The term ‘psychopath’ was first coined in the late 1800s, and comes from the Greek psykhe and pathos, which mean ‘sick mind’ or ‘suffering soul.’
In those days, psychopathy was considered to be a sort of moral insanity, but of course, nowadays, we know better.
However, are we right to think of psychopaths as lone killers, devoid of humanity, preying on the vulnerable, who find it hard to mix with society? The truth is that you could have one as a friend, boss or even a partner. Psychopaths live among us and manage to blend into society, but you can spot them if you look hard enough.
First, you have to change the way you think about people and how we operate as human beings. It is normal to believe that everyone else on the planet is like us, in that, they think like us, feel the same emotions like us, and understand pain and loss as we do. It is important to understand that for a few percentages of the population, this is not true. These are people that do not have empathy or remorse, cannot feel emotion, whose only goal is to take advantage of others.
These are the psychopaths, and as with any mental disorder, there are characteristics that define it. The most common way of detecting whether a person is a psychopath is by using The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), which is a diagnostic tool, set to determine if someone is on the psychopathy spectrum.
To score the test, participants read a series of statements that describe certain traits and rate them accordingly.
0 = does not apply, 1 = applies somewhat, 2 = definitely applies.
The highest score anyone can achieve is 40. In the US, if someone rates over 30 in the test, they are considered to be psychopathic, but in the UK, it is only over 25.
The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) categorizes these traits into four factors: interpersonal, emotional, lifestyle and antisocial.
The most common trait of a psychopath is their pathological lying. This is so that they can cover up their behaviour and get their own way.
Psychopaths use glibness and superficial charm to get you hooked in the first place. Once they have you under their spell, you are more likely to be willing to help them.
You’ll find many psychopaths in positions of great power and authority, this is due to their enormous sense of self-worth.
It is their manipulative behaviour that probably got them into these positions in the first place.
The most emotional characteristic is a complete lack of remorse or guilt. This could explain why psychopathic killers get away with their crimes as they simply do not care.
Some psychopaths may feel shallow emotions, in that they might feel sorry that their victim is dead because it no longer holds any pleasure for them.
More often a psychopath will be callous and show a distinct lack of empathy towards their victims. Failure to accept responsibility for their own acts is another common trait for a psychopath.
You can also see psychopathic traits in the lifestyles of psychopaths. A common trait is a parasitic way they will feed off other people to sustain their lifestyle.
Psychopaths also have a need for stimulation which might lead them to behave with impulsivity and acting in an irresponsible way. Typically, a psychopath will have no realistic, long-term goals, instead preferring to live in the moment.
Despite many psychopaths holding down impressive jobs, they do not have good social skills. They find it hard to control their behaviour in public which could lead to a revoking of their parole.
Psychopaths are known to be particularly versatile in many areas of different crimes. This makes it difficult to catch them.
Even if you have the Hare Psychopathy Checklist in your arsenal, diagnosing someone in your life who you think is a psychopath is a very serious step. It has implications either way, whether you are right or wrong. It is better to leave any diagnosing to the professionals who are trained to spot the subtle signs of psychopathy, something that non-professionals might easily miss.
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I appreciate all the comments, especially the ones from the self-described "psychopaths", although I doubt their sincerity. (Note - I did not say they were lying, I just said I doubted their sincerity.) The reason for the doubt is that I'm raising a psychopath, and I am well aware that the more serious the psychopathy, the more elaborate the lies. I have been extremely close to my 15 year old son, even calling him my best friend. Over the last year and one half, ALL of the traits of psychopathy have emerged full-fledged in him. The lack of remorse is the most startling, even chilling aspect. He truly gets a perverse thrill in suckering in family and friends to feel pity for him and profess their love for him at the EXACT SAME TIME that he is stealing from them, threatening another child, or committing some other felony that all of his counselors and family have worked hard to explain are ill-advised. At this point, we can be pretty sure that if he comes to a counselling session and announces that he will no longer lie, or threaten smaller children, or steal from family and friends, he is most definitely doing one or more of those things in a much more severe fashion that very same day. That's his pattern. He waits for the support from everyone saying how proud they are of his decision, and then IMMEDIATELY, and I mean immediately, elevates his actions in an aggressive and sometimes violent way. This clearly gives him a thrill to see the subsequent horror and disbelief in the faces of the same caregivers. I dare say it borders on evil. Indeed, like most psychopaths, after initially vociferously denying his actions, and even breaking down crying and asking how we could doubt his words if we truly love him and believe in him, he eventually admits the whole thing after we stop even trying to believe his words and then states that he has no idea why he does it, only that it gives him pleasure. Admitting how much pleasure he gets from the deception and the anguish it causes his caregivers is at this point the only honest thing we hear from him. Coming from a household of two very involved parents (we are the PTA parents who were at every school event and who provided full physical, financial, and economic support for every sport/project/hobby that any of kids have) I can't really put a social cause for what appears to be a conscious decision to go down this path. The only advice I can give to the family and "loved" ones and associates of psychopaths is to not be a victim. The only thing my son seems to respect and understand at this point is that I unequivocally let him know in no uncertain terms that I will protect the rest of the family, our friends, and even other people's children again him and that I stand ready at the slightest provocation to turn him into juvenile services for any significant infraction. I also let him know that should I have t do that, he will stay there with no effort from me or anyone else to bail him out, speak on his behalf, or even provide funding for legal counsel. And this was the child with whom I had spent so much time, and had so many adventures with as he grew up that his sisters became jealous of our relationship. So my advice is to understand that regardless of what you do, people will choose either a path of darkness or light when growing up. Realize the same, realize that their decision is theirs (not yours) and you are neither responsible for it nor able to change it, and act accordingly.
Many hugs for this. You did your best apparently. Its good now you know where you stand. Myself I. One from a family of psychopaths. I have also set up a similar high boundary of self protection. Any family member who misbehaves towards me will have exactly the same consequences as would a stranger. All those previledges of calling me on phone have been gone for decades. There is a sister now I cannot remember how she looked. Their children and grandchildren I have no idea their names and whether they are alive or dead.
Was a tough decision.
I did not create their psychopathy. I think it was generational but what does that matter to me?
Just to be clear I did not even attend my horrible mother's funeral. Its ten years and I have never cried or anything. I think she was a complete stranger that had stumbled into my life. Same can be said if my eatraged family.
Sounds like your son needs a good ol fashion ass whooping to beat the devil out of him!
I was married to a high functioning sociopath for 20 years. It was 191/2 years of a roller coaster of emotional abuse and thinking there must be something wrong with me? After all everyone else thought he was this perfect man! He teaches karate not only in the U.S. but in other countries, so he has so very many people that think he is this wonderful almost perfect man. For years who could I even tell? Who would believe me over him? The things he did to me made me want to die, I couldn’t understand how someone so great could treat me so badly, I had to be a horrible human being. If you are wondering about the first 6 months, that’s when they sweep you off your feet. They are your perfect person, the one you always wanted, the one you will spend 191/2 years trying to get back.
The part I do not believe is that psychopaths are 4 percent. How so you then explain everyone in my family of 8 and their children and grandchildren are psychos. Ivtried day and good to look for the good but there was simply nothing!
My baby mother is a sychopth. Has taken me to court for full custody when he was diagnosed with cancer. Accused me of trying to steal him feeding pump which I paid half for, because I was flushing water through the tubs. Has charged me with assault only to move down the street from me and drop my son off to me to watch while she disappeared for weeks doing crack. While I was charged and to have no contact. Did not call the cops because I was afraid I’d get in trouble. even informed CAS. My son is now 11 years old.
Doesn’t know how to read or do math. He has been neglected. She countinues to lie to everyone about what she does. Has moved to 10 different family members in the past 11 years who she has convinced.
She is a really good peoples person. Would go as far to say she has a winning personality. Lies to her work and my sons school when she has slipped up. Has held a knife to her ex thought and when a lady in the hall came out said” call the cops he is trying to hurt me” and laughs obout the situation. People with suppressed frontal lobes have no emoations. Also using crack suppresses it. Extentent long term use makes this behaviour seem normal to them. Not knowing how they have changed over the years.
Stay away from crack. It will turn you into a sychopath.
Anybody here that believes in "God" is not a true sociopath. We our god in our eyes. Sure those of us high functioning enough will relate a bs religious phrases when the mask calls for it. Stop masquerading as people you're not, or not could care less
#regretmylossesbutnevermychoices