How to Identify a Psychopath: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

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How to Identify a Psychopath: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
How to Identify a Psychopath: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

Video: How to Identify a Psychopath: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

Video: How to Identify a Psychopath: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
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Psychopathy is a personality construct used by mental health professionals to describe seductive, manipulative, emotionally cruel, and potentially criminal individuals. Based on how often the term is mentioned in the media, we might think that psychopaths are everywhere, but they only represent one percent of the population. However, these individuals have a great talent for hiding their destructive traits, as many of them look normal and friendly. However, by evaluating some personality patterns, noting how affectionate the person is, and paying attention to their relationships, you can learn to identify a psychopath in your social circles.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Looking at Key Personality Traits

Identify Psychopath Step 1
Identify Psychopath Step 1

Step 1. Watch out for an insincere charm

Just as an actor plays many roles, psychopaths use what experts call the "mask of normality" to maintain a pleasant, friendly appearance. They are known as the soul of the party and tend to please everyone, but they are just winning the affections of others so they can manipulate them later.

Psychopaths display an air of self-confidence that naturally attracts other people - this individual is likely to have a steady job and is relatively successful. They can also have a spouse and children, as they are very good at playing the "good citizen" role

Identify Psychopath Step 2
Identify Psychopath Step 2

Step 2. Be aware of the mania for greatness

Often these people believe they are smarter or more powerful than they really are. A psychopath likes to surround himself with successful and powerful individuals because he feels it increases his social status, and he may also believe that he deserves special treatment.

This exaggerated arrogance can end up breaking the mask of normality, as psychopaths will go over anyone who has no value or status to offer

Identify Psychopath Step 3
Identify Psychopath Step 3

Step 3. Note traits of impulsiveness and irresponsibility

Both characteristics are evidence of psychopathy, and these individuals tend to believe that there is nothing wrong with the way they see the world. They are notorious for refusing to accept responsibility for their own decisions, or for the consequences of those decisions, and they also refuse to associate results of inappropriate behavior with their own “constantly irresponsible” personality.” For example: “I don't want to work” or “I'm going to be absent. meeting and going out for a beer are common ideas a psychopath might put into practice. They are the opposite of a loyal and trustworthy person.

They are self-centered and act on impulse according to their own emotional state. Psychopaths do what they want, when they want. This can result in betrayals, lies and robberies "just because I feel like it." They can also be sexually promiscuous, having a variety of relationships and extramarital affairs. Also, a psychopath can quit his job all of a sudden - because he obviously didn't measure up

Identify Psychopath Step 4
Identify Psychopath Step 4

Step 4. Be aware of the tendency to break rules

If an acquaintance sticks to the rules to the letter, chances are you have nothing to worry about. Psychopaths hate authority figures and often believe they are above the law, which may be why about 25% of men incarcerated in the United States have been diagnosed with psychopathy disorder.

Still, many others are able to avoid jail and continue to break the law without showing any kind of remorse

Identify Psychopath Step 5
Identify Psychopath Step 5

Step 5. Find out if he has a history of juvenile delinquency

Experts often find commonalities in the childhood of adults that fit the criteria for psychopathy. They often exhibit delinquent behaviors in their youth, including aggressiveness towards other people. Furthermore, they do not react to punishment and emotional suffering in the way other young people do.

Find out if the person you suspect had troubled youth - this could indicate the presence of psychopathic tendencies into adulthood

Part 2 of 3: Observing Emotional Demonstrations

Identify Psychopath Step 6
Identify Psychopath Step 6

Step 1. Assess that individual's moral code or personal ethics

If he seems to have a conscience, he is unlikely to be a psychopath, as people diagnosed with psychopathy have no moral compass whatsoever - they will do whatever it takes to move forward in life, and they don't mind hitting someone during the time. process.

For example, a psychopath is unlikely to follow a "code of ethics" as other people do. He has no problem flirting with his friend's girlfriend, or competing with a close friend for a promotion at work

Identify Psychopath Step 7
Identify Psychopath Step 7

Step 2. Analyze the person's emotional reaction

Psychopaths have superficial emotional reactions and do not normally react to death, accidents, or any other event responsible for extremely negative reactions in normal individuals.

Although autistics may also seem indifferent to certain events, there is a clear difference between them and psychopaths: even if they show indifference initially, autistics may later be eroded by anguish, or they will dive into research to find ways to help. Psychopaths simply don't have any deep emotions to hide

Identify Psychopath Step 8
Identify Psychopath Step 8

Step 3. Look for any signs of guilt

Individuals with psychopathy do not show any kind of guilt or remorse, and insensitivity is one of the characteristics most used to describe them. However, they can pretend to feel guilty in order to manipulate another person and keep them from getting angry.

  • For example, they can pretend they are suffocated by remorse after harming someone, reversing roles and causing the victim to comfort them.
  • Interestingly, psychopaths do not show a total lack of empathy - although they cannot feel empathy spontaneously, they can feel it in a calculated way (to win over others, for example).
Identify Psychopath Step 9
Identify Psychopath Step 9

Step 4. Notice if he refuses to accept responsibility

A psychopath will never admit that he is wrong or take responsibility for his own mistakes and decisions. These people may admit a mistake when pressured, but they will manipulate others to avoid the consequences.

Identify Psychopath Step 10
Identify Psychopath Step 10

Step 5. Watch for displays of self-pity

Psychopaths are experts at manipulating the emotions and insecurities of others to be seen as victims - this helps them to make others let down their guard and be more vulnerable to future abuse. Be aware of that person's true nature if victimism always accompanies their evil and unacceptable attitudes.

Part 3 of 3: Observing the way it relates

Identify Psychopath Step 11
Identify Psychopath Step 11

Step 1. Pay attention to the habit of adding fuel to the fire

Psychopaths are easily bored, so they love to create drama and chaos to make things more interesting. These people can cause fights and then leave as victims, causing terrible consequences in the lives of others and watching everything from afar, innocently.

If you know a psychopath, you are likely to question your own sanity after interacting with that person. For example, he could say that a coworker has been talking bad about you behind your back, and that would prompt him to confront that coworker. However, after an ugly argument, you would eventually realize that the other person was also instigated by the psychopath

Identify Psychopath Step 12
Identify Psychopath Step 12

Step 2. Look for signs of manipulation

Everyone has a goal of getting what they want, but psychopaths are extremely smart in this area. They are able to convince someone to do something they would not normally do, and can use a variety of pretexts, blame games, and coercive methods to achieve this goal.

For example, let's say you are a top executive in a company. The psychopath "befriends" you and instigates your weaknesses. One fine day, it reaches your ears that a scandal is affecting the work environment: sensitive information you shared with the psychopath reached the media and the director asked for your immediate resignation. Guess who's in line to take the job?

Identify Psychopath Step 13
Identify Psychopath Step 13

Step 3. Assess his relationships

Some psychopaths have multiple short-lived marriages - they blame marital problems and former partners, and will never insinuate that they are also responsible for the divorce.

The relationship starts with these people idealizing partners. Over time, they begin to devalue them and eventually leave their spouse for someone new and more interesting. They never form a real bond with their partners, so they don't have to work very hard to leave a relationship or marriage

Identify Psychopath Step 14
Identify Psychopath Step 14

Step 4. Determine if he is a pathological liar

A psychopath will tell all sorts of lies - from small untruths to outsmart you to grandiose plots created for the sole purpose of deceiving someone. Even though the truth is harmless, psychopaths still prefer lying and, surprisingly, they don't feel ashamed about it. On the contrary, they pride themselves on their own lies. When you think you've caught this person, he or she simply manipulates the facts to give the impression that you're telling the truth.

In addition, psychopaths will never be embarrassed when confronted with a lie - they will remain calm and relaxed, and will be able to deny guilt for anything, freeing themselves from the consequences

Identify Psychopath Step 15
Identify Psychopath Step 15

Step 5. Watch out for dishonest and awkward apologies

When other people put a psychopath against the wall and expect him to show remorse, he can play the part to live up to expectations. However, due to emotional indifference, psychopaths are unable to offer convincing excuses.

  • You may notice contradictions, such as the phrase “Really, I never meant to hurt you” being said with a small smile on her face and a false tone of voice.
  • Also, the psychopath's rage can be aroused if you can't get over it easily. He might even say something like "You're so sensitive" or "I thought we'd leave this behind!"

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