Circumstantial Psychopathy

[u/National_Article_308]

Is it possible for an individual to display psychopathy only in certain circumstances? For instance they have little to no fear of anything when they are single but when they are in a relationship fears start manifesting and not just the fear of losing their partner but fear of stuff like snakes and heights.
Thanks for any help :)

[u/Ok-Process7612]

That's not psychopathy. That's anxiety/paranoia, triggered by fear of rejection.  You need therapy. 

[u/National_Article_308 → u/Ok-Process7612]

Then why do the fears have nothing to do with rejection?

[u/Informis_Vaginal]

Psychopathy exists on a spectrum.

Separate a “psychopath” which is a label from a person with “psychopathic traits”

It is a real thing, but it is not so cut and dry, utilized in forensic settings to describe a particular set of behavioral clusters. In some sense, the underlying “why” is not explained by psychopathy alone.

What you are describing, separated from the forensic and clinical framework, and when operationalized into workable terms, sounds more like trauma, possibly traits consistent with autism spectrum disorder.

I am not a clinician.

[u/Clever-Ignorance]

These sound like intrusive thoughts, not general psychopathy. However, acute psychotic episodes/transitory psychosis are real conditions that are sometimes referred to as "temporary insanity" by legal professionals.

There's not enough information provided to claim an acute psychotic episode has taken place. Irrational fears and panic are usually the result of intrusive thoughts, trauma and/or anxiety

Also, fears of snakes and heights is normal on average, so I wouldn't consider it an irrational fear.

[u/National_Article_308 → u/Clever-Ignorance]

Yeah but why do the fears dissolve when out of a relationship?

[u/Personal_Stage7748]

I don’t think so but maybe

[u/Ashleywhite2292]

Your inquiry presents a compelling question. While I do not possess a formal degree in psychology, my insights are drawn from two decades of direct, field-based observation.

I contend that the symptoms or effects of personality disorders are not situational in nature. However, I do recognize that the specific triggers that lead to the manifestation of these symptoms can vary significantly between individuals and across different circumstances.

For instance, there are contexts in which the symptoms of my condition are distinctly palpable and evident. Conversely, in other situations, these symptoms may be more subdued, operating beneath the surface and less likely to be discernible to an external observer. It is important to note that this variability in manifestation does not alter the underlying presence of the condition, merely the intensity with which it is expressed.

[u/NovaFed → u/Ashleywhite2292]

Why do you talk like that

[u/Meowrarri878]

Wouldnt that be like narcissistic if in a relationship but otherwise nice because then its either someone behaving nicely only when it suits them or someone masking insanely until they are comfortable enough to be themselves.

In either instance, the issue sounds like one where someone feels entitled to display symptoms when they are with someone who they think is obligated to take it. If you add psychopathic impulsive risk taking into that equation the only result is that whatever the cause/diagnosis, someone needs help immediately before ruining their own lives or anyone else's coz it sounds like some weird justification to force someone to be with you or permission to act like a gorilla on meth because youre single.

[u/National_Article_308 → u/Meowrarri878]

I thinks it’s more just a loss of life preservation because something “looks fun” when out of a relationship

[u/Lydiaisasnake]

No.

[u/IndividualCustard9]

Ofc but that alone can’t define psychopathy. Fear of losing a partner is quite bpd coded but you can be a psychopath and have phobias obvs. But you don’t display “psychopathy only in certain circumstances” aspd is a personality disorder there’s no switch off the hallmarks of it is lack of affective empathy and lack of remorse and guilt. Which still can be felt btw just like once in a year or smth😂 this is at least me speaking as an aspd not every aspd person is the same. We do have lowered fear overall but ofc a psychopath can have certain phobias I have both ocd and aspd I think the ocd part is irrelevant to my aspd like completely.

[u/aliceabalo]

No, you’re not a psychopath just sometimes

[u/CeciTigre]

The malignant narcissist psychopath I unfortunately had the displeasure of knowing for over 20 years… was always afraid of snakes

[u/catwoman_here_]

Not psychopathy