(Noun) A prop is an object used by a psychopath to validate their false reality. It serves to convince their victims (as well as themselves) that their lies are the truth.

Props are the evidence they present to corroborate their lies or fantasies.  Props can be people, objects or even a title or a position in the community. Psychopaths will surround themselves with the people and things that confirm the identity they wish to present.

Psychopaths are disconnected from reality as normal people experience it.   Because psychopaths lack the ability to derive meaning from their experiences, symbols substitute for felt meaning. Props are the symbols.  The props serve as an anchor to reality for them — they CREATE their reality. To a psychopath a facade of the truth feels as real as the truth does.  They can feel no difference.

The props also create meaning for the psychopath’s victims because of the symbolism which they hold for the victim, derived from their past emotional experiences.  The psychopath derives his reality from his victims’ beliefs.  The more other people believe his lies, the more “real” they become for him.  These people are called the “true believers” who support the fantasy and make it “real”.

A psychopath is only superficially attached to his props. When the con is up, he has no problem tearing them down and tossing them in the garbage.  He will move on to the next fantasy with new props.

Often times, they will take props which they consider trophies with them to help anchor their next story, or to keep the memory of their victims close by and to enhance their ability to incorporate the previous victims’ skins into the their new role.  Often times the psychopaths uses these trophies to “become” their last victim, wearing our skin as a camouflage as they move into a new con, searching for more victims.