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An indispensable guide to understanding—and living or working with—people whose behavior leaves you frustrated and confused
We all have people in our lives who frustrate, annoy, or hurt us: workplace bullies, those who always claim to be right, or those with anxious or obsessive personalities. And most of us hurt others occasionally, too. Now, authors Dr. Helen McGrath, a clinical psychologist and professor, and Hazel Edwards, a professional writer, offer this highly readable, extremely practical guide to dealing with the difficult personalities we encounter every day—in others, and in ourselves.
Taking the American Psychiatric Association’s widely used Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) as its starting point, Difficult Personalities helpfully outlines over a dozen different personality traits and types, detailing their common characteristics and underlying motivations. It also equips readers with numerous strategies for dealing with difficult behavior, including:
- Anger and conflict management
- Optimism and assertion training
- Rational and empathic thinking
- Reexamining your own personality.
Readers will also benefit from sections on making difficult decisions and maintaining romantic relationships. Perfect for anyone who has ever wished that other people came with a handbook, Difficult Personalities illuminates the personality differences that so often serve as barriers to cooperation in the workplace and harmony at home.
“A no-frills resource that is both easy to understand and highly informative... Whether the problem person is a chronic complainer, a fount of insults, or a perpetual martyr, you are guaranteed to find in-depth analysis, including what they do, why they do it, and strategies to help cope with that person in a positive, healthy way. The authors also have advice for people who recognize bothersome traits in themselves. McGrath and Edwards have avoided scientific jargon and created a handbook people can put to use immediately. There's nothing difficult about this book, except for the subject it gracefully explicates.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Gets to the heart of the matter and offers a real plan for change and coping.”
—Library Journal
“Concise, well-organized advice that will help readers identify and deal more effectively with the troublesome people in their lives.”
—Albert Bernstein, PhD, author of Emotional Vampires: Dealing with People Who Drain You Dry, Dinosaur Brains: Dealing with All Those Impossible People at Work, and Am I the Only Sane One Working Here?
“As a professional in the field of psychology, I’m impressed with Difficult Personalities’ content and useful information. It’s easy to read—both a good reference book and practical for anyone.”
—Martha Manning, PhD, author of Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface
"Comprehensive information delivered in a straightforward manner, this book is a must read for those who wish to better understand and deal with the difficult people in their lives."
—George K. Simon, Jr., PhD, author of In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People
