In her new book Poisonous People: How to Resist Them and Improve Your Life, University of British Columbia psychologist Dr. Leanne ten Brinke combines rigorous research with real-life anecdotes to equip readers with the tools needed to identify, manage, and counteract individuals exhibiting dark personality traits such as narcissism and psychopathy.
Why This Book Now?
Ten Brinke, an associate professor and director of the truth and trust lab at UBC, explains that her research revealed how a small number of toxic individuals can cause disproportionate harm in families, workplaces, and institutions. Whether in criminal settings, business, government, or personal relationships, the common thread is a pattern of callousness and manipulation. With this book, she aims to bring scientific rigor to understanding and mitigating the impact of such people.
Expertise in Psychopathy
With two decades of studying dark personality traits, ten Brinke’s journey began in graduate school focusing on how psychopathic traits influence lying, parole decisions, and recidivism. After earning her PhD in psychology, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where she examined how these traits affect negotiation skills, financial success, and legislative progress among U.S. senators. Her work has consistently deepened the understanding of how psychopathic personalities operate across diverse contexts.
Key Red Flags
When asked about the most significant warning sign to avoid poisonous people, ten Brinke emphasizes that it is not a single behavior but a consistent pattern of callousness and manipulation. Personality, she notes, is a pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving. While first impressions may hold some truth, accuracy improves over time as we gather more data about how individuals navigate the world.
Common Mistakes in Dealing with Harmful Personalities
The biggest mistake people make, according to ten Brinke, is attempting to fight fire with fire. She advises against trying to out-manipulate or out-dominate such individuals, as this often escalates conflicts and causes more harm. Instead, transparency is a more effective strategy than creating a web of lies. Understanding what dark personalities value can help predict their behavior and potentially influence them to act differently—though many resist this form of empathy, fearing it implies agreement. Ten Brinke clarifies that understanding someone does not mean condoning their actions.
For those interested in learning more, Poisonous People is available now, offering a blend of scientific insight and practical advice for reclaiming control from toxic influences.
