Pretender’s Brain (Internal Process)

1. Insecurity / Goal → “I need to impress / control / belong.”
   ↓
2. Prefrontal Cortex → Builds and manages the fake persona (planning, suppressing truth).
   ↓
3. Amygdala →
   • High in anxious pretenders (fear of being caught).
   • Low in manipulative types (reduced guilt).
     ↓
4. Reward System (Dopamine) → Every time the lie “works” (admiration, attention, gain), dopamine reinforces the behavior.
   ↓
5. Habit Loop → Pretending becomes addictive and automatic.

---

Your Brain (Reaction Process)

1. First Impression → Pretender’s charm/claims trigger a dopamine spike (“Wow, exciting!”).
   ↓
2. Oxytocin System → If they seem warm or trustworthy, bonding hormones activate → false sense of connection.
   ↓
3. Cognitive Dissonance → Your prefrontal cortex spots inconsistencies (words vs. actions).
   ↓
4. Stress Response (Cortisol) → Confusion, unease, and mental exhaustion set in.
   ↓
5. Body Signals → Gut feelings, tension, or fatigue — your nervous system signaling danger before your conscious mind catches up.

---

🔑 Key Interaction

• Their gain = dopamine rush from fooling you.
• Your cost = cortisol spike from confusion + hijacked oxytocin (false trust).
• Over time, the mismatch always cracks — their “mask” slips, and your brain begins to reject the inconsistency.

---