Psychopathic Emotional Paradox: Real vs. Fake
It's said that psychopaths do not feel emotions, they can only imitate them. A popular way of putting this is to say they cannot feel the music of emotions, but can only learn the words. This aspect of psychopathy may account for, or be tied closely to, their lack of empathy, or lack of conscience. The psychopaths display of emotions is thought to be just that, a display, an act, used to manipulate others and take advantage of the fact that others do feel true emotions, and can be influenced by them.
There is undoubtedly some truth to this, but how then does one account for the brutal and raw emotions, obviously real, which are apparent in the way Arias killed Travis? Importantly, this emotion, as real as it may have been, was not followed by any sense of guilt, remorse, or responsibility.
Never the less, it is an apparent paradox, and I think attempting to resolve it may give a deeper insight into the psychopathic mind.
I think the key to this paradox is the very key to the psychopathic mind. They undoubtedly have real emotions, but they are emotions completely divorced from the social context in which emotions are traditionally believed to exist, and are thought to depend upon.
The psychopathic mind is similar in structure and function to a normal mind, the key difference is that it exists in a profound isolation, one that disallows any real connection, any empathy. It is locked completely within itself. Any social interaction is then necessarily superficial, and eventually, perhaps even naturally, becomes manipulative.
Conscience develops in a normal mind through identification, when the developing mind sees itself more and more reflected in others. This process is missing in a psychopathic mind.
Well they enjoy/feel something*. Manipulating humans, taking advantage of emotions, they have triggers like all humans (if something environmentally hurts their projected 'god-like' image - insecurity from birth much?), but it's their nature to prey upon whom they have sized up as weaker. JA enjoyed toying with Travis, as each day went on. Whether or not that was subconscious at first, she recognized she enjoyed hurting him by the time she was taking a knife to his/Lisa's tires and ringing the doorbell. I presume she lead herself up to it, she grew more comfortable violating his personal boundaries in other ways (and the cyclical breaking and entering at night - perhaps she was really sleeping over those nights in anticipation of any of TA's possible female overnight guests?).
The 'emotion,' is really a release of adrenaline/stress, containing their 'personalities' must be awfully 'difficult' - a triggering event must very much lead to a full episode of psychosis. Are those emotions? Or psychosis? JA developed her mind into quite a pathological one, the need to eliminate a 'threat' to her so-called desire for motherhood and a marriage partner and/or to eliminate the man who was her self-made cause of mental instability. I mean she is improperly wired.. I presume if they have no empathy for others, they have none for themselves - it's a constant 'poor me' complex. And a lack of coping mechanisms. There is a disconnect, for sure. But at some stage, the difference between a psychopathic mind that kills and one that does not - are choices. Her diary, "I try to be a good person every day." Sounds like she's quite aware of her demons - she made a choice to reject the idea that TA wasn't 'her's' to damage (I don't think she truly loved him, she didn't have feelings - she had urges - strong ones - but she didn't truly appreciate Travis as anything but her's and enjoyed hurting more than sex or 'loving' him).
They say these psychopaths are narcissists anyway, taking issue to authoritative types. Narcissists 'feel' for themselves... Motivation for those feelings are based on a need to satisfy overall sense of superiority, only. JA's maternal drive, desire for a partner, psychopaths do feel, yet only when exposed to stimuli.
In other words, she grew up with married parents, community of individuals around her/society that tells her making babies and getting married are the things 'to do,' whether to fit in or she wanted to dispel any inferiority stemming from any probable peer group/adolescent antagonization as many psychopaths face an 'awkward adolescence' for 'not fitting in.' She really only faces a rather 'temporary' or fleeting desire for those things - the rest of her is not wired that way. Stimuli, hormones, IMO, not independent enough to be called genuine emotions.
I'm sure it crossed her mind to showcase her 'possessions' to the likes of Deanna or Lisa one day. "Look, Travis and I are Mr. and Mrs., and we're on cloud 9 because the cherry on top is our baby."
These are just categories for someone like her to check mark, a shopping list. Nothing more. Her 'emotions' end at the check mark. She'll soon end up mentally sabotaging any descendant's destruction, honestly.