Shared Core (Center)
All four traits share:
- low empathy
- callousness
- willingness to exploit
- egocentric worldview
This is why they overlap so heavily in real life.
🔹 Unique Components
Sadism
- Pleasure in causing or witnessing suffering
- Cruelty is rewarding
Machiavellianism
- Strategic, long-game manipulation
- Calculation > emotion
Psychopathy
- Low fear, strong thrill-seeking
- Poor emotional processing of guilt
Narcissism
- Need to be admired
- Reacts aggressively to criticism
- Uses people as extensions of self
🔸 Overlap Zone
Where the four intersect:
- Coldness and indifference to harm
- Entitlement to control others
- Ability to justify cruelty
- Manipulation without guilt
This is the area where the most harmful, destabilising personalities lie.
