High Conflict People in Legal Disputes

by Bill Eddy

Overview

People with high conflict personalities (HCPs) clog our courts as plaintiffs with inappropriate claims against their personal "targets of blame," and as defendants who have harmed others and need to be stopped. Everybody knows someone with a High Conflict Personality. "How can he be so unreasonable?" "Why does she keep fighting? Can't she see how destructive she is?" "Can you believe they're going to court over ______?" Some HCPs are more difficult than others, but they tend to share a similar preoccupation with blame that drives them into one dispute after another—and keeps everyone perplexed about how to deal with them. Using case examples and an analysis of the general litigation and negotiation behaviors of HCPs, this book helps make sense of the fears that drive people to file lawsuits and complaints. It provides insight for containing their behavior while managing and/or resolving their disputes. Characteristics of the five "high-conflict" personality disorders are explored: Borderline Narcissistic Histrionic Paranoid Antisocial Bill Eddy is a lawyer, therapist, mediator, and President of the High Conflict Institute. He developed the "High Conflict Personality" theory and is an international expert on the subject. He is a Certified Family Law Specialist and Senior Family Mediator at the National Conflict Resolution Center. He has taught at the University of San Diego School of Law, is on the part-time faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law and the National Judicial College, and lectures at Monash University in Australia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936268757
Publisher:	High Conflict Institute Press
Publication date:	09/01/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	286
Sales rank:	426,168
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Bill Eddy is a lawyer, therapist, mediator and the President of High Conflict Institute. He developed the "High Conflict Personality" theory (HCP Theory) and has become an international expert on managing disputes involving high conflict personalities and personality disorders. He provides training on this subject to legal, business, law enforcement, mental health, and other professionals. He has been a speaker and trainer in the U.S., Canada, France, Switzerland, and Sweden.

As an attorney, Bill is a Certified Family Law Specialist in California and the Senior Family Mediator at the National Conflict Resolution Center in San Diego. Prior to becoming an attorney in 1992, he was a Licensed Clinical Social worker with twelve years’ experience providing therapy to children, adults, couples and families in psychiatric hospitals and outpatient clinics. He has taught Negotiation and Mediation at the University of San Diego School of Law for six years and he is on the part-time faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law and the National Judicial College. He is a frequent lecturer at Monash University in Australia.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Second Edition 2

Introduction to First Edition 4

Part I Understanding High-Conflict Personalities 11

1 The Problem: Personalities Drive Conflict 13

2 The Pattern: An Enduring Pattern of Blame 25

3 Borderline Personalities: Love You, Hate You 47

4 Narcissistic Personalities: I'm Very Superior 75

5 Antisocial Personalities: Con Artists 99

6 Histrionic Personalities: Always Dramatic 129

7 Paranoid Personalities: Always Suspicious 149

8 Negative Advocates: Family, Friends and Professionals 163

Part II Managing and Resolving Their Disputes 181

9 Bonding: Providing Security and Limits 183

10 Structure: Containing Emotions and Focusing on Tasks 197

11 Reality Testing: Cognitive Distortions and Legal Standards 217

12 Consequences: Motivating Reflection and Behavior Change 231

13 Presenting Your Case: Behavior Patterns, Not Labels 243

14 A United Approach: The Key to Resolving Their Disputes 253

Appendices 259

References 272

Acknowledgments 274

About the Author 276

About High Conflict Institute 277