You know them: pests, irritators, annoyances, nuisances, pains-in-the-neck (or lower in the anatomy) – troublemakers bask in their self-declared superiority and eagerly display it for all to see. They believe that rules exist for others; that accepted policies are no good because they know a better way; that your opinions are misguided. When there is a problem to be solved that requires team players who are willing to cooperate and communicate with others in an atmosphere of mutual respect, if you throw in the troublemaker, everything falls apart and the problem expands.
The troublemaker is no more than a bully. Unlike the 8th grader who bullies victims with physical attacks, however, the adult troublemaker is more figurative in bullying actions, as noted above. But why? What needs and purposes are being served in those who seem to dedicate their lives to oppositional behavior? The answers to that question are many, and the reasons probably vary from person to person.
At its simplest level, the chronic troublemaker may be modeling a significant adult figure from earlier years. In that case, however, we might expect the behavior to weaken as it consistently leads to negative consequences. More likely, therefore, persistent and intense troublemaking services deeper needs; it is almost certainly an avoidance behavior driven by anxiety that threatens to flood the troublemaker with negative emotions. For instance, narcissistic troublemaking can occur because of shame, jealousy, and envy toward others; agitation toward others is an expression of superiority and dominance, allowing the troublemaker to maintain their narcissism by avoiding the jealous resentment they feel. Another dynamic might be insecurity from intense inner-feelings of incompetency and inadequacy, and being a pest helps them avoid facing those self-doubts. Closely related would be the troublemaker who has unresolved issues from childhood centering on fear of rejection, abandonment, and loneliness. This emotional starvation makes them unable to trust others, and this distrust is replaced by anger; to service their anger, others must be annoyed and dominated. Also, anger-based retribution and vengeance provide a safety valve allowing the troublemaker to avoid the fear of being emotionally deserted and lost.
Whatever the individual dynamics, bullying troublemakers all have in common unresolved emotional conflicts that rob them of feeling secure and wanted. Unable to face those conflicts, they take a fear-based approach to challenges in their life that makes them avoid social interactions expressing humility and empathy. They are so threatened by the possibility of having to face their fears, they are left only with the option of avoiding productive interactions, not only with others, but also with themselves.
Psychology and Stress 