# Quote — M. Scott Peck, The People Of The Lie

> The time is right, I believe, for psychiatry to recognize a distinct new type of personality disorder to encompass those I have named evil. In addition to the abrogation of responsibility that characterizes all personality disorders, this one would specifically be distinguished by:
>
> (a) consistent destructive, scapegoating behaviour, which may often be quite subtle.
>
> (b) excessive, albeit usually covert, intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury.
>
> (c) pronounced concern with a public image and self-image of respectability, contributing to a stability of life-style but also to pretentiousness and denial of hateful feelings or vengeful motives.
>
> d) intellectual deviousness, with an increased likelihood of a mild schizophreniclike disturbance of thinking at times of stress.

- Author: [M. Scott Peck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck.md)
- Book: [The People Of The Lie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-people-of-the-lie.md)
- Page: 146
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/M._Scott_Peck#People_of_the_Lie:_The_Hope_for_Healing_Human_Evil_(1983)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-people-of-the-lie/the-time-is-right

## More from this book

> The reality of the matter is that the naming of evil is still in a primitive stage.

p. 99 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-people-of-the-lie/the-reality-of-the.md)

> The only power that Satan has is through human belief in its lies.

p. 237 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-people-of-the-lie/the-only-power.md)

> ... As (Malachi) Martin points out, it is terribly important to understand that Satan is a spirit. I have said I have met Satan, and this is true. But it is not tangible in the way that matter is tangible. It no more has horns, hooves, and a forked tail than God has a long white beard. Even the name, Satan, is just a name we have given to something basically nameless... It is spirit.

p. 224 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-people-of-the-lie/as-malachi-martin.md)