A controlling partner might undermine your confidence and make you feel insecure, putting you down in private and/or public. For example, they might criticise the way you dress or how you spend your time, exaggerate your 'flaws', or make fun of you in front of others but pass it off as 'just a joke'.
Some potential causes of controlling behavior are: low self-esteem; being micromanaged or controlled by someone else; traumatic past experiences; a need to feel in-control; or a need to feel 'above' someone else.. None of these have to do with you, the victim of inappropriate control.
Control freaks can get angry if they feel things are not going according to their expectations. They can also become frustrated if they are unable to control a situation or if others do not follow their orders. It is common for control freaks to react with anger when their need for control is challenged or threatened.
Controlling behaviors can also be a symptom of several personality disorders, such as histrionic p ersonality, borderline personality, and narcissistic personality. These disorders can only be diagnosed by a licensed health care professional.
A person with a “controlling personality” is driven by high levels of anxiety to feel safe. Though the need for control might be an unconscious feeling, the anxiety can create a strong desire to control surroundings and other people to keep a sense of order.
What Can Cause Control Issues? Control is typically a reaction to the fear of losing control. People who struggle with the need to be in control often fear being at the mercy of others, and this fear may stem from traumatic events that left them feeling helpless and vulnerable.
There is a very fine line of difference between caring and controlling making it very difficult to distinguish between the two. While caring arises from a sense of selflessness and love, controlling usually starts with feelings of insecurity and resentment.
(1) Controlling is a Fundamental Management Function. (2) Essential Function of Every Manager. (3) Controlling is a Continuous Activity. (4) Controlling is Both the Beginning and the End of the Process of Management.
Controlling people want to have control or assert power over another person. They can be intimidating, overbearing, and domineering in their efforts to get their way by manipulating others. Controlling behavior in someone else can make you feel angry or embarrassed or even create feelings of inferiority and despair.
Students with emotional control difficulties may: have a low tolerance for frustration or criticism; appear to overreact, or react more strongly than their peers; be prone to fight/flight/freeze responses such as outbursts, meltdowns, or shutting down.
Controllers as Toxic:
The “controller” has an authoritarian attitude, they seek control and power, blame others and have a hard time accepting responsibility. They assume they are right about everything and take partners for granted.
In terms of personality-type theory, control freaks are very much the Type A personality, driven by the need to dominate and control. An obsessive need to control others is also associated with antisocial personality disorder.
Particularly in chronic trauma—continued exposure to domestic violence, abuse of any form, war, poverty, and others—victims usually reported that they felt powerless to stop or change their circumstances. Victims of chronic trauma may lose the ability to make decisions in their lives.
Controlling Behaviour is: a range of acts designed to exploit, intimidate and manipulate someone for selfish reasons. This involves depriving them of their independence in an effort to show domination and this type of behaviour is extremely dangerous because it leads to other types or forms of of abuse.
Control issues can be related to:
Perfectionism and a general fear of failure. Traumatic or abuse life experiences. Low or impaired self-esteem. A lack of trust.
Understanding Controlling People
Insecurity — Controlling behavior is often the result of fear or insecurity on the part of the controller, despite the image of strength and confidence he or she often projects.
Someone with control issues likely feels the need to exert power over their life, relationships, and environment. In general, these kinds of issues indicate a fear of losing control, relating more to a person's character and personality rather than a specific mental health disorder.
Type C personalities tend to be quite controlling, both of themselves and others. They don't like things to get out of hand and may appear stoic because they don't really want themselves to display a lot of emotion. They're very outcome-driven and will be sticklers for following protocol.
overbearing. adjective. an overbearing person always tries to control other people's behaviour and ignores their opinions and feelings.
Our study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, identified a group of individuals with dark traits who report above average empathic capacities – we call them "dark empaths". Since this study, the dark empath has earned a reputation as the most dangerous personality profile.