This “okay, okay!” tactic is the disturbed character’s attempt to get you off their back by insinuating that they understand what you are asking and are willing to accede to it while they actually have no intention of changing their stance.

“Tuning-out” someone who’s trying to make a point, teach a lesson, or call attention to a problem is a principal way that the disordered character resists internalizing the values, standards, and controls society wants him to adopt.

Sue Wiggins, a PhD student in counselling and psychotherapy, sent along some details about her current research. Can you help her understand what clients find helpful in therapy?

Neurotics try hard not only to project a positive image, but also to do the right thing. Disordered characters know this very well. So, when the person with a disturbed character wants to manipulate a good neurotic, all they have to do is somehow convince them that they’ve done wrong or behaved in a manner they should feel ashamed of.

When he uses the tactic of minimization, the disturbed character is attempting to convince someone else that the wrongful thing he did wasn’t really as bad or as harmful as he knows it was and as he knows the other person thinks it was.

Having been providing online counselling services continuously since 2003, I’ve decided it’s time for a break.

These three problematic thinking patterns tend to co-occur and lead to considerable problems with the disturbed character developing any sense of personal responsibility and accountability.