrists is often 'treated' by psychiatrists in the USA with medication - a 'treatment' for which they commonly receive a drug company commission.
The detrimental effects of chemicals on the brain (the examples in the book being flea powder and lead) are mentioned in relation to how they adversely alter behaviour, however no consideration is given to the effects of the modern American diet, which, for the majority, is industrially produced, toxin laden and nutrient deficient and is also known to have a detrimental effect on the human body, including the brain and mental health.
The authors of 'Almost a Psychopath' claim to dislike labels, but the judgemental title of the book would seem to be the ultimate in labelling, since anyone has the potential to be 'almost' anything. I'm 'almost' glad I bought this book: it recommends 'Difficult Conversations. How to discuss what matters most' by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen, which (in contrast to 'Almost a Psychopath') is worth buying.
'Almost a Psychopath' might satisfy some readers looking for a quick-fix justification for negatively pointing the finger at others, but that is not really helpful to anyone and there are many other alternative books available written with much greater depth, insight and understanding of the human psyche.

7 people found this helpful

Kelly-Marie Grey

Very interesting read: Link between Autism and Psychopathy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2014

Verified Purchase

Backs up my theory of whether the two are linked.
However for me personally having read a lot on this subject I feel the book just puts together a lot of other research. However this is great if you haven't read lots of books on the subject and I do recommend giving it a read. Very easy to read style and easy to understand for non academics.

3 people found this helpful

Alison

Good book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2013

Verified Purchase

I actually didn't read the title correctly, that is the only problem buying with amazon, mistakes are often made. I thought it was about a psychopath not nearly a psychopath. The book was very well written and easy to read. It explained the differences between a sociopath and psychopath. I didn't finish the book completely because it wan't the book I was looking for

One person found this helpful

Simon Denman

An eye-opening insight into the world of those living at the boundary of normality and psychopathy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2012

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Read this as part of my research for the characters of a new novel and it didn't disappoint. I'd recently seen a BBC documentary about psychopathy and how prevalent they may be in society, but I hadn't fully grasped the fact these full-blown psychopaths represent just those at the extreme low-end of an empathy continuum which encompasses us all.
With plenty of case studies, Schouten and Silver provide fascinating insights into the frightening world of the psychopath and compelling evidence for the existence of a far more populous netherworld of "Almost Psychopaths".
I guarantee that anyone who reads this will recognise acquaintances and colleagues (especially former bosses;) who fit the descriptions to a tee!
Highly recommended!

10 people found this helpful

Alison Hargreaves

Useful to identify and help come to terms with difficult people in my life

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2013

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Good descriptions, quite medical but easily understandable by lay people too. Methodical approach to situations where almost psychpaths are met & goes some way towards forming strategies to help.

2 people found this helpful

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