@ Myers: Given the reasons why you come here you remind me of an ethics professor at a seminary I once attended...

ona a more serious note however...

And I appreciate your replies, I must admit I am now very curious.

Is this something that there are degrees of or that is on some kind of spectrum?
And, if a psychopath is playing their cards right wouldn't it be safe to assume that their partner would be "securly hooked" before they demonstraited the more controling or abusive aspects of their charactor?
Also, is it safe to assume that a psychopath would have to hve a significant IQ to be able to accomplish all of this?