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Emotion Quote by Kevin Dutton

“Psychopaths, rather than having an impairment in recognizing the emotions of others, indeed have a talent for it. And that the problem lies not in emotional recognition per se, but in the dissociation between its sensory and affective components: in the disconnect between knowing what an emotion…” quote by Kevin Dutton
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““Psychopaths, rather than having an impairment in recognizing the emotions of others, indeed have a talent for it. And that the problem lies not in emotional recognition per se, but in the dissociation between its sensory and affective components: in the disconnect between knowing what an emotion is and feeling what it's like.””

Kevin Dutton

About This Quote

Source Book: The Science of Psychopaths, 2012

Psychopaths can recognize emotions but lack the feeling component, leading to manipulation without empathy.

In simple terms: They know emotions but don’t feel them.

Key Takeaway

Beware of skillful emotional mimicry.

Themes

psychopathy empathy manipulation cognition

Mood

cautious inquisitive

Type

analytical warning

When to use this quote

  • interview
  • leadership
  • law enforcement
  • personal relationships

Key Concepts

affective neuroscience social intelligence ethical behavior

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can you trust someone who appears emotionally aware?
  • How does this dissociation affect moral decisions?
A Different Perspective

Their ability to feign empathy can be deceptive.

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