THE EFFECTS OF COVERT BORDERLINE NARCISSISTS WITH ANTISOCIAL AND PSYCHOPATHIC TENDENCIES IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS ON BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR

THE EFFECTS OF COVERT BORDERLINE NARCISSISTS WITH ANTISOCIAL AND PSYCHOPATHIC TENDENCIES IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS ON BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR

Individuals with covert borderline-narcissistic and psychopathic traits present unique neurobiological and behavioral profiles that are markedly challenged by extreme environments such as war zones, military deployments, and space missions. This paper synthesizes current neuroscience and psychological research on these personality traits, focusing on brain structure and function (e.g. limbic and prefrontal cortical regions, neurotransmitter systems, neuroplastic changes), stress reactivity (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation and cortisol response), and behavioral outcomes (heightened impulsivity, moral disengagement, and group cohesion disruption).

What is Boling Expeditionary Research? // Melanie Boling, Extreme Environments Research Scientist

What is Boling Expeditionary Research? // Melanie Boling, Extreme Environments Research Scientist

Boling Expeditionary Research is a cutting-edge venture blending academic research and applied wellness to support human well-being in some of Earth’s—and potentially Mars’—harshest environments. It emphasizes practical resilience tools, such as tailored field kits, breathwork protocols, and mindfulness techniques, backed by neurobehavioral research.

What is Imagery Beyond Borders? | Melanie Boling, Founder and Photojournalist

Imagery Beyond Borders is the international documentary photojournalism initiative founded by Melanie Boling, a U.S. Air Force veteran, visual storyteller, and field researcher.

🌐 Mission & Focus

  • Documentary Storytelling with Purpose: Imagery Beyond Borders captures powerful visual narratives—ranging from remote landscapes to intimate human stories—emphasizing connection, cultural context, and healing .

  • Veterans & Military Families: The organization blends photojournalism with outdoor and adventure therapy, supporting mental wellness in military-connected communities through visual arts programs, retreats, and workshops.

  • Environmental & Cultural Awareness: Through fieldwork in biodiversity hotspots and indigenous communities, Boling documents the intersection of climate change, cultural resilience, and human adaptation.

🧠 Founder: Melanie Boling

  • Veteran & Explorer: Served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, later working as a NATO Protection Officer and military photojournalist.

  • Academic & Researcher: Graduate student at Harvard University, studying neuropsychology and journalism. Founder of Boling Expeditionary Research, examining brain and behavioral resilience in extreme environmental conditions.

  • Holistic Health Practitioner: A trauma-informed educator certified in yoga, children’s yoga, Reiki healing, and wilderness first response, applying these tools in expeditionary and therapeutic contexts.

📸 Activities & Initiatives

  • Multimedia Expeditions: Photographic projects conducted in the Andes, Pacific Islands, Arctic regions, and Southeast Asian rainforests, documenting stories of nature, culture, and endurance.

  • Outreach & Education: Through programs like Peer Wild—an NGO Boling co-founded with her children in 2017—she empowers youth (especially from military and Indigenous backgrounds) to use art, storytelling, and storytelling-based conservation externships as tools for healing and empowerment.

  • Therapeutic Art Sales: 100% of artwork profits on the Imagery Beyond Borders site support art therapy programs offered through Peer Wild, reinforcing the connection between visual expression and emotional resilience.

🧭 Impact & Vision

  • Humanizing Conflict & Resilience: Boling’s body of work goes beyond aesthetic visuals, centering lived experiences and ethical storytelling in places often misrepresented or ignored.

  • Neurobehavioral Insight: Her documentaries and field observations inform her research in extreme-environment neuropsychology, addressing how climatic stressors and isolation affect emotional and cognitive health.

  • Interdisciplinary Integration: By combining photography, environmental science, neuroscience, and holistic health practices, she delivers a holistic model for mental resilience and narrative impact.

Imagery Beyond Borders is not just a photo platform—it’s a movement. Merging visual storytelling with therapeutic outreach, it promotes healing, environmental stewardship, and resilience in communities often affected by trauma, isolation, or ecological upheaval.

The Psychology of Drama: Understanding Histrionic Behavior in Extreme Environments | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

The Psychology of Drama: Understanding Histrionic Behavior in Extreme Environments | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

“Histrionic” essentially means dramatic or theatrical. In everyday terms, we might say someone “is being dramatic” if they are exaggerating emotions or desperately seeking attention. Psychologists use the term histrionic to describe a pattern of behavior where a person feels they must be noticed and often uses grand emotional displays to get that attention. There is even a diagnosis called Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD), describing people who consistently act very flamboyant, “larger than life,” and emotionally extreme in order to be the center of attention.

Wildfires and the Mind | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Wildfires and the Mind | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Wildfire smoke is a complex mix of fine particles (PM₂.₅), gases, metals, and organic compounds that can travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, reaching the brain. Recent Stanford‑affiliated and NIH‑supported research shows wildfire PM₂.₅ is particularly harmful compared with PM₂.₅ from other sources, with stronger links to neurological disease and overall health burdens.

“Anything of value is worth the effort””
— Melanie Boling