By Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud€¦ · sionals and the public identify, escape and re-cover...
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10 Signs that you’re dating a sociopath By Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud.com If your new romantic interest exhibits all or most of the following behaviors, be careful. He or she might be a sociopath — a person who intentionally exploits and manipulates others.. 1. Charisma and charm. They’re smooth talkers, always have an answer, never miss a beat. They seem to be very exciting. 2. Sudden soul mates. They figure out what you want, make themselves into that person, then tell you that your relationship was “meant to be.” 3. Sexual magnetism. If you feel intense attraction, if your physical relationship is unbelievable, it may be their excess testosterone. 4. Love bombing. You’re showered with attention and adoration. They want to be with you all the time. They call, text and e-mail constantly. 5. Blames others for everything. Nothing is ever their fault. They always have an excuse. Someone else causes their problems. 6. Lies and gaps in the story. You ask questions, and the answers are vague. They tell stupid lies. They tell out- rageous lies. They lie when they’d make out better telling the truth. 7. Intense eye contact. Call it the predatory stare. If you get a chill down your spine when they look at you, pay attention. 8. Moves fast to hook up. It’s a whirlwind romance. They quickly proclaim their true love. They want to move in together or get married quickly. 9. Pity play. They appeal to your sympathy. They want you to feel sorry for their abusive childhood, psychotic ex, incurable disease or financial setbacks. 10. Jekyll and Hyde personality. One minute they love you; the next minute they hate you. Their personality changes like flipping a switch. Donna Andersen is author of Lovefraud.com, a website that teaches people to recognize and recover from sociopaths. She is also au- thor of Red Flags of Love Fraud—10 signs you’re dating a sociopath, the Red Flags of Love Fraud Workbook, and Love Fraud, which tells her per- sonal story of marriage to a sociopath. Donna is program administrator for Love- fraud Continuing Education, a nonprofit that offers webinars to help mental health profes- sionals and the public identify, escape and re- cover from narcissists, antisocials, psychopaths and other manipulators. Donna appeared on television shows includ- ing ABC News 20/20, Who the Bleep Did I Marry? and The Ricki Lake Show. She graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in psychol- ogy and journalism. Contact: Donna Andersen [email protected] 609-945-1384
Transcript of By Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud€¦ · sionals and the public identify, escape and re-cover...
10 Signs that you’re dating a sociopathBy Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud.com
If your new romantic interest exhibits all or most of thefollowing behaviors, be careful. He or she might be a sociopath — a person who intentionally exploits andmanipulates others..
1. Charisma and charm. They’re smooth talkers, alwayshave an answer, never miss a beat. They seem to be veryexciting.
2. Sudden soul mates. They figure out what you want,make themselves into that person, then tell you thatyour relationship was “meant to be.”
3. Sexual magnetism. If you feel intense attraction, ifyour physical relationship is unbelievable, it may be theirexcess testosterone.
4. Love bombing. You’re showered with attention andadoration. They want to be with you all the time. Theycall, text and e-mail constantly.
5. Blames others for everything. Nothing is ever theirfault. They always have an excuse. Someone else causestheir problems.
6. Lies and gaps in the story. You ask questions, andthe answers are vague. They tell stupid lies. They tell out-rageous lies. They lie when they’d make out bettertelling the truth.
7. Intense eye contact. Call it the predatory stare. If youget a chill down your spine when they look at you, payattention.
8. Moves fast to hook up. It’s a whirlwind romance.They quickly proclaim their true love. They want to movein together or get married quickly.
9. Pity play. They appeal to your sympathy. They wantyou to feel sorry for their abusive childhood, psychoticex, incurable disease or financial setbacks.
10. Jekyll and Hyde personality. One minute they loveyou; the next minute they hate you. Their personalitychanges like flipping a switch.
Donna Andersen is author of Lovefraud.com,a website that teaches people to recognizeand recover from sociopaths. She is also au-thor of Red Flags of Love Fraud—10 signs you’redating a sociopath, the Red Flags of Love FraudWorkbook, and Love Fraud, which tells her per-sonal story of marriage to a sociopath.
Donna is program administrator for Love-fraud Continuing Education, a nonprofit thatoffers webinars to help mental health profes-sionals and the public identify, escape and re-cover from narcissists, antisocials, psychopathsand other manipulators.
Donna appeared on television shows includ-ing ABC News 20/20, Who the Bleep Did I Marry?and The Ricki Lake Show. She graduated fromSyracuse University with degrees in psychol-ogy and journalism.
Contact: Donna [email protected]
