For those who may not know, psychological incapacity is one of the grounds to nullify a marriage pursuant to Article 36 of the Family Code.

I have reviewed the various psychological reports prepared by our psychiatrist, DR. RODNEY FP DALISAY, MD, Diplomate, Philippine Board of Psychiatry, for our cleints in annulment cases. In the course of my review, I have noticed that most of the common psychological incapacity disorders for male respondents is Narcissistic Personality Disorder. A person with this personality disorder usually manifests the following symptoms:

1. Grandiose sense of self-importance: a) Hangs out with his friends more often than with his wife and family.

2. Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love

3. Requires excessive admiration                  

4. Sense of entitlement: a) Spends most of his time hanging out with his‘barkada’; b) Let others solve his problems as if it is their obligation; c)  Hooked on illicit drugs; and d) Sold anything of value to finance his vices.

4. Interpersonally exploitative: a) Shows kindness on the outside but has an ulterior motive; b) Blackmails his wife with empty promises to amend his old ways to get what he wants.

5. Lacks empathy

6. Often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him

7. Arrogance, haughty behavior: a)  Can be nice to people especially when he needs something; b)  Irritable, argumentative and short-tempered when what he wants are not met; c)  Shuns away from problems and let others solve them for him; and d) Forced his wife to have sexual intercourse with him despite her refusal

8. Belief that he is “special” and unique: a) Usually a black sheep in the family; b) Admitted to his wife that he cannot anymore change his ways.