Funny, don’t you think, how every now and again life seems to work in perfect synchronicity? For the past couple of weeks I’ve written about my experiences of thoughts creating reality – and I’ve loved reading all your follow-up comments, thank you. It seems this has been/remains a weighty subject for many of us here! I had been wondering how to continue the exploration – and as if by magic, the solution appeared all by itself. Here’s what happened…  Read more... (1537 words, 1 image, estimated 6:09 mins reading time)

TONIGHT! Donna Andersen will be discussing her new book, Red Flags of Love Fraud — 10 signs you’re dating a sociopath on The Majority United Internet radio on Monday, May 14, 2012, from 10 to 11:30 p.m. Eastern time. Here is a link to the show:

The Majority United on Blog Talk Radio.

The Majority United is hosted by BettyJean Downing-Kling, M.S., M. Ed. BettyJean’s life has been severely affected by a violent sociopath. Her daughter, Denise Richardson, married George Hartwig, and endured years of domestic violence. In 2008, Hartwig showed up at BettyJean’s home, intending to shoot her, but shot her daughter, Louisa Rodas, in the face instead. Louisa was left permanently brain damaged.

William Balfour, 31, of Chicago, was found guilty last week of murdering Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson and Julian King. They were the mother, brother and nephew of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson.

In my opinion, this case was a tragedy, but a preventable tragedy. Julia Hudson, Jennifer’s older sister, brought Balfour into the family when she married him. If she hadn’t married this man, it obviously wouldn’t have happened.

Jennifer Hudson was the first witness in the murder trial. She testified that the entire family was against Julia’s relationship with Balfour. “None of us wanted her to marry him. We did not like how he treated her,” she stated in court.

Julia secretly married William Balfour anyway in December 2006.

Who is William Balfour?  Read more... (815 words, 0 images, estimated 3:16 mins reading time)

Today’s New York Times Magazine has an excellent article on the signs of psychopathy in children. It presents a heartbreaking story of parents trying to cope with a “callous-unemotional” 9-year-old, and covers much of the current research on the disorder in children. Very well done.

Read Can a 9-year-old be a psychopath? on NYTimes.com.

Story suggested by a Lovefraud reader.

 By Sarah Strudwick

Editor’s note: Sarah Strudwick is author of “Dark Souls,” and has created numerous cartoons describing the behavior of sociopaths.

When I first got a copy of Donna Andersen’s Red Flags of Love Fraud, my immediate reaction was, “Oh yet another book on sociopaths.” Having been a victim myself, and a fellow author who has read almost every book on the subject, I was half expecting to find a book that was regurgitating old ideas with nothing new to say.  Read more... (438 words, 0 images, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

By Joyce Alexander, RNP, (retired)

There have been some discussions on Lovefraud lately about people not taking care of themselves, “until X happens, then I’m going to go to the doctor.” This got me to thinking about how important it is for us to put ourselves first.

The very person who has always “put others first” (me) because that is what a “good person does” would feel very guilty if I spent money on myself, even for things I needed. I would send money to my son Patrick in prison for commissary money when I had to do without things I needed or wanted, because I felt guilty if I didn’t send him money.

Eating to feed his children  Read more... (930 words, 0 images, estimated 3:43 mins reading time)

Editor’s note: Lovefraud received the following story from a woman whom we’ll call Hilary. Names are changed.

The night before I met Nick, I had a vivid nightmare. I lost sight of a caring man in a chaotic crowd, a baby was murdered, and I was poisoned. I awoke and heard, “Wait for the right one. Don’t try to save him. You’ll ruin yourself and your future.” The thought was so pervasive that, although I was perplexed, I wrote it down.  Read more... (3007 words, 0 images, estimated 12:02 mins reading time)

Do you suspect that someone you work with is a psychopath? Do they act superficially charming, lack remorse, lie to you, cheat, or attempt to manipulate you? Read more to find out about our study.  

Dear Members of the Lovefraud Blog,

My name is Janelle and I am a Master’s student at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. I’m currently working on my Master’s thesis in Forensic Psychology under the supervision of Dr. Adelle Forth. The topic of my research is psychopathy in the workplace and the effects this has on victims.  Read more... (258 words, 0 images, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)

By Grace Isabella

As somebody whose work includes establishing specifications, I know that there is a point where chocolate covered almonds turn into a chocolate bar with almonds. The ingredients are the same. The difference is in the proportions.

In the case that I am about tell you, one of the people strikes me as a mild manifestation of a sociopath. Since these people fall across a spectrum, maybe she is not “well along the garden path,” but for me, at least, she certainly seems to be a few steps on her way.

I describe this person as a “moderate” friend, somebody that I would socialize with occasionally and attend functions with together, but not somebody I would seek out to share my deeper concerns.  Read more... (1623 words, 0 images, estimated 6:30 mins reading time)

Editor’s note: Lovefraud recently received the following email from a reader.

When I met my husband, 14 years ago, I owned my own home, had two children, a great job and life was great. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, however, he would not take no for an answer until I went out with him (1st red flag). He presented himself as financially secure, a family man with a daughter, and who told me family is everything . He was very charming and giving to my children and I.  Read more... (668 words, 0 images, estimated 2:40 mins reading time)