![Helen M. Farrell, M.D. Helen M Farrell M.D.](https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/profile_teaser_small/public/Helen-Farrell.jpg?itok=0fBTy3zb)
Have you ever felt harassed in the workplace? What about devalued by an egocentric colleague or boss? Do you have a family member who flies off the handle without provocation? Are you walking around on eggshells so you don’t incite your hot-tempered or manipulative spouse?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then know that you are not alone. Tragedy is everywhere; not just in the news. Of course, we know about the extreme cases; mass shootings, celebrity suicides, and terrorism. But ordinary people are often exposed to dangerous acts everyday. And the perpetrators of these acts are often those whom we know well and encounter repeatedly in our day-to-day lives.
Most people are completely unaware that a relative, boss, friend or neighbor could be a potential threat to their safety, security, and happiness. It’s easy for malicious people to hide beneath a façade of charm.
Don’t worry! You can easily become more aware and protect yourself! In his insightful and engaging book, Dangerous Personalities (Rodale Books, 2014), Joe Navarro skillfully teaches readers how to identify those harmful people whom you would least suspect.
Starting with a powerful and heart-wrenching introduction – where he intimately describes his early career as a police officer investigating the case of a missing 15-year-old girl – Navarro’s book is just as captivating as it is important.
As he evolved from the police squad to the FBI’s National Security Division Behavioral Analysis Program, Navarro learned which personalities hurt people the most.
Dangerous Personalities highlights the four most concerning character traits that can impose excruciating pain and suffering on unassuming victims.
1. The Narcissistic Personality
• Egocentric
• Devaluing
• Entitled
• Controlling
2. The Emotionally Unstable Personality
• Hypersensitive
• Needy
• Manipulative
• Irrational
3. The Paranoid Personality
• Fearful
• Secretive
• Opinionated
• Argumentative
4. The Predator
• Cold
• Callous
• Calculating
• Controlling
Navarro combines tantalizing stories with a pragmatic blueprint for self-protection. Each discrete chapter concludes with a sensitive commentary about how a dangerous personality can have a negative impact on the innocent. There is also a dangerous personalities checklist along with suggestions for an immediate action plan.
This is more than a book! It is a splendid piece of writing that combines decades of experience with scholarly backing. Dangerous Personalities is an essential read that might just save your life!