The “cold switch” is the sudden transition from emotionally reactive behaviour to calculated detachment. Key factors:

• Self-protection: Shutting down emotions to avoid vulnerability or perceived loss of control.
• Anger escalation: Emotional intensity overwhelms natural restraint, flipping to detachment.
• Survival strategy: Past trauma can trigger dissociation or emotional numbing.
• Power reinforcement: Observing the impact of their behaviour can reinforce the desire for control.
• Cognitive override: They deliberately switch from reactive (sociopathic) to strategic (psychopathic-like) thinking to achieve their goal.

Survivors often describe this as: “It’s like someone else took over — the warmth, the connection, the normal person disappears.”