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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This article was very well written..I've always known that I'm a psychopath,sociopath...I have no empathy for others,and I've spent time thinking about suicide ...I don't wish for a better life for my fellow man,instead I wish for man to suffer the way I have all my life.. I have nothing but disgust and contempt for the world and my fellow man.i dislike the world very much..I love animals and hate people 've suffered all my life with mental health,being diagnosed with bipolar disorder (The most severe form of the disease).,anxiety and panic attacks, ptsd from growing up in a house with fighting and violence from my parents...also,I was mercilessly picked on and bullied the whole time I was in school..in my 55 years on this earth,there isn't much to write home about..I get tired of life a lot.ive been married 3 times, each one lasting about 4 or4 1/2 years,tops.its been quite a life..I often wish for all of mankind to go away and leave me alone on this earth..I can't STAND Humanity.this planet is just not a good safe place..I DO NOT believe in "GOD"..I fare much better as an atheist..the bible is nothing but a big book of lies.
I think I'm dealing with a 20 year on and off again ex boyfriend now friend who fits to a tee. Don't know what to do, he's realized that I'm having a tuff time in my marriage, and Bam it peaks his interest. I'm not dumb I know why, because he wants to try to manipulate me when I'm at a low point, not because he wants to be there for me. It's for his own sick entertainment. A huge story over the last 20 years. I dated him when I was 17, he had just got out of jail and was 21. I'm 37 and he's 41 now. We broke up 19 years ago but we remained friend because I had lost a child to this man. He would continuely get thrown in jail and as soon as he got out he would be at my door, or calling my parents to see where I was at..... This has gone on for 20 years, and in the last year he has been awfully interested in me. I'm worried because I do care and don't want to end up a victim, or have him try to destroy all that I have done, and made for my family and myself. This isn't the whole story. I would have to write a book. This Man made me into somebody I never wanted to be at 17, he was a wolf in sheep's clothing and he knew what he was doing and took pleasure out of my heartbreak and misery. He was my first love.....now thinking about him makes me sick. I don't know what to do, but his sight is on me again.
I think the real predators are those who prey on anyone. This artical is too superficially written by some feminazi. Despite the fact that I feel a bit offended in the dissuasion that this article did to me, the lengths that people would go in identifying psychopathy due to its destructive nature, has a lot to do with who gets to behave those ways. I think that environment and life's circumstances can make anyone either a psychopath or not. However, its also about whether you choose to engage in such behaviors or even commit to the lethargic environment you feel don't belong in. You have to make the right choices in life. I get that sometimes life is tough but by being truly free is when you inspire those who might be on a lesser stage in life to actually liven up and be real. Once you are true to yourself and believe in yourself is when the opportunities appear and only then will you truly be able to make choices, and, if done right, overcome all the hardships and even exceed them if you have a good idea about life. Live and let live. Inspire and be inspired. That's the whole truth of the matter. Peace out fellas.
Psychopaths don’t go around telling people they’re psychopaths or post on article comment sections or forums to explain that they themselves are psychopaths and wish to explain all about their behavioral traits lmao.
Just because you watched a movie or documentary that romanticized psychopathy and having been so inspired by it doesn’t not make you a psychopath, it just means you’re suffering severe delusions and should be hospitalized in a mental ward for wanting to be so “different,”. So many people these days want to declare themselves as sociopaths or psychopaths because of the fictional propaganda they’re putting out these days lol
It’s not even being an edgelord it honestly just means you’re all meaningless and want to find ways of making yourself seem special when you’re truly not. Hate running into self proclaimed special snowflakes who want to attach tags on themselves.
Those of you claiming to be a psychopath are full of crap... People with disorders and mental instabilities aren’t typically as ‘open to sharing’ the diagnosis of mental illness of themselves... The article here is great, and includes a lot of information. For example, not attempting to diagnose someone (or yourself), but allow the professionals do so....
While reading the comments, I realized, half of you pathetic individuals are nothing more than hypochondriacs. You read, see or hear something and automatically assume you have that same diagnosis. How about you try this, get a hobby... don’t allow your emotions control your mind, or go see a damn doctor and get locked in a padded room and then you really will become an antisocial, empty feeling “psychotic individual”.