High Conflict People in Legal Disputes
Explores high-conflict personalities, their blame-driven behaviors, and learn about effective strategies for managing and resolving disputes with individuals exhibiting persistent, irrational conflict tendencies.
People with High Conflict Personalities (HCPs) often disrupt legal and social systems, launching relentless legal battles against their “targets of blame” or resisting accountability for their harmful actions. Known for their persistent, irrational blame-shifting, HCPs bewilder those around them with ongoing disputes that leave friends, family, and colleagues frustrated and questioning how to handle such destructive behavior. This book explores the patterns that drive these individuals to conflict and offers strategies for managing the turbulence they create, whether in litigation or personal interactions.
Drawing on case studies and analysis, Bill Eddy—a lawyer, therapist, mediator, and the President of the High Conflict Institute—illuminates the common behaviors and fears underlying HCPs’ confrontational tendencies. He examines the characteristics of five personality disorders often associated with high-conflict behaviors: borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, paranoid, and antisocial. With a deep background in family law and mediation, Eddy developed the High Conflict Personality theory to help individuals and professionals alike understand, contain, and effectively manage the challenges posed by HCPs, offering practical guidance for navigating and resolving their disputes.