Quotes from Abby Ellin

Like Ingrid Bergman in the film Gaslight, whose husband has convinced her that she's delusional when all along he's set her up, the victims often lose faith in their ability to determine what's real and what isn't. ("Gaslight" has since become a psychological term, meaning to deliberately manipulate someone.) Being duped contaminates your entire sense of self.

In plain English: people who lie to themselves make good liars. And good liars usually have more sex.

The ability to lie successfully, then, is partly correlated with savvy social skills. Sucking up.

Isn't it amazing how one small little guy can make us feel so bad about ourselves, despite the thoughts and adjustments that have gotten us to the places we are in our lives?

Both psychopaths and sociopaths hide their true selves behind a mask, as American psychiatrist Hervey