What emotions can psychopaths feel? I've heard lots of different things; what's really the case?

The easiest way to help anyone understand what emotions a psychopath feels, is to think in terms of a profoundly self-entitled, sophisticated, socially-astute, politically-minded, master emotional manipulator. The psychological terms can blur what has been understood for centuries. There are certain select individuals who are masters at working things in their favor, and will stop at nothing to ensure they get what they want. The more profound they are, it becomes the thrill of the hunt, the enjoyment of watching others squirm, perfecting the slight-of-hand, and watching the look of pain and sadness in the victim’s eyes, more than actually winning.

Having said that, the psychopath actually feels a wide range of feelings, all of which emanate from his/her being self-absorbed. They will demonstrate a wide range of emotions, just as with a two-year old. However, the two primary emotions he will never genuinely feel are guilt and empathy, as he/she has over-ridden their conscience for so long and to such an extent that they no longer have the capacity to feel truly sorry for their actions, or how those actions have negatively impacted others. Thus, they never feel genuine remorse, as would a normal person.

The key in trying to wrap your mind around someone like this is to picture someone who actually has reached a point where they actually are glad to not have the pesky pangs of guilt to deal with, and the issues of regret that accompany those feelings. And, they not only have become perfectly self-absorbed, but they derive the deepest sense of enjoyment and satisfaction at knowing they have inflicted pain or distress upon someone who has either trusted them or is vulnerable. For them, their carefully concealed inner darkness is most energized, and they are the most energetic, playful, enthusiastic, satisfied, and content when they have been able to manipulate another person, seen a look of distress on the other person’s face, and conquered, stolen or destroyed something of irreplaceable value… simply because they were better at “playing the game.”

The psychopath has morphed into the ultimate predator, the master of disguises, and the perfect machine by impression management, strategic calculations, and emotional manipulation, whether in politics, business, or relationships. They have no interest in bothersome little issues like guilt, remorse, and making amends, as they are all about self-promotion, self-aggrandizement, winning, manipulating, and enjoying the sense that they were able to have the last word, the last say, and the last laugh. Their souls have become inverted to a point where the most thrilling feelings are derived from: (1) knowing they have actually manipulated a trusting person, (2) manipulating another other person into a subservient position, (3) creating an emotional stranglehold over a decent person via power & control, (4) having emotionally robbed or defrauded an unsuspecting person of inner peace, (5) having stolen dignity from good people, and (6) actually generated profound and lasting pain within those who would have the temerity to try to stand up to them, to set limits on them, and to thwart their plans at continued domination. To be denied such self-entitled pleasures cause them the to experience the greatest anxiety, the most profound rage, the greatest degree of depression, and the deepest regret.