(noun) Covert aggression is active aggression that is hidden.  For example sabotage and back handed compliments are forms of covert aggression.

Covert aggression is the psychopaths stock-in-trade.  Nothing is off limits if he thinks he won’t get caught.  Sabotaging your vehicles so you’ll have an accident, your confidence so you won’t defend yourself or slandering your reputation in an effort to isolate you from any support system, are all types of psychopathic covert aggression.  Poisoning your food, your well, or your pets are not beyond the scope of the psychopath.

It boggles the mind that any one could do these things without ever betraying their utter contempt for you.  But to a psychopath, it’s just part of the game.  They will kiss you and hold you, say they love you, all the while planning your demise.  It’s the 180 rule, because it’s the opposite of what normal people do.  For psychopaths it’s all about winning the game by cheating.

Defending yourself from covert aggression is difficult, nearly impossible, but there are some clues to watch for.  I observed a particular mannerism in a psychopath when he was working a con.  He would look down and then peak up with one eye. As in the picture to the right, entitled “Envy”.

Psychopaths also like to use tells. This is helpful because a tell can clue you in to the game.

I’ve also noticed that a psychopath begins to act more erratically when he is pulling a con.  He will use more emotionally charged words to keep you off balance.  He will cuss more.  He will project more, accusing you of having “no empathy” or accusing you of being “rude”, completely out of context.  You will notice a new prop in his possession, an item that doesn’t seem to fit his usual interests.  Props add more realism to his con.

Because psychopaths always lie, his usual lies aren’t an actual indicator of anything,  it’s just another day in Never Never Land.  The psychopath can lie without any reason or any indication of nervousness or anxiety, but his minions on the other hand, might begin to look nervous when you’re around.  They might smile or laugh inappropriately.  Their sideways glances are a sign that they know something is up.  With a few exceptions, psychopaths don’t usually pull a con by themselves.  They like to have an audience and some patsies for their exit strategy.  Be very alert when you see the shifty-eyed minions, it means the game is ramping up.  When you see that, I suggest you run.  And, on your way out, you might whisper to the minion that he’s being set up to be the patsy.  The look on his face will be priceless.