FOR members of a support group in Sutherland Shire, psychopaths are not just fictitious characters in Hollywood thrillers.
They are friends, partners or relatives with a personality disorder that manifests in self-centred, dishonest and predatory behaviour.
As many as one in 11 people display psychopathic behaviours. This finding by shire researcher Kerryn Smith* and her friend Mary led the pair to form a support group for people affected by psychopathic manipulators and those with parental alienation syndrome.
The group, which formed in 2011, meets once a month in Sutherland and has helped empower more than 80 people.
Ms Smith, who also had relatives with the disorder, said psychopaths were largely devoid of guilt and empathy and routinely blamed others for their destructive behaviour, which was why many victims failed to seek help.
"That has been the biggest challenge for us; to educate people that they are actually living with a manipulator," Ms Smith said.
"These people lie to you, twist the truth and discredit you to other people, but to the rest of the world they appear quite charming.
"People come to the group and they're like, 'thank goodness something like this exists, I knew I wasn't crazy'.
"We focus on absolutely the victim and give them the tools to help stop being victimised."
Ms Smith said parental alienation syndrome, whereby a parent brainwashes a child, discredits the other parent, or takes the other parent to court over frivolous matters, was a form of child abuse.
"If you look at a scale, these people can start out simple, or be narcissistic, but at the other end of the scale you could have a mass murderer," she said.
"Our objectives are to create an awareness to the public to educate others and to provide help and support to those who have suffered at the hands of these predators."
The group will hold its first meeting for the year this month. All meetings are confidential.
* Name has been changed.
HALLMARKS
Are you living with a psychopath?
This person drains you emotionally, spiritually, financially
He/she is always right, lacks responsibility and empathy
They have a sense of grandiosity, feel special, want special treatment
They discredit you to other people and accuse you of being paranoid/going mad.
Details: http://kerryn44@optusnet.com.au/
