Difficult Individuals: Who are they?

Difficult Individuals are found at the center of Difficult Divorces. Their personality and behaviour often creates a chronic sense of confusion for all those who come into contact with them.

Dark Triad

Difficult Individuals’ presentation is very similar to what is found amongst Dark Triad individuals. The Dark Triad is the name given to a group of three clinical clusters describing personality disorders and associated behaviour: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. These individuals account for around 5% of the general population.

This group is much more likely to engage in unethical behavior, such as lying, evading, and stealing, and will frequently manipulate and take advantage of those around them. Therefore, it is a good idea to understand the core characteristics and typical tactics they may use against you during your divorce.

Why Difficult Individuals?

Even if you strongly suspect that an individual fits the criteria to be classified as presenting with Dark Triad personality and behaviours, it is highly unlikely that there will ever be a definitive clinical diagnosis.

We recognise that making sense of the insensible, is a vital part of the Difficult Divorce journey, however, using a clinical diagnosis without any professional justification, is not recommended, especially in court.

That’s why we use the term Difficult Individual. It allow us to describe common presentations, predict likely tactics, and prepare strategies to deal with them, without any need for formal diagnosis.

Typical presentation of Difficult Individuals

– lying and evasion

– entitlement and lack of responsiblity

– victimhood

– lack of empathy

– driven to ‘win at all’ costs