@TiffaniNWarren
Aphantasia and Detached structure, Antisocial phase
https://x.com/TiffaniNWarren/status/1596581873949765632
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- Tiffani: Interesting you should mention sociopathy - in our model (my husband & me) we posit that there are several variants of detached, one of which is labeled “antisocial”. We think almost everyone diagnosed with ASPD would fall into this category, but most people in the category wouldn’t be diagnosed (would seem “mostly normal”, though some might get an Asperger’s/autism diagnosis or something similar). Happy to share more or answer questions; it’s something I have a lot of information about but don’t get the chance to discuss often!
- Spencer: i consider myself aphantasic with autistic traits, but i’m curious to learn more about your model. could you expand more about the different variants of “detached” people? how would you further identify someone of the antisocial type
- Tiffani: Sure, happy to! Each structure (detached, psychotic, etc.) has four main “phases”: Preliminal, Liminal, Postliminal, and Crisis. The Liminal and Postliminal phases each have what we call a masculine and feminine variant (not strongly linked to the actual gender of the person).
- Tiffani: So six variants in all for each structure. In the Detached structure: Preliminal: Autistic Liminal: Histrionic (f.) or Schizoid (m.) Postliminal: Borderline (f.) or Antisocial (m.) Crisis: Derealized
- I feel it’s important to note that the structures correspond to developmental stages that we all go through, starting from birth. We haven’t figured out the exact mechanism but if you think of this developmental stage as conferring a particular “strategy” or approach to the…
- …world, the structure that a person adopts is the one that was most advantageous for their survival and mental/emotional/physical wellbeing. They will still go through the later developmental stages, but having committed to an earlier structure, which will affect how they…
- …think and act during those stages. People who adopt a detached structure have usually had the least support out of all of us. It indicates that they were not able to form a secure attachment with their primary caregiver (this is separate from whether they loved each other)…
- This attachment phase occurs during approximately the first three months of life, so that is when it is determined of a person will become detached in structure or whether they will progress onto the mirror stage (~3-18 mo.) without a primary structure yet.
- It’s important to note that people can and do continue to progress in structure throughout their lives, but it’s usually slower and can be more difficult once the “critical period” has ended. But it can be done, structure is not necessarily permanent.
- Okay so about antisocial specifically, I find that I’m quickest and most accurate at identifying structure visually, but the visual cues I use are numerous, subtle, and hard to put in words lol. Detached ppl in general tend to avoid eye contact, more so the earlier in structure.
- In general antisocial people don’t participate much in small talk, social niceties, they’ll do the bare minimum necessary, but they’re aware that they’re supposed to and will make an effort if it’s important. They’re very unlikely to make a serious sacrifice for the sake of…
- …another person, even someone they really love, although they are willing to make sacrifices for a principle/goal, which can include e.g. “protecting my family”. They tend not to think highly of most people and view them w/ suspicion, presuming they’re self-interested.
- Postliminal detached ppl in general (so this includes borderline) have progressed to the point that they understand that other people’s behavior is mutable and, to some degree, that they can affect it (this is not really true of the earlier phases - they may know it explicitly…
- …or logically, but they don’t really trust it or act as though it’s true). Borderline and Antisocial take two different approaches to “manipulating” the behavior and actions of others. Note that every human has chosen one of these two approaches at some point in their lives..
- …around two months old, in learning how to get what they want from their mother and other caregivers. The traces of which route we took still remain, even if we settle on a later structure. The Borderline approach is to try to fit in, go along with what’s expected, and be…
- …charming enough that people will want to provide them with their needs and desires. The Antisocial approach is to look out for one’s own interests first, demanding that they be catered to before letting others “off the hook” so to speak. As adults this often results in a…
- …preference for self-reliance. At the risk of oversimplifying, the Borderline person has mastered the art of social engagement but is lacking conscious control over their morals and principles, whereas the Antisocial person is the inverse. By the Derealized phase…
- …a person has acquired both capabilities. I really hope this helps, it’s very fun for me to talk about so if you have any more questions feel free to ask or get in touch!
- Oh I thought I should give you some real-life examples of antisocial people:
- a lot of CEOs, e.g. Elon Musk
- Joe Biden
- Chris Watts
- My sweet grandma who fed & loved me & left me in her will but did not like hugs or prolonged visits (we had a 2-night limit lol)