Navigating the Terrifying Depths of Love with a Psychopath
Individuals with psychopathy and narcissistic personality disorder tend to follow a predictable cycle in their relationships, known as the idealize, devalue, and discard cycle. This cycle reflects the brain's reward system, which becomes highly activated during the initial phase of the relationship, leading to intense attraction and love bombing. However, as the relationship progresses, the reward system becomes less stimulated, causing the psychopath to lose interest and become bored. This leads to negative behaviors, such as gaslighting and blame-shifting, as they hold their partner responsible for the loss of excitement. These relationships can be dangerous and life-changing for the victims.