STRAIGHT WIVES TALK SHOW

Bonnie Kaye's guest is Donna Andersen, specialist in sociopathic behavior. The term "love fraud" was coined by Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud.com. She defines love fraud as "the intentional exploitation of an individual through manipulating emotions in a personal relationship."

Andersen says the people who engage in love fraud are sociopaths. No, they are not all deranged serial killers. But they are social predators—people who live their lives by exploiting others. Technically, mental health professionals diagnose these people as having antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, narcissism or psychopathy. To Andersen, the official diagnosis is almost irrelevant—the conditions overlap, and all of them are lousy relationship partners.

"But you'd never know it to meet them," she says. "In the beginning, sociopaths are generally charming, charismatic, exciting and sexy. They act like your dream date long enough to get their hooks into you. Sooner or later, though, you find yourself in a true relationship from hell."

Andersen learned about sociopaths the hard way—by marrying one. In two years, this man defrauded Andersen of $227,000, cheated with at least six women, fathered a child with one of them and commited bigamy for the 2nd time.

Now Andersen says these exploitative relationships are totally preventable, if people understand the warning signs. She uses several tools to teach people what to look for

Bonnie Kaye, M.Ed. hosts this show geared for women who find themselves in a marriage or relationships with a gay/bisexual man. The show addresses the complexities of these marriages and divorces shared by millions of women in our country and millions more around the world.