A mindset rooted in insecurity, manipulation, and control. People who go to the lengths of infiltrating WhatsApp calls, diverting communications, and creating fake social media profiles with the intent to sabotage someone’s business typically have underlying psychological and emotional issues driving their actions. Let’s break down some possible motivations and mentalities behind this behavior:… Read More Toxic Games
Material Dependence: By offering lavish gifts and financial incentives, the drug dealers make the family members feel dependent on the wealth or benefits that come from the illegal business. This is a classic strategy in organized crime—providing immediate material benefits to create a sense of indebtedness and loyalty.
Emotional Manipulation: The gift-giving can also create emotional bonds, where family members feel “taken care of” by the dealer. The emotional manipulation here is powerful: family members may justify their involvement or turn a blind eye to the illegal activity because of the benefits they’re receiving or the lifestyle they’ve become accustomed to. These actions might not seem inherently “criminal” to the family at first, which further solidifies their involvement before they fully understand the extent of the situation.
Keeping Family Tied to the Business: By keeping family members invested in the illegal operation through extravagant gifts, the drug dealer ensures that those around them are less likely to betray them or leave. If a family member benefits financially or materially, they are less likely to report or resist because doing so would jeopardize their newfound comfort. This also creates a sense of complicity—family members who enjoy these benefits may feel guilty about turning their back on the source of their wealth, no matter how dirty the money may be.… Read More Financial Incentives
One of the hallmark behaviors of emotional immaturity is the belief that one is always right, even when it comes at the expense of important relationships. People may become entrenched in their viewpoint, refusing to see other perspectives or validate the feelings of those around them. This leads to a breakdown in communication, where one person insists on their righteousness while disregarding the emotional needs or viewpoints of others.
In such cases, emotionally immature individuals might feel justified in their actions and fail to recognize that they’re pushing people away. Over time, this can result in emotional isolation, as family, friends, and loved ones may tire of trying to communicate or connect with someone who is defensive, dismissive, or unwilling to listen.… Read More Emotional Immaturity
Survivors often feel guilty for not having resisted more, even though in many cases, physical resistance would have been impossible or life-threatening. Cognitive reframing involves shifting the focus from what they couldn’t do (fight back physically) to what they did do (survive against all odds). By surviving, they demonstrated immense mental strength and endurance. The very act of continuing to live, despite attempts to break them, is an incredible testament to their fortitude.… Read More Finding Dignity in Survival
At the core, this kind of behavior often stems from a deep discomfort with vulnerability and emotional accountability. Instead of facing the people they’ve hurt, admitting their failings, and doing the hard work of rebuilding trust, these individuals seek out new relationships where they don’t have to deal with the consequences of their past actions. It’s as if they think that by starting over with someone new, they can leave behind the mess they made with their original family.… Read More Basic Contributions
When someone has spent years dodging the law, they may not have given much thought to the bigger questions of life—Why am I here? What is my purpose? What do I want out of life beyond this? Their life choices may have been driven by immediate needs—survival, power, wealth, or status within a criminal network. But once they are caught, the luxury of ignoring these deeper questions is taken away.
For the first time, they may start to reflect on the trajectory of their life, especially when they realize that the path they’ve been on has led to a dead end—literally and metaphorically. They might wonder if all those years of risk and evasion were worth it. Was the thrill of outsmarting the law worth the loneliness, the betrayal, or the potential loss of everything they’ve gained? If they face a long sentence, they may grapple with the fact that their life as they knew it is effectively over.… Read More Existential Crisis
Criminal networks are often built on fragile alliances rather than genuine trust. When a criminal seeks refuge in such circles, paranoia and suspicion usually increase. They may worry about being betrayed, double-crossed, or used by others in the network. This constant sense of being under threat can heighten their anxiety and stress levels, making it hard to relax even in the presence of those who should be allies. The criminal’s mind becomes trapped in a loop of distrust, where every relationship feels precarious, and they’re always on edge.… Read More Paranoia and Distrust
One of the most difficult parts of dealing with psychopathic manipulation is the overwhelming sense of self-blame that can arise. You might ask yourself, How did I not see the signs? How could I have fallen for their lies? Why didn’t I leave sooner? But remember: the very traits that make you vulnerable to a psychopath are also the traits that make you a good, compassionate person.
Empathy: One of the reasons psychopaths target empathetic people is because they know that compassionate individuals are more likely to overlook red flags in favor of giving them the benefit of the doubt. They exploit your goodness, using it against you.
Trust: Trust is a fundamental part of healthy relationships, and psychopaths skillfully create an illusion of trustworthiness. Once you’re invested in the relationship, they manipulate that trust for their own benefit.
Psychopaths often twist facts and shift blame, so if you’re in a situation where you still have to interact with them (such as co-parenting, family gatherings, or a workplace environment), it’s important to keep clear records of interactions. This can be helpful if you ever need to legally protect yourself or simply to remind yourself of what is real.Keep texts, emails, or other forms of communication that show their manipulations.
If the relationship turns hostile, having a paper trail will help in protecting yourself legally or emotionally.… Read More Don’t Try to “Fix” Them
Pitting people against each other is not only a tool to maintain control but often serves the psychopath’s desire for amusement or the thrill of watching others suffer. They can derive pleasure from watching people they’ve manipulated fight, struggle, or break down emotionally. This can happen within their immediate family, where they may create rivalries or divisions between siblings, partners, or extended family members, keeping everyone off balance and under their influence.… Read More Psychopaths Head Games
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 