The covert-aggressive personality employs a potent one-two punch: the covert-aggressive conceals aggressive intent to ensure you never really see what’s coming; and he or she exploits your normal sensitivities, conscientiousness and other vulnerabilities to manipulate you into succumbing.

The Channeled-Aggressives in our midst want everyone to know that they are a power to be reckoned with and have little regard for those whom they perceive to be less tenacious. They might even regard it as a perverted indication of respect if others cower in their presence. Do you know someone like this?

Aggressive personalities are fundamentally at war with anything that stands in the way of their unrestrained pursuit of their desires.

The “Motiwake Personal Development Alarm Clock” awakens you with positive affirmations to programme you for the day. Many people use their own “Demotiwake Personal Alarm Clocks” instead. Isn’t it a better idea just to drop the programmes and relax?

What does it mean to be in control of our lives? Is it at all possible, or desirable? Is it a better idea to try and let go of our need to control, or to find a way to exert influence at least over the meaning of our lives when bad times hit?

Research on the effects of anger expression on speed of wound healing shows that bottling it up and expressing anger in a controlled way do not affect the healing process adversely, but losing your temper sure does.

The issue of self-harm is gaining a higher profile, in the UK at least, but it still remains to some extent a hidden and misunderstood problem, as evidenced by the stereotype of a teenage girl cutting her arms in a dark bedroom.