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I don't think there is a black-and-white distinction - it is possible to feel the things from your first paragraph, yet understand the purpose of the very feeli

I don't think there is a black-and-white distinction - it is possible to feel the things from your first paragraph, yet understand the purpose of the very feeling. It doesn't take a psychopath to analyze human behavior. > Everything is a transaction, sure they might apologise to you if you can do something for them, but if you can't do something for them, then they can devalue you to where no apology is needed, in order to make themselves feel superior, in that way, they can extract something (self-esteem) from you regardless. I don't think this would be rational behavior, but rather pathological behavior. Rationally, it would be in one's interest to keep good relationships even with the people who don't "serve a purpose" at the moment, because it is impossible to know when one might need them, and "they serve a purpose" again. The only reason one would devaluate others is that they feel some kind of irrational need to feel superior, even if that feeling costs them good relationships.

scaramanga 5y ago
> I don't think this would be rational behavior, but rather pathological behavior. That's exactly right. I am describing cluster B personality disorders. > it is possible to feel the things from your first paragraph, yet understand the purpose of the very feeling. Yes, and when someone is apologising to you, you would do well to try and analyze and understand whether the person is doing so for the first set of motives or the latter (it can be hard to tell). And doing so would be quite rational if you don't want to become prey to a sociopath :) Edit: > The only reason one would devaluate others is that they feel some kind of irrational need to feel superior, even if that feeling costs them good relationships. man, you really hit the nail on the head here :) Anyway, it works well for all manner of CEO's, politicians, heads of state, frauds, tinder swindlers, and the like. In other words, it doesn't seem to impair someone's prospects as much as one might imagine!

scaramanga 5y ago

> I don't think this would be rational behavior, but rather pathological behavior. That's exactly right. I am describing cluster B personality disorders. > it is possible to feel the things from your first paragraph, yet understand the purpose of the very feeling. Yes, and when someone is apologising to you, you would do well to try and analyze and understand whether the person is doing so for the first set of motives or the latter (it can be hard to tell). And doing so would be quite rational if you don't want to become prey to a sociopath :) Edit: > The only reason one would devaluate others is that they feel some kind of irrational need to feel superior, even if that feeling costs them good relationships. man, you really hit the nail on the head here :) Anyway, it works well for all manner of CEO's, politicians, heads of state, frauds, tinder swindlers, and the like. In other words, it doesn't seem to impair someone's prospects as much as one might imagine!