Compliments of Will Lion via Flickr

“I’ve got the upper hand here. I decide whether or not we will interact. And if we do, I decide the beginning, ending, and content of those interactions” (Mallinger & DeWyze, 1992, p. 25).

Some people interact from what appears to be a parallel universe, exhibiting unusual, eccentric, combative, hostile, and overscrupulous behavior. Baer (2009) notes that stubbornness and rigidity combine, to create dictatorial interaction – in which OCPDs unilaterally define terms of engagement. Low emotional intelligence is a correlate of their sometimes bizarre outbursts, and insistence on a “one best way” of doing things. Those who suffer from OCPD (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder) have difficulty “reading” people, knowing how they come across, or reacting in ways that others consider mutually beneficial. Authoritarianism (regardless of circumstance) provides a level of control that helps them feel safe. Their desire to dominate surfaces in the following ways: Turn the page…