Managing High Conflict People in Court
Learn about high-conflict personalities, their blame-driven behaviors, and strategies to understand, manage, and resolve legal disputes with individuals exhibiting persistent conflict tendencies.
People with high-conflict personalities (HCPs) frequently bring disruptive behavior into our legal system, often filing unfounded claims against their “targets of blame” or defending actions that have caused harm. These individuals, commonly marked by unreasonable, blame-driven conflicts, create endless disputes that puzzle and frustrate those around them. With a relentless focus on blaming others, HCPs are notoriously difficult to handle, as their preoccupation with conflict keeps them locked in cycles of accusation and defense, often impacting workplaces, families, and social settings.
This book provides a structured look into HCP behavior, using case studies to illustrate the motivations and fears driving these individuals to pursue litigation and other combative actions. Through an exploration of five primary high-conflict personality disorders—borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, paranoid, and antisocial—the book offers valuable insights into identifying and managing HCPs’ behaviors. Readers gain tools to understand, contain, and navigate interactions with HCPs, whether for personal peace of mind or for more effective conflict resolution in professional and legal contexts.