Are Histrionics capable of love and empathy?

Or are they sociopathic?

Sam Vaknin states that "Unlike narcissists, though, histrionics are genuinely enthusiastic, open, emotional, warm, and empathic, up to the point of being maudlin and sentimental."

Thanks

I wouldn't take Vaknin too seriously.

I'll say it's easy to be so focused on your own needs that you overlook the needs and feelings of others and how your actions affect them.

As for the original question, I can't speak for other HPDs, just myself. I have only traits and other dx in the mix so my perspective is mostly likely different from other 'typical' pwHPD.

up to the point of being maudlin and sentimental.

Funny you should say that though. I didn't ever think that was an HPD trait, but that describes me quite well. One of my sides/moods anyway. Interesting.

foxy_face95 wrote:Or are they sociopathic?

Sam Vaknin states that "Unlike narcissists, though, histrionics are genuinely enthusiastic, open, emotional, warm, and empathic, up to the point of being maudlin and sentimental."

Thanks

Oh Sam.... LOL..

I remember when I was in gradschool and read his work. He reads to me sort of like a "psychiatrist and a street philosopher with a megaphone." *shrugs*

But... here's the only point of his assessment of HPD, which I do agree:

"Most patients with the Histrionic Personality Disorder are women. This immediately raises the question: Is this a real mental health disorder or a culture-bound syndrome which reflects the values of a patriarchal and misogynistic society? A man with similar traits is bound to be admired as a "macho" or, at worst, labelled a "womanizer"."

But I digress...

To answer your question about HPD and empathy: Short answer, Yes, I DO... as I can only speak for myself.

Where the wires are crossed for me tho- is when there is foul play in my relationship. Many non PD women will "put up" with a hell of a lot more (in more experience counseling friends who went back to cheating lovers). For me...

...this piece of software wasn't downloaded into my psyche.

A friend, who is an EvolPsy, explained it to me as "women are programmed through evolution to want MORE the security of a mate, hence, will forgive many transgressions..."

Yes..ok.

But. nope. Not for me.

Long story (you know how we do...I'm working on that...refocus..)

Can I love? Yes.

Do I feel empathy? Yes.

Are these feelings "fixed" In that I can overlook many transgressions and "forgive"? So far, only for my children and a SHORT list of people.

So...the answer is not black or white... and differs based on the person.

trophywife wrote:...So...the answer is not black or white... and differs based on the person.

Yes, agree. The labels are broad, generalizations, a short-hand way to explain patterns that professionals observed (and no doubt debated), but individuals vary quite a lot.

blank identity wrote:...
I'll say it's easy to be so focused on your own needs that you overlook the needs and feelings of others and how your actions affect them....

My view as well

I am a diagnosed HPD and I definitely feel love and empathy. Although I also have BPD (co-morbid), my histrionic personality is definitely dominant.

Obviously narcissists, borderlines, and sociopaths are lacking in empathy. Probably paranoid and schizotypal personalities are also lacking. Schizoid's I've heard mixed things.

TwistedLove84 wrote:I am a diagnosed HPD and I definitely feel love and empathy. Although I also have BPD (co-morbid), my histrionic personality is definitely dominant.

Obviously narcissists, borderlines, and sociopaths are lacking in empathy. Probably paranoid and schizotypal personalities are also lacking. Schizoid's I've heard mixed things.

There is a difference between love, empathy and being in love.

But yes, unless there is a commorbity with npd(or aspd) I see no reason why not?

Commorbity with NPD or BPD is arround 40%, so the odds you have NPD once you have HPD is big.

Have you checked Millon subtypes? They can provide a good insight.

Appeasing types will be for sure ultra empathetic, now disenginious, less empathetic, but not as few as a narcissist or psycopath.

The problem is that histrionics are emotionally shallow, and their partners are probrably not.

The same issue will happen to schizoids, but their problem will be that they are emotinally cold.

And no schizotypal, like avoidants dont lack empathy. Schizoids is another problems because I believe they are either mild asperger or mild schizotypal. DSM V merged schizoid and schizotypal again.

About borderlines, I guess it is the same. Unless they are also narcissistic there is no reason why they would lack affective empathy. But I know that their cognitive empathy is low. Also they have severe attachment issues like schizotypals.

I am schizotypal.

Yes, definitely. I have this excessive maudlin sympathy especially for animals and people who are victimized in some real way (I don't consider a lot of first world whine to be real victimization though). I used to want to help or fix people, actually, but with age and experience have had about enough of that. Like Trophy Wife, I won't put up with things some women will put up with, it's true. I was able to leave a relationship with physical violence because of this lack of tolerance for bs. (In the past I think I tended to pair up with BPD or NPD partners, unofficially, just my best guess).

HPD has nothing to do with sociopathy unless there's some comorbity. Maybe you think this because cluster B has narcissists and ASPD too, but their common variant is not lack of empathy, but that they are relational disorders. These disorders affect our emotions and relationships to others strongly.

The original question really got me thinking....
Are Histrionics capable of love and empathy?

Yes we are, definitely. My dx is N/HPD but my overriding PD is HPD.

I'd say that these feelings for my kids, long term friends and family are as strong as anyone would have.

Maybe the difference is I have less, or sometimes none, for strangers or ex lovers. It's less generalized.

Sous

In my case, I have no empathy, sympathy, pity, etc., but I feel love. Clingy, smothering, mushy love. I'm a hopeless romantic who cries my eyes out during love scenes and I'm happily married. In other words, I can't feel for others unless I am directly involved and get something out of it. I don't care about people just for no reason.

blank identity wrote:I wouldn't take Vaknin too seriously.

I'll say it's easy to be so focused on your own needs that you overlook the needs and feelings of others and how your actions affect them.

As for the original question, I can't speak for other HPDs, just myself. I have only traits and other dx in the mix so my perspective is mostly likely different from other 'typical' pwHPD.

up to the point of being maudlin and sentimental.

Funny you should say that though. I didn't ever think that was an HPD trait, but that describes me quite well. One of my sides/moods anyway. Interesting.

Holy cow, retro!!

Hmm, things have changed a bit since then. I have felt empathy at times (and it hurts ). Not sure why though, but perhaps from being so cut off from the emotional being for so long and starting to get in touch with it. Dx? That's a bit skewed too, but still 'officially' the same.

Funny reading one of my old posts.

Kinda creepy too, I might add.