Difficult Personalities: A Practical Guide to Managing the Hurtful Behavior of Others (and Maybe Your Own)

by Helen McGrath PhD, Hazel Edwards MEd

Overview

An indispensable guide to understanding—and living or working with—people whose behavior leaves you frustrated and confused

We all have people in our lives who frustrate, annoy, or hurt us: workplace bullies, those who always claim to be right, or those with anxious or obsessive personalities. And most of us hurt others occasionally, too. Now, authors Dr. Helen McGrath, a clinical psychologist and professor, and Hazel Edwards, a professional writer, offer this highly readable, extremely practical guide to dealing with the difficult personalities we encounter every day—in others, and in ourselves.

Taking the American Psychiatric Association's widely used Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) as its starting point, Difficult Personalities helpfully outlines over a dozen different personality traits and types, detailing their common characteristics and underlying motivations. It also equips readers with numerous strategies for dealing with difficult behavior, including:

• Anger and conflict management
• Optimism and assertion training
• Rational and empathic thinking
• Reexamining your own personality.

Readers will also benefit from sections on making difficult decisions and maintaining romantic relationships. Perfect for anyone who has ever wished that other people came with a handbook, Difficult Personalities illuminates the personality differences that so often serve as barriers to cooperation in the workplace and harmony at home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615190133
Publisher:	Experiment, The
Publication date:	01/12/2010
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	218,634
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Helen McGrath completed her undergraduate degree and Diploma of Education at the University of Sydney and her Masters degree and Ph.D at Monash University. She is currently an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at RMIT University as well as a part-time senior lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University. She also has a small private psychology practice in Cheltenham, Melbourne. Helen is a leading psychologist and educator with a particular interest and expertise in mental health, social skills and relationships. She is the author or co-author of 22 books for educators, psychologists and the general community.



Acclaimed children’s author of over 200 titles, Hazel Edwards is best known for her popular classic There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake.

Table of Contents

Introduction General Principles Underpinning This Book xi

Part I Incompatible Personality Traits 1

1 What Are Incompatible Personality Traits? 3

2 Variety Plus or a Rich Inner Life? Extroverts and Introverts 7

3 Let's Get Organized or Go with the Flow? Planners and Optionizers 17

4 Which Rules, the Head or the Heart? Thinkers and Feelers 24

Part II Frustrating and Annoying Personality Patterns 33

5 Built-in Flaw Detectors Negativity 35

6 I'm Better Than You! Superiority 42

7 I Have All the Power, I Know All the Answers Bossiness 49

Part III Confusing Personality Types 59

8 The World Is Such a Dangerous Place! The Anxious Personality 61

9 Getting on Top of Anxiety General Strategies 87

10 Everything Is Under Control Anxiety-Based Behavior 96

11 I'm Always Right The Inflexible Personality 126

12 Don't Ever Leave Me The Demanding Personality 132

Part IV Damaging Personalities 143

13 You'll Never Get Me The Passive-Aggressive Personality 145

14 A Silent Nightmare The Bullying Personality 155

15 Everyday Predators Among Us The Sociopathic Personality 172

Part V Strategies 203

16 Strategies for Coping with Sociopaths 205

17 Making Decisions About Difficult Situates and Relationships 215

18 Rational and Irrational Thinking 222

19 Healthy Self-Assertion 233

20 Managing Your Own Anger and the Anger of Others 239

21 Managing Conflict 247

22 Skills for Maintaining a Strong Romantic Partnership 254

Part VI Following Up 267

Finding a Good Psychologist 269

Books You Might Like to Read 271

Index 275

About the Authors 206

Editorial Reviews

A no-frills resource that is both easy to understand and highly informative... Whether the problem person is a chronic complainer, a fount of insults, or a perpetual martyr, you are guaranteed to find in-depth analysis, including what they do, why they do it, and strategies to help cope with that person in a positive, healthy way. The authors also have advice for people who recognize bothersome traits in themselves. McGrath and Edwards have avoided scientific jargon and created a handbook people can put to use immediately. There's nothing difficult about this book, except for the subject it gracefully explicates.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Gets to the heart of the matter and offers a real plan for change and coping.”
—Library Journal

“Concise, well-organized advice that will help readers identify and deal more effectively with the troublesome people in their lives.”
—Albert Bernstein, PhD, author of Emotional Vampires: Dealing with People Who Drain You Dry, Dinosaur Brains: Dealing with All Those Impossible People at Work, and Am I the Only Sane One Working Here?
 
“As a professional in the field of psychology, I’m impressed with Difficult Personalities’ content and useful information. It’s easy to read—both a good reference book and practical for anyone.”
—Martha Manning, PhD, author of Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface

"Comprehensive information delivered in a straightforward manner, this book is a must read for those who wish to better understand and deal with the difficult people in their lives."
—George K. Simon, Jr., PhD, author of In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People

From the Publisher

What do you get when a clinical psychologist (McGrath) and an experienced author of adult and children's literature (Edwards) team up to write a handbook for dealing with troublesome people at work or in one's personal life? You get a no-frills resource that is both easy to understand and highly informative. As with many such manuals, it's not necessary to read cover to cover (especially when the book's only shortcoming is its slightly repetitive tips and strategies) but, rather, to read the chapter about whichever personality causes stress in your life, from the anxious to the passive-aggressive, bullies, and narcissists. Whether the problem person is a chronic complainer, a fount of insults, or a perpetual martyr, you are guaranteed to find in-depth analysis, including what they do, why they do it, and strategies to help cope with that person in a positive, healthy way. The authors also have advice for people who recognize bothersome traits in themselves. McGrath and Edwards have avoided scientific jargon and created a handbook people can put to use immediately. There's nothing difficult about this book, except for the subject it gracefully explicates. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Eddie (Chump Change) and Lynch, who collaborate on the advice column "Damage Control" in the Globe and Mail, write in the style of Car Talk as they present recovery rules for saying/doing stupid things to family members, office mates, or potential dates. Their basic premise—that most people are ready to forgive as long as the offender is humble, hubris-free, and human—is delivered with guy humor that readers will either find entertaining or coarse.

Library Journal

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