24-Beware the Aftereffects
Danger follows in the aftermath of a successful seduction. After emotions have reached a pitch, they often swing in the opposite direction-toward lassitude, distrust, disappointment. Beware of the long, drawn-out goodbye; insecure, the victim will cling and claw, and both sides will suffer. If you are to part, make the sacrifice swift and sudden. If necessary, deliberately break the spell you have created. If you are to stay in a relationship, beware a flagging of energy, a creeping familiarity that will spoil the fantasy. If the game is to go on, a second seduction is required. Never let the other person take you for granted-use absence, create pain and conflict, to keep the seduced on tenterhooks.
The psychological harm caused when predators just abandon their targets is filling many psychologist's offices these days. There is no closure with these psychopaths. They beg for you to "let them start a new life" or "I am sorry I hurt you but I have to go" Rather than owning and dealing with what they have done to you and everyone around both of you - they withdraw and try to erase what occurred between you as if it never happened. You may even be slandered by the predator who tells people you are harrassing them when you are looking for closure. Don't expect closure. A real person would apologize and possibly work to reframe the whole relationship, bringing normalcy and light into it. The relationship might then end on its own or become what it should have been all along.
But don't hold your breath. Online psychopaths rarely do that. They almost never allow their targets to vent their rage and confusion. They simply run and start over. Some even try to reinvent themselves as normal humans and make contrition to their immediately families until things get comfortable enough for them to do it again.
Expose these people for what they are so they don't harm others. Don't stoop to their level of lies & defamation - just tell the truth and back it up. And if you really still care about them? So they stop harming THEMSELVES as well.
APPENDIX A:
Seductive Environments/Seductive Time
In seduction, your victims must slowly come to feel an inner change. Under your influence, they lower their defenses, feeling free to act differently, to be a different person. Certain places, environments, and experiences will greatly aid you in your quest to change and transform the seduced. Spaces with a theatrical, heightened quality-opulence, glittering surfaces, a playful spirit-create a buoyant, childlike feeling that make it hard for the victim to think straight. The creation of an altered sense of time has a similar effect-memorable, dizzying moments that stand out, a mood of festival and play. You must make your victims feel that being with you gives them a different experience from being in the real world.
Article comments
1 - Shelly
I always have a hard time believing that these guys are doing it on purpose, but after reviewing some of the sites, I find it isn't a joke. How scary! We are targets but I beleive that we HAVE to learn to take care of ourselves. I want people to understand and learn more about this so that the joke is on them, so that they are laughed at when they try to use these techniques. So when a guy makes you feel like you are the only one who really really udnerstands him, you know right away he's full of shit. I don't think we should have "preditor police"--that's taking all our power and responsibility away. I would like to see us teach our daughters and girls in school what is really going on. Take them to these sites and show them how stupid it is so they can 't be fooled. My mother taught me when I was very young, to question commericals and do my own research on them. Consequently, I never took commericals seriously. But I know a lot of children who do "beleive" them--and fall for the propganda. Peditors are like seductive commericals, we need to question their motives, actions, --ect... That is our job as women, to learn to take care of ourselves and teach our daughters how to too. Thanks for putting this up.
2 - diana hartman
the "art of seduction" is part of the reason why there is a book called "living with the passive aggressive man" (and there oughta be a book called "living with the passive aggressive woman")...
anyone who has ever lived with and gotten away from a passive aggressive person wouldn't likely re-enter a relationship with someone so charming and indirect, assuming they worked through all their rage and disappointment...
it's a shame there are so many who think the art of seduction is any way to go and that there are those so easily lured into the trap that is this "art"...all that excitement, all that mystery, all that erectile dysfunction...but i'm not bitter...
i feel for those who for whatever reason feel the need to socialize online rather than in real life...
that's gotta suck...
3 - Barbara
I was (and probably will) write a review of Wetzler's LIVING WITH A PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE MAN. Frankly you CAN'T live with them. You have to leave them eventually if you want to stay sane. Passive aggressivity is very close to narcissism. Narcissism is one mentally disordered click away from psychopathy. No thanks.
But these online predators exists. In a world that's turning into an internet culture we would be foolish to ignore them and think people who get involved with them are losers. I have spoken to men & women who have been involved with these types. These men & women are doctors, psychologists, executives, CEOs, politicians and clergy. Please who SHOULD know better but don't.
We often don't think people can really be THAT devisive. We want to believe the best of others..... just be careful.
4 - elsa
This seems like one hell of a lot of trouble to go to. It's much easier to be a stand up person...and plenty of people are attracted to that!
5 - OneOfSeven
Thank you for posting such an informative article. As a target of an internet predator and bigamist, I believe we must get smarter. We must use use our heads instead of relying on our hearts. We must do our homework and that means performing background checks on these men AND women. We must pay attention to the red flags and signs and above all educate ourselves if we are going to use online dating sites, etc. as venues for seeking relationships. Personally, I would never seek a romantic relationship online. But for those of you who do, know what you are dealing with, know the red flags, and check them out.
6 - Barbara
elsa
That's the point - to APPEAR to be a stand up person.
And then, do what you want
Of course- if you are a malignant narcissist or psychopath, Appearances would be everything! just to get your kicks...
7 - Cass
Wish I'd read this awhile back. Thanks for the great article. :)
8 - Nancy
This ought to be a 'must read' for every woman. Thanks.
9 - Fighter
Please feel free to pass it on! (as long as you refer back to it's posting on Blogcritics.org)
10 - Nancy
I just referred everyone to this website & blot title. That should work. Thanks again - VERY informative post.
11 - Nani
That's definatelly a very good article. Every woman should be aware of it. Information is power and if I knew in the past, what I know today, I wouldn't have been a target for an "online predator" like I was. My "con artist" creates simpathy as a seduction technique. Small gifts, helping old ladies, money to beggars, etc, etc.
Mine was subtle. He was interested in any detail concerning my person, because he didn't want me to suffer like his dear wife Felicia, who died of cancer.
He was a good actor for three years until the day he said, he had to go to Afghanistan. While he was in Afghanistan (which means his house with his family), I could find out that he was never widowed, Felicia didn't exist and thankfully his wife is alive and well.
Definatelly he falls on that category of seducers.
Good article and once again, information is power.
12 - Temple A. Stark
Fighter, This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple
13 - Decieved
Reading this article was like reading about my own experience with a cyberpath. I've read as much as I can on the subject and have gotten a lot of conflicting information. On other sites, some of the descriptions fitted him, others were way out. In this article, it was all yes. That is exactly what he was like.
This man not only hurt me in this way, but hurt three other women (that i know of) in the exact same manner. And because he had us all keeping it a secret, we didn't find out about each other until he was finished messing with us. But once we did find out, we forced him to leave the website where we met him so that he wouldn't be able to use it to meet more women.
I only wish I had read this article when it was first written, I could've saved myself and two of the others from getting tangled up in his web
14 - Holly
Such interesting reading. I am in the throw's of a similar type of relationship at the moment. It has been going on for months and I realised only recenly that the friendship was not quite right! He doesn't follow all the points in your artical, but some are exactly the same and it has confirmed to me that I need to do something about it! I do not know how I will do this, because its been going on for so long & we know each other very well. However, your artical will help me. Thanks!
15 - Fighter
Holly - only one thing to do.
LEAVE.
Sorry there is no managing or fixing these relationships. You must break it off and GET OUT. These men are PATHOLOGICAL and you must GET AWAY at all cost.
It will NOT get better.
16 - Trueheart
This is a good article. I went into Second Life when I was ill and depressed and picked up by a man who love-bombed and manipulated me. I know this is a virtual world and that people indulge in love 'role play' but he said his feelings were real and went beyond the game. We took it to Skype and after a few months intended to meet. He totally manipulated my feelings. It's a long story but all he wanted me for was 'narcissistic supply' and when the thrill had worn off he moved to another target. I was left devastated. It took months to recover. I'll never fall for anything like this again.