Our New World of Adult Bullies: How To Spot Them—How To Stop Them

Author and social worker Eddy (5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life), cofounder of the High Conflict Institute, offers practical advice when dealing with bullies. He uses contemporary and historical examples to highlight bullies’ behavioral patterns, how bullies rise to power, and how they can be stopped. It’s common belief that bullies’ tactics are unique in their cruelty, but Eddy claims that bully behavior, while unsettling, is predictable. In their desire to dominate others, bullies use primitive emotional powers (PEP) to exploit their fellow humans’ unconscious primitive emotions of fear and anger, in order to build loyal followers. The book illuminates various bullying techniques, such as gaslighting, the three-part story, and emotional repetition, and shows readers how to look at a bully’s behavior with healthy skepticism. Each chapter focuses on an important aspect of a bully’s personality. There’s also a glossary of terms and phrases for easy reference and an appendix that lists 40 predictable behaviors of people with high-conflict personalities.