The wave of education regarding toxic personalities has played out in such a way that now any manifestations of manipulative behavior are immediately interpreted as a “personality disorder.” And such conclusions could not help but affect the creative sphere, where many characters were immediately labeled by some abuser, without really understanding the meaning of the term and its essence. I am generally against analyzing personality types on movie characters. The fact is that movie images are a phantasmagoria full of simulacra and any movie is based on the so-called “principle of verisimilitude”, where certain traits of the hero, in order to write down his character, like an artist or sculptor. Thus, we can often see in the movies something that is simply impossible or almost unreal to see in real life. Anyone can manipulate. Just like a traumatized person can say unpleasant things for the purpose of self-defense, simply tactless or narrow-minded, without any ulterior motive. But all these people are not abusers or narcissists, because manipulation is not their lifestyle, they have empathy, as well as universal concepts of good and evil, etc. .An abuser is a person with a personality disorder, i.e. whose personal core is damaged at an early age, who encountered violence in childhood, as a result of which a negative “master-slave” behavior model was formed. In fact, the abuser’s aggression towards the victim is a kind of projection onto himself in childhood, when his feelings were suppressed and no one could protect him. When, instead of love, which should be transformed into a sense of conscience and compassion in adulthood, the abuser was faced with tyranny, devaluation of his feelings and the passive position of one of parents. These people have no empathy, they are stereotyped and destructive. For those who have a well-developed sensory sphere, as well as healthy self-esteem, recognizing an abuser is not so difficult. After all, it is the presence of feelings that distinguishes a healthy personality from a toxic one, and only with their help can we learn what is inaccessible to people with undeveloped emotional intelligence. In movies, the abuser type is often used to make the character bright and interesting, especially if it is an anti-hero, i.e. "a villain with a human face." It was with these heroes that the romanticization of abusers began, because they contain “human” traits that are never found in a real abuser. For example, independence from other people's opinions. The abuser is very afraid of negative assessments and contempt from others, which is why he so skillfully creates a role for himself in society so that the victim then has nothing to cover up with. An abuser is most often not a sociopath, because he even fits into society very well; he is only terrible with those close to him, while in public he is an incredibly charming, wonderful person. And here a paradox arises: the images of movie characters with the traits of abusers are so attractive that they subconsciously leave an imprint admiration, which can then affect the choice of a partner. Many of them also have external similarities. I will give examples of characters with the traits of abusers that I could remember (from the most mixed to the true abuser): Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind) The most confusing character, because he combines the traits of a truly loving, sincere person and an abuser. Womanizer, drunkard, manipulator. Lives by lower instincts, is a cynic, self-confident, but does not offend the weak. Brave, with a sense of humor. He loves his daughter very much, has a strong passion for Scarlett, which he himself is not happy about. Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre) He is very battered by life, plus an unsuccessful marriage, but he does not leave his wife, he takes care of her. He is looking for a “soul mate”, but is already desperate until he meets Jane. Manipulates her because he wants to check if she loves him. He wants to keep her, but later admits that she did the right thing, that she did not stay with him after the deception. He misses her, but wants her to be happy and free. Baron Korf (Poor Nastya) is very offended by his father, believes that his mother died because of him. But deep down he loves both him and Anna (Nastya). Since childhood, she has been very jealous of her father. For a long time he “played” the abuser, allegedly out of fear of his feelings for Anna. Briand.