That’s part of it...our brains receive everything. Subtle clues that during the course of a normal person’s day-to-day encounters, we’d file away and forget.
But it’s the dissonance, the disconnect, that niggles the gut with a “something’s not quite right” vibe.
Yeah, like eyes sparkling at others’ misfortune.
Investigators, LEO’s, etc. are trained to spot these things. Also, those of us who’ve had too close encounters become sensitive, develop “radar”.
A rule of thumb continuum I use, in ascending order of pathology:
- Narcissists (NPD) & Borderlines (BPD) note: remember Borderline is borderline psychopath
- Sociopaths
- Psychopaths
I use “appearing on a police-blotter most frequently” as my measure.
It can be argued that NPD’s & BPD’s cause more damage, due to their greater numbers, and the fact that their victims often have nowhere to turn to, also, their victims quickly learn to remain silent because they’re the ones perceived as crazy.
It’s the psychos & socios that more often turn up on the news doing crazy, evil stuff: killing their children, random murders, you know, the awful stuff.
Without quibbling over terms too much, I think we’re talking Narcissists. I’ve thought about it. What else could be the product of decades of advertising to “get it now” & “you deserve the best”? Decades of “entitlement”?
I am astounded by the parallels btwn the diagnostic criteria for Narcissists and liberals.
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. Requires excessive admiration
5. Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
6. Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
8. Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
Remarkable, isn’t it? You could cite examples from every point on this checklist to prove most garden variety leftists are in actuality - Narcissists! (at LEAST they’re Borderlines, because really? They’re not that charming lol).
Yes, they do drift up along the continuum, displaying more rage (How many examples of that do you know? Right.) & many DO perform murderous, evil deeds. (again, you know & can cite many instances!)
The other diagnostic differential I think, is “charm” (funny you should use just that word)...
N’s are the most charming...then B’s, socios, and lastly (if at all) psychos.
Trust your gut. If you get a sick, queasy feeling & it ain’t the beans, you’re probably around a leftist.
I agree that they can charm people. That's one of their salient qualities and one reason they inspire fanatical loyalty. But once you know what's going on the charm evaporates and you see the rattlesnake beneath it.
That's another characteristic. I knew one very, very well. She was Hollywood beautiful and immensely popular! But on rare occasions--when something struck a nerve--the mask dropped, and her eyes were the eyes of a rattlesnake.
I saw this a few times.
Her mother saw it once and was in shock. She said that she had never seen anything like that before. She never fully recovered from the experience and never saw her beloved, "perfect" daughter in the same light again.