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With extensive knowledge of clinical and forensic psychology, author Valliant provides insight into the thorny issue of rivalry: Why do some people seek to control and take advantage of others? And what can we do to fend off such challenging, potentially dangerous behaviors when confronted? The author begins with a surprising example of a distressing childhood, often the seedbed for rivalry. Anna Freud, the daughter of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, felt ill-treated in childhood because of her father’s obvious favoritism for her sister Sophie. Fortunately, she was able to overcome her sense of low self-esteem by building her own career. Psychopaths, bullies, narcissists, and borderline personalities may, Valliant states, be in prison. Just as often, though, they are our apparently respectable, white-collar co-workers. To resist their negative tactics requires our will-power, drive, optimism, and even, at times, humor.
Based on his research in criminal and forensic behaviors and observation of people with these vengeful, angry characteristics, Valliant uses this forum to cite a plethora of experts on the subject and offer pragmatic strategies for recognizing and dealing with anti-social personalities. A psychopath, he states in his highly informational treatise, may know right from wrong but choose to ignore such moral distinctions to get his or her way. Greed, jealousy, envy, and anger, Valliant says, all play a role in the development of the rival. Sports activities may arouse and encourage unhealthy competition. The author even explores the “attitudes” inherent in Artificial Intelligence since many of us work with robotic entities. He postulates that we are entering an age of increasing control and behavior management and must develop positive attitudes to cope with this new template. By offering both the symptoms of the malaise and the methods for avoiding those afflicted, Valliant stands to attract a strong general readership.
A 2020 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist
RECOMMENDED by the US Review