Would you be friends with a psychopath? The answer is probably no, right? When we think of the term “psychopath” we often think of a twisted, psycho-killer like the infamous Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer. Although these two people were psychopaths, many psychopaths don’t act the same or fit the criteria of what you may think of them to be. In fact, they are much less rare than you probably think. 1 in 100 people are psychopaths, and 4 in 100 businessmen/women and CEOs are psychopaths. This being said, you most likely have met multiple in your lifetime. Here’s what you need to know about psychopathy and what to look for in people that possess psychopathic traits.
Superficial Charm
Though being charming is not a negative or psychopathic trait, having superficial charm alone in order to deceive someone, is a red flag for psychopathic behavior. Many infamous serial killers and psychopaths were experts in charming people into feeling close to them. This is how a psychopath makes you vulnerable. They gain power in having dominance over others through cunning charm.
Manipulation
Psychopathy is based heavily on one’s inner motivations for their actions. For psychopaths, manipulating someone with the expectation of gaining mind control over them is a big warning sign. Simply manipulating someone in small situations is a beginning red flag. Psychopaths will manipulate others for pleasure and to gain a sense of power.
Pathological Lying
Pathological liars are easy to spot soon after meeting them. When everything a person says turns into a lie, or there is little truth found in the stories they tell, they are probably a pathological liar. These people will lie in order to deceive others. Their lives become a series of fabricated stories that even they start to believe themselves. Psychopaths reveal this behavior because of their lack of connection to their emotions. When everything is fabricated, it is easier to disconnect from real feelings and emotions.
Grandiose Sense of Self-Worth
Psychopaths often think very highly of themselves to an extreme level. Only thinking of yourself in situations and showing a lack of concern for others can be a sign of psychopathic behavior. The key word in this situation is grandiose. Self-worth is important, but on an extreme level, it can be dangerous to others.
Lack of Remorse
A prominent sign that all psychopaths possess is a lack of remorse and empathy. Psychopaths have a disconnect from their emotions. The brain disconnects the association between emotions and what’s right or wrong. This being said, classic psychopathic behavior demonstrates a lack of emotions because they do not associate wrong actions with the feeling of guilt. This is why it is so easy for psychopaths to harm or deceive others. This is an important trait to look for when you’re suspicious of psychopathic behavior in others.
Psychopaths have a disconnect from their emotions.
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Behavioral Issues
Issues with behavior, such as trouble controlling aggression or impulsive behavior, can also be signs of psychopathy. Impulsiveness and aggression can be caused by many things, but if it is particularly harmful to oneself or others, it can be considered psychopathic behavior. Behavioral signs are one of the first signs that psychopaths show, and this can even start at childhood. This could mean showing signs of no attachment, or signs of desires to inflict pain or fear upon others. Peculiar behaviors that are unnatural for the child’s age can become a concern.
Though psychopaths are notorious for murderous tendencies, this is not always the case in some people. Psychopathy is a combination of simple, unusual characteristics that make up a complex mind, and many individuals show signs of this disorder.
I am going to reiterate my question from the beginning and ask you, would you be friends with a psychopath? Regardless of your answer, you possibly already are. Though you may not always see it on the surface, a psychopath may be closer to you than you think.
References
Ronson, J. (n.d.). Strange answers to the psychopath test . Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/jon_ronson_strange_answers_to_the_psychopath_t…