Wow. Just wow.

First, I am glad you survived your encounter with the psychopaths. I have encountered one through a friend of mine, though to be fair, she may have been a sociopath or even an extreme narcissist with sociopathic tendencies. I didn't get enough observation time, BUT, the observations of her behavior I was able to make fit the characteropathies mentioned. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing, in terms of the "subtle" dynamics playing out, yet I was the only one in a group of 5 (including the characteropath) who "saw" this. Perhaps it was because I had a working theoretical framework regarding psychopathy.

Second, you write beautifully. By that I mean the words mostly "disappeared". You have the gift of wordcraft. :)

Third, and incidentally, I recently wrote about value systems, though admittedly in a different context. I had an inner chuckle at the 'coincidence' upon your mention of value systems :)

Thank you for sharing your experience(s). This will help to inform working hypotheses on the truth of things. :)

--- homalinadir

(Edit for clarity)