Psychopath : Emptiness
The emptiness within is akin to a vast, desolate landscape devoid of emotional landmarks. It is a pervasive absence, an emotional void that separates me from the depths of human connection and understanding. That separation is necessary, important and welcome. I do not miss that which I did not have. Deep emotions such as love, compassion, and genuine empathy are missing. They are missing because for me, they are unnecessary, indeed they are a hindrance.
I have a sense of detachment from the world and those around me I observe people’s emotions and reactions with a clinical curiosity, as if studying specimens in a laboratory. I do not have ability to experience genuinely the emotional richness that colours human interactions, this propagates the emptiness, maintaining that sense of detachment and isolation.
Without the capacity for genuine emotional empathy, I understand but do not relate to the emotional experiences of others. I mimic socially appropriate emotional responses, but it remains a superficial act, devoid of authentic feeling. The all pervading emptiness dominates. It is purifying and effective. The absence of empathy allows me to manipulate and exploit others without remorse, viewing individuals merely as objects in my quest for personal gain.
The emptiness I experience is often accompanied by a pervasive and constant restlessness. I seek out stimulation and novelty in an attempt to fill the void, for many of my kind this means engaging in impulsive and risky behaviors, but aided by my higher executive function I engage in calculated risk and the only impulse I experience is the desire to banish the boredom. The pursuit of power, control, and dominance becomes an outlet for my emotional emptiness, offering temporary relief from the profound sense of hollowness that characterizes my inner world.
In my relationships, I may cultivate a superficial charm and charisma, acting as chameleons to adapt to different social contexts. However, beneath this facade lies an inability to form deep emotional connections. Myinteractions lack the authentic emotional bond that most individuals experience, leaving me perpetually on the outside, looking in. That does not concern me, it benefits me to remain empty, unclouded by the full range of emotions. The emptiness aids my evidence based decision making.
Some psychopaths may possess a limited range of emotions rather than a complete absence but we all have the emptiness.
Within the psychopathic mindset, emptiness is not experienced as a source of distress or longing but rather as a state of detached clarity. It is as if I exist in a realm devoid of the burdensome weight of emotions that plague others. This absence of emotional depth grants me a certain freedom from the constraints and vulnerabilities that emotions impose.
My emotional emptiness shields me from the usual array of human concerns. There is no remorse to haunt me, no empathy to impede my calculated actions, and no sentimentality to cloud my judgement. I navigate the world with a ruthless efficiency, unencumbered by the emotional entanglements that hinder ordinary individuals.
In relationships, my emptiness manifests as a cold and calculating demeanor. I view others as tools to be manipulated or obstacles to be overcome, rather than as individuals with their own emotions and needs. The absence of genuine connection allows me to exploit and jettison people without hesitation, as I lack the capacity to form meaningful attachments or experience the pain of separation. Instead the emptiness acts as a buffer against those things.
My inner void often compels me to seek out intense sensations and high-risk activities. I am driven by a constant need for stimulation, desperately attempting to fill the emptiness with momentary thrills. This pursuit of excitement can manifest in impulsive behaviors for some, such as engaging in dangerous activities, seeking power and dominance, or indulging in hedonistic pleasures.
While the emptiness shields me from emotional turmoil, it also deprives me of the richness and depth of the human experience. I understand this from those I have observed and listened to, but it does not concern me. I am forever a detached observer, watching the ebb and flow of emotions in others without truly participating. Iunderstand the mechanics of emotions, but I lack the ability to genuinely feel them, leaving me perpetually on the outskirts of the vibrant tapestry of human existence.
The darkness within a psychopath’s emptiness is a void that devours any semblance of humanity or moral compass. It is a chilling absence that engulfs me, leaving behind a cold and calculating entity devoid of empathy, remorse, or any genuine connection to others.
Within this darkness I revel in the power I wield over those I encounter. I derive a twisted pleasure from manipulating and exploiting unsuspecting individuals, viewing them as mere pawns in my sadistic game. Anything to relieve the boredom. The absence of empathy allows me to inflict pain and suffering without a flicker of remorse, savouring the control I exert over my victims.
The emptiness is punctuated by a predatory nature. I prowl through life, seeking out vulnerable targets to satisfy my insatiable hunger for dominance and control. My hollow existence is driven by a relentless thirst for power, as I derive pleasure from dominating and subjugating others, relishing in my ability to reduce them to mere playthings.
In the depths of my darkness, my emptiness is masked by a carefully crafted facade of charm and charisma. I present myself as charismatic and engaging, skillfully manipulating others to fulfill my own desires. It is a mask that conceals the abyss within, allowing me to navigate society undetected, while my true nature remains hidden in the shadows.
The darkness of my emptiness extends beyond individual relationships, permeating my worldview and actions. I can engage in criminal activities without hesitation, driven by a complete disregard for societal norms and moral values. My actions are guided solely by self-interest, as I navigate a moral vacuum, unaffected by the weight of conscience or guilt.
My emptiness bolsters me. It is my engine, driving me onwards and ensures I am unencumbered. I know such description of that howling wilderness alarms those who are affected by their emotions, but I am a different machine.
I am an effective machine.
37 thoughts on “Psychopath : Emptiness”
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Try filling the void with God and see what happens. Just for fun. Not religion. God
Praying. Just try and see what it is like.
I don’t know… Whenever I see “ruthless efficiency,” it’s mentally followed by “–and a fanatical devotion to the Pope.” Plenty of narcs who think they’re doing the will of God.
Mind you, I’m a believer myself. I just don’t think God barges in where he isn’t really wanted. As CS Lewis noted, if we think “m will be done,” God allows us to reject him.
There are exceptions (Allessandro Serenelli), but they are miracles.
Dear HG,
Thank you for such an in depth understanding of how your mind works, how you see the world around you and how your lack of genuine empathy allows you to achieve your prime aims and allows you to achieve more than the empathic person can. I see how genuine empathy can hinder a person to achieve more in life, I see how the people in charge have gotten to where they are in life, the politicians, the CEOs etc…how the ones in charge, stay in charge….it all clicks and makes sense.
I do envy you for your ability to do much without many emotions holding you back and your ability to not be hurt by emotions you don’t have. I envy that part, but I do see how not having those same emotions, that can be a hinderence for me, also allows me to connect to people, have meaningful relationships, friendships, and experience all the joys of feeling love for someone and experiencing life in all its colors, no matter the heartache that also comes with it. I can’t imagine life without its colors of emotions, it would be like living half a life for me, only because I’ve seen and experienced all the colors. For you, like you said, you’ve never experienced the full colors of emotions, so you don’t miss , what you’ve never known. It’s good you haven’t seen it and then it’s taken away….it’s best you’ve never experienced it. I do still feel sad you can’t feel it all. I envy you, when I’m hurting, times when I’m hurting, I wish I couldn’t feel it, too. Xx
Volo ergo pati ergo creo? Your emptiness sounds like a cruel mistress HG. Lucky for us that you fill the void with beautiful words.
“My hollow existence is driven by a relentless thirst for power, as I derive pleasure from dominating and subjugating others, relishing in my ability to reduce them to mere playthings.”
Sweet or dill?
Very interesting and straightforward read on the emptiness of the psychopath, HG. (Your descriptions also harken back to exploration of blog images images, in KHG, of various images of expansive spaces and environs with a solitary figure in the past composition.)
Since I regard many of our societal norms and moral values as rather useful, I am of course not exactly thrilled when you profess a complete disregard for them. However, I have to admit that I find it all too understandable coming from someone who has had to endure treatment that blatantly goes against these norms without anybody stepping in to enforce them. If you were not protected by these norms and values when you needed it most, how can we expect you to consider yourself bound by them (although I would not know if there is any sort of link in your case)? We can hope that these people will make a conscious decision for themselves to recognise and keep our norms and try and show them by our actions that it is a good idea. Mostly we are simply lucky that your self-interest often dovetails with our norms and values.
Though norms are there to keep (the powerless) populous in check, narcissists don’t bind themselves to any norms, even if “obey” or portray it on the outside. The twist in it all — the non narcissists defend norms and fight for them even if norms ignore values, moral codes and empathy. In fact enabling the breeding ground for narcissists. A ticking bomb. The society is lead by narcissistic norms and values and ideas, but thought of as an empathic ones. And this is how they are established.
From: The Most Powerful and Effective Manipulative Technique
(Doug Interview: The Seduction of the Cult)
Doug: I mind-controlled myself, there wasn’t anyone around following me…
HG: One of the most effective manipulations with somebody is to make them think that it’s their own idea. Make them believe that the things they are going to do, they arrived as of their own volition. It is far more powerful. Because ensuring that somebody does something consensually getting their buy in to it is far more powerful. At the end of the day the utilisation of threat and physical violence will bring about compliance, but there are issues with that there are many people that automatically rail against it because they see for what this is. Whereas a much more subtle approach or suggesting to somebody that how about you talk about it and let them join the dots so that they feel like it’s their idea, that they feel like they’re the one that’s had the accomplishment and you’ve basically allowed themselves to open up the bear trap themself and step right into the middle of it and then set it off and go „that’s okay because I chose to do all of this“. Of course they don’t realise they’ve walked into a bear trap. One does by allowing them to get to that point but it’s a particularly powerful way of ensuring that manipulation is so effective that you submit homely to it because you’re the one that thought of it.
Keen student, I approve.
Can’t stop and won’t stop learning!! Thank you!!🌟
A good example for this is the manipulation of the masses. You make the people believe that it´s for a good cause, a higher cause. “It´s all for OUR people/environment/world/whatsoever”. So, you make them believe that certain things are necessary to do for the sake of ALL. Even though people may be against it, they don´t wanna be the “bad ones” who are unempathetic towards others or who “destroy the environment”, So, you make them believe that they are “bad” if they don´t follow ..(ideology X, insert here). Because it´s “something good”, something “virtuous”, something for a “higher cause”. Over here, for example they used to tell kids (!) things like: “You don´t want to kill your grandma, do you?” or they use to say: “You don´t wanna be a (insert name calling here), do you?” So you have to follow the rules of (ideology X, insert here) for our ALLs sake, for OUR community, for OUR world, bla bla. You get tthe point, yes?
When you think about this – the very word ’norm’ – gives it away!
What needs to be normed? Something that is not „normal“.
What is NOT normal? An appliance who does not comply!
So when people say „We want back to normal“ – they basically say; we want back to where we thought that it was our own idea.
And they are told “Okay, do this and you can go back to normal.”
And then who is it who will say: „You want to MAKE me DO something?!!!!! F U !“
It will be – THAT which cannot be controlled – the Narcissist.
Who will comply? Those who think that it was their own idea and motivated by empathic principles. But also those who don’t really give a damn yet who profited from norms. Amongst them also those narcissists who will comply within an assertion of control by compliance, because the norms suited them of course and they could go undetected for all this time.
What must have been originated from the need to control the other kind (the empaths), ran out of hand… Greaters – they must have realised that empaths are their least problem in all of this equation. What cannot be controlled became too much.
What was designed ’to control’ became uncontrollable and began to shift balance towards end game.
That is why we see what we see… It is their battle.
My ASPD ex said to me once in his our guest house, his office, with an adversary, never be loud. Softly say “ come here.” He then showed me his gun. He was not particularly charming, even the child custody evaluator said so. He shows little emotion in fact. Very calm. Methodical. Steady. That’s one of the reasons I don’t see any traits of narcissism. No love bombing, no devaluation, just transactional. His favorite pastime if not bedding women was gambling and making money outside the law.
HG, is the emptiness more powerful than fury?
Yes, because the emptiness is always there.
I see! It makes then emptiness more beautiful than fear…
It equals power in a way — a neutral force… a space for anything and everything… endless… as is power
You are indeed effective. While savoring your article and in so doing, procrastinating with useless remorse on a deadline pending over my shoulders like Damocles’ sword, I couldn’t help but notice a news alert that screams at me in a red signal: “New!” Another incoming new article. How can you write so fast (and so well)?
To annihilate the boredom SP.
“Sweetest Perfection likes your comment. And your writing.”
HG, I am beyond grateful that you are able to annihilate boredom in pro-social ways that benefit many. And I also admire the speed with which you are able to turn out such well written articles.
Excellent disclosure and I feel correct as to all psychopaths!
This.
Is just brilliant!
When I read “The emptiness I experience is often accompanied by a pervasive and constant restlessness. I seek out stimulation and novelty in an attempt to fill the void” and “the only impulse I experience is the desire to banish the boredom” – distinctive and clearly explained.
The ‘boredom’ (psychopath) may “assist” the narcissism to a degree, providing the ‘demand’ for boredom is ‘met’ through ‘power’. Should the narcissism ‘demand’ it, fuel & control can be obtained at the same time.
An excellent read, thank you 🙂 X
Wow. And thank you for the clarity, HG. That’s a fascinating read and insight.
Part of me feels sorry for you, pity that you have never and can never experience the emotional connections to other people that most of us have. There is also a part of me that is slightly envious that you will never feel the emotional pain that most of us feel at some point, whether that’s being hurt by another or because of a loss of someone we loved. And, of course, that you will never fall prey to someone like you – although, then again, neither will I, so perhaps I can just pity your prey.
Pat_AN
“There is also a part of me that is slightly envious that you will never feel the emotional pain that most of us feel at some point, whether that’s being hurt by another or because of a loss of someone we loved.” This was my main takeaway this time around. It really gets so exhausting to FEEL everything, all of the time.
Pat – its true they don’t experience emotional pain in the same way that we do. But they do experience wounding, including when someone dies. I know my sister felt incredibly wounded and a loss of control when my mother died for many reasons but primarily because she had lost her primary babysitting resource. Even when my mother was in the last few weeks of her life she still wanted her to look after her unruly children, despite the fact my mother was barely able to even make herself a cup of tea. She also would have felt wounded by the loss of the one person who adored everything she did, the person who was a constant and would always help her out when she could. The person she could triangulate me with. Yes, she has an IPPS (also an N), so not a complete loss. But she did rely heavily on fuel and control from her and vast amounts of residual benefits. I appreciate that HG would not feel this sort of wounding and especially not from his mother, but the vast majority of Ns do experience wounding and their resourcefulness in healing that wound varies considerably.
Alexis my ex ASPD talked daily to his bother and Aunt. I felt he did it in part to get their money when they died. They hoard money. It’s collecting it that thrills them not what you can do with it. But his bother was his only friend. They talked business and money daily. They were in on it togetherz. Both from Brooklyn and his brother was a vietnam draft dodger who left Canada to Las Vegas to gamble. They kept their NYC compagni. When his brother was dying of brain cancer, my ex exhibited a loss . But he has no friends. Did he lose a loved one or his compagni or co-conspirator in business. Or the only person he ever really talked to.
I have more envy than pity. I hate being an Empath.
Now I’m wondering if crocodiles are narcissists:
https://www.sciencealert.com/crocodiles-find-the-wails-of-our-distressed-babies-irresistible
Viol
The term “Lizard brain” is often used to describe psychopaths.
Lizards only have a brain stem and no higher functioning
Much like a psychopath whos frontal lobes are not connected to their amygdala thus they are disregulated.
Most animals are psychopathic
I believe it is the natural human state
Empathy and compassion, altruism are not necessary to survival and in my opinion are a higher form of evolution.
I totally agree, Anna. The “reptilian brain” is supposed to be a very old vestige that far from advanced, is associated merely with instinctual, survival responses. It is necessary but basic. A few years ago, I was captivated by the story of a man who took care of an injured crocodile until it healed; the animal created a bond with the man and they became inseparable. They liked to swim together and performed a form of water dance by which they communicated with each other. The crocodile would not allow anyone else to get close.
SP: I’m amazed. I would have expected the crocodile to eat the human as soon as it was completely healed. Are they capable of gratitude?
RE: reptilian brain. It plays an important part in some stages of dreaming, intuition and other non monkey-brain stuff. This brain is the first, the older one, the more experienced one if you will. Unfortunately its reputation was stripped down to instincts only, but there is more value and qualities to it 🐊💕
Interestingly, the study’s authors also found that “it cannot be entirely ruled out that some individuals (particularly females) responded in a parental care context.” The Nile crocodiles were also much better than humans at analysing bonobo babies’ level of distress by their cries.
In 2019, a study found that chickadees “recognized distress calls in widely divergent species including humans—and giant pandas, which they’d never before encountered.” (from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nile-crocodiles-recognize-and-react-to-the-sound-of-crying-babies-180982686/)
If you want to have a bit of fun with male alligators, and who doesn’t, you can make them bellow by playing a deep B flat on a tuba. That gets them all riled up. Apparently they assume there is a competitor.
Yes Viol. And Lessers, as apparently they prefer to prey on low-hanging fruit.
My biggest nightmare materialized the day I learned of the existence of the salt water crocodile. Imagine running into an enormous dinosaur while riding a wave. Chills.
Dear Sweetest Perfection,
We have salt water crocs north, north east of Australia.
We also have dangerous box jellyfish and the dangerous blue ringed octopus🪼🐙
However, our most dangerous reptiles are in Parliament House! 🤣
Bubbles, what a fauna!
Bubbles, we have quite a few of those in US government too!
Viol. I have no idea how that happened but the crocodile, named Pocho, did not stop following the man home after he put it back in the forest when it healed. You can see the documentary on YouTube. And no, I don’t see this as an analogy to the possibility that maybe there is an exception with one narc that is able to love…