The problem with her analysis is that it is based on her deepest fears.
Lemme put it this way. There are about three or four conditions that have "lack of empathy" as a key component.
- Borderline Personality Disorder (These types of people are the ones that we see getting into abusive and unstable relationships)
- Sociopathy/Psychopathy (A high-functioning sociopath might go into business or politics, where a straight up psychopath are likely to lie and cheat and kill)
- Autism/Asperger's (largely because they are out of touch with normal feelings)
- Schizophrenia (largely because they are out of touch)
- Schizoid (they have a mask-like personality, where they cannot typically show their feelings. )
I think I answered my own question. Maytag is testing herself. She knows she isn't depressed enough, even in despair, to kill herself. But the deeper despair, below the one consciously tested by Bern's rejection, is "am I the sort of person who would hurt my loved ones? Is this why Bern hates me?"
I think this is actually key. Realizing that what
Crazy Psycho Lady said is definitely
not true, means she isn't the person she fears. Which is the real fear (this has both a conscious and subconscious fear, the latter gives bite to the former, making it impossible to pass).
She is probably an Aspie or a Schizoid, not a Sociopath or Borderline.
