The long road back to self. An exploration of the lived experience of a survivor’s journey of recovery, after being in a relationship with a partner who displays psychopathic traits

The consequences of being in a relationship with an unconscienced person/partner who displays psychopathic traits (PDPT) are severe. Many psychopathic traits are shared with other DSM-5 Cluster B personality traits such as superficial charm, manipulation, lying and deceit. This study suggests that it is the unique combination of an absence of conscience, pre-meditated harm imposed for self-gain, and the ability to convincingly emulate the full range of emotions, which includes unconditional love and care through intimacy, that sets this pathology apart. As such, a particular psychotherapeutic focus is required to understand the complex clinical presentation and symptoms of its intimate partner victims in order to support directed recovery. This new field of psychotherapy is in its infancy and, to date, despite a growing corpus of anecdotal literature, written by recovering victims, no formal qualitative research has focused on the lived experience of the victims of this abuse and their journey towards recovery.

Once the pathology of a person displaying psychopathic traits (PDPT) was formally scientifically evidenced, this study conducted an in-depth exploration of the journey of recovery of eight purposively chosen participants who had been out of their relationship with a PDPT for a minimum of one year and who were at the end stage of recovery. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the method with which to conduct the research, in-depth analysis revealed three final experiential themes; 1) There are phases of recovery, 2) Society re-abuses, and 3) Recovery begins with knowledge. The findings identified relational dynamics that are unique to this particular pathology, which result in atypical trauma presentations that are therapeutically missed or misunderstood, and which worsen until informed support is effected. This research has revealed essential knowledge with which to add to the first and currently, only formal psychotherapeutic training model which is to identify and support the recovery of victims of relational pathological abuse.