The 50th Law (with 50 Cent)

Deciphering the Shadow: Contradictory Behavior
In the course of your life you will come upon people who have very
emphatic traits that set them apart and seem to be the source of their
strength—unusual confidence, exceptional niceness and affability,
great moral rectitude and a saintly aura, toughness and rugged
masculinity, an intimidating intellect. If you look closely at them, you
may notice a slight exaggeration to these traits, as if they were
performing or laying it on just a little too thick. As a student of human

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nature, you must understand the reality: the emphatic trait generally
rests on top of the opposite trait, distracting and concealing it from
public view.
We can see two forms of this: Early on in life some people sense a
softness, vulnerability, or insecurity that might prove embarrassing or
uncomfortable. They unconsciously develop the opposite trait, a
resilience or toughness that lies on the outside like a protective shell.
The other scenario is that a person has a quality that they feel might be
antisocial—for instance, too much ambition or an inclination to be
selfish. They develop the opposite quality, something very prosocial.
In both cases, over the years they hone and perfect this public
image. The underlying weakness or antisocial trait is a key component
of their Shadow—something denied and repressed. But as the laws of
human nature dictate, the deeper the repression, the greater the
volatility of the Shadow. As they get older or experience stress, there
will be cracks in the façade. They are playing a role to the extreme, and
it is tiring. Their real self will rebel in the form of moods, obsessions,
secret vices, and behavior that is quite contrary to their image and is
often self-destructive.
Your task is simple: be extra wary around people who display such
emphatic traits. It is very easy to get caught up in the appearance and
first impression. Watch for the signs and emergence of the opposite
over time. It is much easier to deal with such types once you
understand them. The following are seven of the most common
emphatic traits that you must learn to recognize and manage
appropriately.