10. Exploitation for Personal Gain: The Transactional Nature of ASPD Relationships
The realm of interpersonal relationships is complex, laden with nuance and unspoken rules. In the case of individuals with ASPD, relationships are often reduced to transactions, opportunities for personal gain rather than mutual emotional exchange. It’s as though they’re operating a marketplace in their minds, continually assessing the cost-benefit ratio of each interaction.
The exploitation isn’t always blatant; it can be subtle, a gentle nudging of boundaries here, a manipulation of expectations there. But the core remains the same: the objective is personal gain, whether material, emotional, or psychological. It’s akin to a game, but only one player knows that the stakes are real.
Here’s the irony: despite their ability to manipulate and exploit, they are often excellent at reading social cues. It’s as if they have a roadmap of human emotions but use it to navigate through situations for their own benefit, rather than fostering genuine connections. Their emotional intelligence, rather than serving as a tool for empathy, becomes a mechanism for exploitation.
Why is this form of exploitation so prevalent in ASPD? Some theories suggest that it can be traced back to a lack of emotional bonding during their developmental years. These early experiences might create a framework where relationships are not sources of emotional comfort but arenas for personal gain. It’s a conditioned response that turns social interaction into a kind of marketplace. (10)
