Master the Art of Talking to Crazy: 9 Behavioral Patterns You Must Recognize

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by someone’s irrational behavior and wondered why they act that way? Mark Goulston’s Talking to Crazy reveals that irrational people typically operate using one of nine distinctive behavioral patterns, or Modus Operandi (M.O.s), which they use to control interactions and protect themselves.

The nine M.O.s include:

• Emotional: Characterized by crying, screaming, and intense venting to overwhelm others.
• Logical/Practical: Detached and cold, wielding facts as weapons while dismissing feelings.
• Manipulative/Needy: Whining, making excuses, and guilt-tripping to control others.
• Fearful: Acting out unpredictably, stuck in panic and survival mode.
• Hopeless/Withdrawn: Retreating silently, convincing themselves and others that nothing will improve.
• Martyred: Refusing help and making others feel guilty for not doing enough.
• Bullying: Intimidating through threats and aggression to maintain dominance.
• Know-It-All: Belittling and mocking to erode others’ confidence.
• Sociopathic: Hiding secrets and instilling fear to control.

Recognizing these patterns is crucial because it helps you understand that their behavior is not about you personally but about their inner need for control and survival.

For example, a manipulative needy person might constantly say