Emotions within Psychopathy and Narcissism
© 2013 Rhonda Freeman, PhD | All Rights Reserved
Psychopaths are extremely superficial individuals, therefore, deep connections are not possible for them. Their relationships suffer not only because they can be cruel, abusive, and cunning, but also because they simply cannot bond. Other living beings hold no value to them and everyone is replaceable.
It may be easy to mistake a psychopath’s intense emotional states, such as rage, obsessiveness, and romantic passion as deep emotion. However, this is not the same as deep emotions that a healthy brain can access.
Intensity is not equivalent to depth.
Their intense emotional reactions are associated with different brain circuitry and neurochemistry in comparison to bonded, committed and deep emotions.
Superficial (although intense) emotions is the reason they can be enraged with their partner on Thursday, ending the relationship because they “hate” her. Then react as if nothing happened and wonder if she will be joining him for dinner on Friday (“Are YOU over your little tantrum yet!”)
As you see in that scenario, intense emotions were present (rage), however the emotional state was shallow and changed to a completely different view the very next day! They often experience confusion and at times disgust when their non-psychopathic mate cannot just ‘let it go’ when her/his (survivor’s) feelings are hurt.
Certain emotional states for them can be released instantly, leaving them with no pain or distress. They move along as though nothing happened.
An individual with a healthy brain would find the above scenario strange and uncomfortable. However people with psychopathy tend not to find anything odd about it at all. In fact, he might accuse the non-psychopathic individual of “holding onto the past” and having “issues” for not being able to “move on!” after he has hurt her.
Emotions
Rhonda Freeman, PhD | © 2013 NeuroInstincts | All Rights Reserved
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