The sociopath next door

[Alex K]

Found on Marty Rathbun's blog,

https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2016/1...pity-play/

an excerpt from Martha Stout's book "The sociopath next door"

From chapter 6 – how to recognize the remorseless

After listening for almost twenty-five years to the stories my patients tell me about sociopaths who have invaded and injured their lives, when I am asked, “How can I tell whom not to trust?” the answer I give usually surprises people. The natural expectation is that I will describe some sinister-sounding detail of behavior or snippet of body language or threatening use of language that is the subtle give-away. Instead, I take people aback by assuring them that the tip-off is none of these things, for none of these things are reliably present. Rather, the best clue is, of all things, the pity play. The most reliable sign, the most universal behavior of unscrupulous people is not directed, as one might imagine, at our fearfulness. It is, perversely, an appeal to our sympathy.

The description goes on. Does that remind you of anyone? A pretty common scheme among the most insidious and hard to grasp forum troublemakers if you ask me.