An authentic person:

• Activates oxytocin pathways → trust, calm, bonding.
• Interactions feel safe, consistent, and grounding.
• Stories, behaviors, and emotions align naturally.

A pretender:

• Manipulates dopamine → charm, excitement.
• Spikes cortisol → confusion, stress.
• Starts off well and feels “right,” but things don’t add up and stories don’t align.
• Emotional highs can feel addictive, but clarity and consistency are missing.

Key takeaway:
If connection feels exciting but leaves your nervous system tense, stories inconsistent, or intuition unsettled → trust the nervous system, not the charm.