Myers Does this sound like you?
- Tell lies and half-truths to avoid having to justify actions or ideas
- Accuse and blame to divert attention away from them selves
- Refuse to take another's point of view and irrationally defend their point of view
- With hold information so the abused will look bad later on ("you should have known that"). Not sharing information someone is entitled to
- Not acknowledging another's feeling
- Slighting or taking digs in a non-aggressive or joking manner. Allows the abuser to say he was just kidding while still being abusive
- Changing the subject to divert attention from them selves
- Making someone feel worthless in an attempt to lower their self-esteem and bring them down to the level of the abuser.
- Threatening or hinting of physical, mental or sexual abuse
- Denying anything is wrong (not being responsible and lying to self)
- Inappropriate emotional out bursts (a form of distracting attention, confusing the abused or shifting blame)
- Controlling others to domineer and limit the freedom or expression
- Forgetting commitments and promises.
- Denying success by placing unreasonable demands, unjustly singling out or constantly placing someone in the category of a loser.
- Taking advantage of ones weakness or using shame, guilt or fear against another
- Manipulating another person against their will
- Cutting some one off so they are not allowed to speak. Suppressing self-expression.
- Inappropriate questions or comments to evoke an emotional response
- Humiliating someone in front of others or inappropriately pushing their buttons
- Pretending to understand your concerns, and then disregarding them
- Slandering some ones name, reputation, associations or activities