This is interesting comment as I wondered initially if they both just be malignant narcissists but your point on covert is well taken and I absolutely see it.
What I do think FD and MT share in common is absence of empathy as I think in all the interviews of FD (posted again last week) and MT in the LE interviews shown at trial was either a hollow form of performative empathy or absence of empathy for JF or the Dulos children. I do think alot about why MT's parents sent her away as a teenager for therapy and it leads me to think that they possibly knew about MT possible issues whatever they might from a young age.
I do think FD made an effort in his interviews (NBC one in particular imo) to 'appear' to be concerned and empathetic about his children but to me it rang false as there was an absence of emotion in his face. MT I believe never even bothered to try to demonstrate any empathy and in fact seemed more visually bothered about LE questioning about JF and the Dulos children or even her daughter and I still keep thinking about this issue as I cannot imagine doing what they did and then shortly thereafter ready to put it in the rear view mirror and move on. But, I do think in the Starbucks video we saw MT leg shaking a bit but IDK if this was simply adrenaline overload, substance withdrawal or nervous exhaustion.
In my reading on narcissism recently I've seen various research stats to say that as much as 5% (article below from Psychology Today quotes 1% so I guess there isn't a consensus amongst researchers on the topic) of the population could have Narcissistic Personality Disorder but a larger percentage could possess strong narcissistic tendencies and the entire issue seems to exist along a continuum too. I haven't seen any stats on percentage estimates of Narcs committing serious crimes such as murder but I keep looking to see if there is research on that topic too.
The label is everywhere, but it's widely misused to describe anyone who offends us. The truth? A little narcissism is good for you. Even for those high in the trait, it's not all about vanity—new research may be uncovering a connection to depression.
www.psychologytoday.com
MOO