The Washington Post recently featured the book, Dangerous Instincts by Mary Ellen O’Toole, Ph.D., a retired FBI profiler. She has identified 5 problem behaviors of people with whom it is not safe to have an intimate relationship.
Ask yourself, are you in a relationship with a guy who…
1. Acts impulsively?
2. Gets angry quickly?
3. Is narcissistic? (arrogant, views himself as center of the universe and that the regular rules don’t apply to him)?
4. Lacks empathy (poor listener, cold, callous when you try to talk about a problem)?
5. Collects Injustices (never forgets or forgives “wrongs” done to him by others)?
Dr. O’Toole further notes that you shouldn’t focus on just one incident or tendency, but rather on patterns of behaviors and “clusters” of these traits.
If you (or someone you know) can answer “yes” to these questions, you should probably end the relationship before you’re hurt, and you should buy and read Dr. O’Toole’s book for additional information. Her book is available at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
If you need help with the legal aspects of ending the relationship (e.g., a protective order, custody, child support or property and financial issues), don’t hesitate to call to schedule a consultation.