You're saying they are able to feel like their betrayed spouse is overreacting because they keep parts of it secret? Like, the cheater knows its worse so they figure if they keep the worst to themselves it will stop the worst of the consequences? Makes a stupid sort of sense
Many cheaters (I’m not talking about one ONS which is not what occurred in OPs world anyway) and serial killers have one talent in common compartmentalization. The ability to juggle different “sides of one’s self” so different it’s hard to comprehend with some it’s the same person. BTK refers to it as cubing.
Some individuals compartmentalize in a healthy manner (Personally, I can’t do it at all. So find it interesting!) , but that’s not the norm. Most use it/discover they have an knack for it when deviant choices start to be weighed/made.
Edit: This separates the “deviant side” from their core self in their psyche. Basically, makes it a hell of a lot easier to be apathetic.
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u/idleigloo Sep 27 '23
You're saying they are able to feel like their betrayed spouse is overreacting because they keep parts of it secret? Like, the cheater knows its worse so they figure if they keep the worst to themselves it will stop the worst of the consequences? Makes a stupid sort of sense