We have all encountered them: the coworker who constantly moves the goalposts, the friend who thrives on chaos, or the date who makes you feel like you are losing your mind. Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia, calls these “Poisonous People.” Her new book,
We have all encountered them: the coworker who constantly moves the goalposts, the friend who thrives on chaos, or the date who makes you feel like you are losing your mind. Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia, calls these “Poisonous People.” Her new book, released this March, dives into the “Dark Tetrad”—narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and sadism—and offers a practical “10-second test” to help you spot a manipulator before they drain your spirit. Use Open-Ended Questions to Break the Script Most of us fall into the trap of asking “yes or no” questions, which are an easy out for a liar. Instead, try using “what” or “how” probes. When you ask someone to describe a situation in detail—like asking what exactly was discussed in a meeting they claim
