Dr. Paul Babiak, Industrial and Organizational Psychologist and author of the book, Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work, discusses the stages that victims go through in the aftermath of relationships with psychopathic individuals.
In our increasingly-popular “Aftermath Radio Q and A” segment, we answered questions from caller Jane in the UK about jails versus prisons, and noncriminal psychopaths (Dr. Schug discussed Truman Capote as a possible example, based on information presented in Ellsworth Lapham Fersch’s book of case studies in psychopathy). We also spoke again with a survivor named Sally, who discussed the various stages of her own aftermath.
According to Dr. Babiak, the victim’s relationship with the psychopath progresses through the following stages:
Stage 1: Temptation
Stage 2: Psychopathic Bonding
Stage 3: Collusion in the Psychopath’s Game
Stage 4: Self-Doubt and Denial
Stage 5: Abusive Manipulation
Once in the Aftermath, the victim will experience these stages:
Stage 6: Realization
Stage 7: Shame
Stage 8: Anger and Vindication
Stage 9: Release, Repair, and Re-growth