The news is rift about psychopaths:
so what exactly is a psychopath: the
terms sociopath or psychopath often bring to your mind, images of sadistically violent individuals
such as the serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy.
But the defining characteristic
traits of sociopaths actually cover a much broader spectrum of individuals than
most of us would ever imagine. The sociopath is that truly self-absorbed
individual with no conscience or feeling for others and for whom social rules have
no meaning.
I believe that most all of us know or have come in contact with
sociopathic individuals without even knowing it.
I want to educate and warn you the reader of some of the more common
signs that the person in question -- usually a male -- is someone you should
detach from...and quickly!
The sooner you can detect a troublesome person, the
better off you will be. One quick check is your placement of him on the asshole
scale. Now remember, not every jerk or idiot is necessarily psychotic!
However,
the psychopath is an extreme form of the "asshole" personality type,
they've just learned to conceal it most of the time and appear to be
"nice, charming" people.
They are developmentally stuck in their
early years, still fighting the battles of authority, and the parental control
over them.
So Just What is A Psychopath?
Psychopaths cannot be understood in terms of antisocial rearing or
development. They are simply morally depraved individuals who represent the
"monsters" in our society.
They are unstoppable and untreatable
predators whose violence is planned, purposeful and emotionless. The violence
continues until it reaches a plateau at age 50 or so, and then tapers off.
Their emotionlessness reflects a detached, fearless, and possibly dissociated state,
revealing a low-state autonomic nervous system and lack of anxiety. It's
difficult to say what motivates them - control and dominance possibly - since
their life history will usually show no long-standing bonds with others or much
rhyme to their reason (other than the planning of violence).
They tend to
operate with a grandiose demeanor, an attitude of entitlement, an insatiable
appetite, and a tendency toward sadism. Fearlessness is probably the
prototypical (core) characteristic (the low-fear hypothesis).
It's helpful to
think of them as high-speed vehicles with ineffective brakes. Certain organic
(brain) disorders and hormonal imbalances mimic the state of mind of a
psychopath.
There are four (4) different sub-types of psychopaths. The oldest
distinction was made by Cleckley back in 1941 between primary and secondary.
PRIMARY PSYCHOPATHS do not respond to punishment, apprehension, stress,
or disapproval. They seem to be able to inhibit their antisocial impulses most
of the time, not because of conscience, but because it suits their purpose at
the time.
Words do not seem to have the same meaning for them as they do for
us. In fact, it's unclear if they even grasp the meaning of their own words, a
condition that Cleckley called "semantic aphasia." They don't follow
any life plan, and it seems as if they are incapable of experiencing any
genuine emotion.
SECONDARY PSYCHOPATHS are risk-takers, but are also more likely to be
stress-reactive, worriers, and guilt-prone. They expose themselves to more
stress than the average person, but they are as vulnerable to stress as the
average person. (This suggests that they are not "fully
psychopathic." This may be due to distinctive genetic variations.)
They are daring, adventurous, unconventional
people who began playing by their own rules early in life.
They are strongly
driven by a desire to escape or avoid pain, but are unable to resist
temptation. As their anxiety increases toward some forbidden object then so
does their attraction to it.
They live their lives by the lure of temptation.
Both primary and secondary psychopaths can be subdivided into:
DIS TEMPERED
PSYCHOPATHS are the kind that seems to fly into a rage or frenzy more easily
and more often than other sub types.
Their frenzy will sometimes resemble an epileptic fit.
They are also usually men with incredibly strong sex drives, capable of
astonishing feats of sexual energy, and seemingly obsessed by sexual urges
during a large part of their waking lives. Powerful cravings also seem to
characterize them, as in drug addiction, kleptomania, and pedophilia, any
illicit or illegal indulgence.
They like the endorphin "high" or
"rush" off of excitement and risk-taking. The serial-rapist-murderer
known as the Boston Strangler was such a psychopath.
CHARISMATIC PSYCHOPATHS are charming, attractive liars.
They are
usually gifted at some talent or another, and they use it to their advantage in
manipulating others.
They are usually fast-talkers, and possess an almost
demonic ability to persuade others out of everything they own, even their
lives. Leaders of religious sects or cults, for example, might be psychopaths
if they lead their followers to their deaths. This sub type often comes to
believe in their own fictions.
They think they are irresistible.
Sociopaths have always existed in varying form and to various degrees.
They have been known by various titles. They have been studied using various
techniques, and through the years their ailment has been blamed on various
causes. But one thing never varies: all sociopaths share three common characteristics.
They are all very egocentric individuals with no empathy for others, and they
are incapable of feeling remorse or guilt. While the psychopath has likes and dislikes and fondness for the pleasures
that human company can bring, analysis shows that he is completely egocentric,
valuing others only for their enhancement of his own pleasure or status. While
he gives no real love, he is quite capable of inspiring love of sometimes
fanatical degree in others. He is generally superficially charming and often
makes a striking impression as possessed of the noblest of human qualities. He
makes friends easily, and is very manipulative, using his ability with words to
talk his way out of trouble. Many psychopaths love to be admired and bask in
the adulation of others. With the lack of love, there is also a lack of
empathy.
The psychopath is unable to feel sorry for others in unfortunate
situations or put himself in another's place, whether or not they have been harmed
by him.
How
Psychopaths View the World
Not only do they covet possessions
and power, but they gain special pleasure in usurping and taking from others; what
they can plagiarize, swindle, and extort are fruits far sweeter than those they
can earn through honest labor. And once having drained what they can from one
source, they turn to another to exploit, bleed, and then cast aside; their
pleasure in the misfortune of others is unquenchable. People are used as a
means to an end; they are to be subordinated and demeaned so that the
antisocial can vindicate themselves... The causes of this sociopathic disorder
have been narrowed to several factors through research.
One of the primary
causes of sociopathic behavior is believed to be neurological abnormalities
mainly in the frontal lobe of the brain. This area is also related to fear
conditioning. The abnormal anatomy or chemical activity within this area of the
brain may be caused by abnormal growth, brain disease, or injury. This theory
has been supported by much research using positron emission tomography (PET)
which visually shows the metabolic activity of neurons within the brain.
The
amygdala, two small regions buried near the base of the brain, have long been
known to affect aggression, sexuality and recklessness. Recently, they have
also been shown to affect how people interpret the emotions of others. Subtle
damage to the amygdala may explain many of the characteristics of psychopaths
- including the difficulty of getting through to them emotionally. It may be
that they simply cannot "see" emotions in others.
The psychopath is a
master manipulator, who knows exactly what makes us tick and knows how to
manipulate and influence our feelings. They have the talent to spot "kind,
caring" women. Mimicry is often used to convince others that the
psychopath is a normal human being. He does this to create a false empathy with
his victim.
The psychopath will try to make you believe he has normal emotions
by spinning some sad tale or professing profound, moving experiences; the truth
is, most psychopaths go through life as in an incubator, touched by few and
having no real compassion for others; but they will lie to convince you that
they have normal emotions.
The pity factor is one reason why victims often fall
for these "poor" people. Lying is like breathing to the psychopath.
When caught in a lie and challenged, they make up new lies, and don't care if
they're found out.
"Lying, deceiving, and
manipulation are natural talents for psychopaths...When caught in a lie or
challenged with the truth, they are seldom perplexed or embarrassed -- they
simply change their stories or attempt to rework the facts so that they appear
to be consistent with the lie. The results are a series of contradictory
statements and a thoroughly confused listener."
Often, their behavior
serves to confuse and repress their victims, or to influence anyone who might
listen to the psychopath's side of the story. Manipulation is the key to their
conquests, and lying is one way they achieve this. One almost amusing example
of how psychopaths lie can be exemplified by a man whose footprint was
discovered at the scene of the crime.
"No, that's not my foot" he
said, even though everyone knew he was lying. This is how psychopaths operate.
They will deny reality until their victims have a nervous breakdown. Often, the
psychopath will turn on the victim and claim that the victim suffers from
"delusions" and is not mentally stable. The psychopath is primarily
distracted and impressed by his own grandiose self-representation, which often
leads to him unwittingly telling people things that lead to his detection.
They
often forget the lies they told and tell contradicting tales, which often makes
the listener wonder if either the psychopath is crazy, although in this case
the psychopath isn't really crazy -- he's just forgotten what lies he's told.
The
most amazing thing, however, is their selective memory. A psychopath might not
remember the promises he made to you yesterday, but he will remember something
from the past if it suits his purposes in some way. They often do this whenever
they're confronted or caught in a lie.
Most psychopaths are very arrogant and
cocky. However, when charming a potential victim, they say all the
"right" things and make you believe they are kind-hearted souls; not
always, but often enough. The truth is, psychopaths are not altruistic and do
not really care about friendships or ties. “
They are very talented at appearing
much more humble than the average person, but are hardly so." Some are
also able to feign concern about the lower classes and profess that they are on
the side of the underdog, the poor, and so forth.
A psychopath may claim, for
instance, that he dislikes rich people intensely, but at the same time, he will
inwardly yearn and envy what they have. He is like the narcissist, desiring to
reflect a false image of himself through his possessions. Among his possessions
are included human beings: girlfriends, wives, and children.
Some psychopaths can even be very fond of
animals (contrary to the common viewpoint), but still view them as objects in
relation to themselves. In general, most psychopaths will brag endlessly about
their exploits and "bad" things they've done (often called a warning
sign, which will ward off careful souls), but more often than not, the woman
who is fascinated by him will not listen to reason, even if she is warned by
others who know him about his past behaviors.
Why? Once again, because the psychopath makes
her feel “so special.”
Please
ladies, if you're stuck on any man who is like this, you must come to terms
with the fact that it is NOT his REAL personality. He is only playing a ROLE
for you. One of the most obvious signs of psychopathy is the way the individual
will brag about his experiences, no matter "how unsavory...his apparent
comfort with his deviant behavior, the ease with which he discuss(es) breaking
every rule, (is) consistent with ASP (psychopathy)."
The psychopath is
filled with greed inside, relating to the world through power, even though, on
the outside he can claim to be on the side of the disenfranchised or the
downtrodden. The psychopath can also often identify himself as a revolutionary.
On the flip side, the psychopath also often paints a picture of himself as the
downcast anti-hero and some like to see themselves as lone-wolves. He may even
claim to be sensitive and profound, but inside he is nothing but emptiness and
greed.
Whether or not the psychopath is aware of his behavior is something that
is often debated.
Psychopaths usually know exactly what they are doing,
although others suggest that psychopaths are "born, not made."
Psychopaths
often claim to settle for second best and then think they deserve better. This
may be manifested in the way they seek power -- either through money, manipulation
and/or treating people as objects. By enacting such behaviors, the psychopath
is also trying to "get back" at society and the world, in order to
gain retribution.
They will spend their entire lives doing this, whether they
are rich or poor, or whatever their social background may be, although studies
have shown that they often come from an impoverished or lower socioeconomic
background and/or social status.
Men were
"overwhelmingly white, blue collar, lower middle class, and married, and
most had not graduated from high school." Psychopaths can still exist in
any social class. Do not be misled. I also wanted to point out that I will be
using "he" and "him" for the term psychopath throughout
this article; let it not be forgotten, yes, female psychopaths exist as well.
The general estimate is 3% for men, and less than 1% in women..
What is very disturbing about psychopaths, besides their sense of special
entitlement, is the complete lack of empathy for normal people, for
"anti socials (psychopaths) seem to lack a conscience, feeling little or no
empathy for the people whose lives they touch...the antisocial effortlessly
resists all regulation, unable to see beyond his self-interest or to adopt
standards of right versus wrong."
Not all psychopaths are uneducated low-class
misfits. Some of them are quite handsome and have good careers, and use this
all the more to their benefit. Take a look at Ted Bundy; many people have claimed
he was the nicest person. His mother said he was the "best son any mother
could have." Bundy was also apparently quite good-looking, which made him
even more dangerous.
So not all psychopaths are derelict, low-class, high
school drop-outs, there are many who also work in professional occupations; the
fact remains that there are just more psychopaths who come from impoverished
backgrounds than not.
I cannot emphasize this enough: no matter how
much pity or compassion you may have for a psychopathic individual, don't try
"saving" them.
It will only hurt you in the end. "These people
just don't care whether what they do may ruin your life! And they can ruin your life!"
Now here is a list of symptoms of a psychopath,
and this list is ever growing:
1)
Considerable superficial charm and average or
above average intelligence.
2)
Absence of delusions and other signs of
irrational thinking
3)
Absence of anxiety or other "neurotic"
symptoms considerable poise, calmness, and verbal facility.
4)
Unreliability, disregard for obligations no
sense of responsibility, in matters of little and great import.
5)
Untruthfulness and insincerity
6)
Antisocial behavior which is inadequately
motivated and poorly planned, seeming to stem from an inexplicable
impulsiveness.
7)
Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior
8)
Poor judgment and failure to learn from
experience
9)
Pathological egocentricity.
10)
Total self-contentedness incapacity for real love
and attachment.
11)
General poverty to deep and lasting emotions.
12)
Lack of any true insight, inability to see
oneself as others does.
13)
Ingratitude for any special considerations, kindness,
and trust.
14)
Fantastic and objectionable behavior, after
drinking and sometimes even when not drinking--vulgarity, rudeness, quick mood
shifts, pranks.
15)
No history of genuine suicide attempts.
16)
An impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated sex
life.
17)
Failure to have a life plan and to live in any
ordered way, unless it be one promoting self-defeat.
More often than not, the typical psychopath will
seem particularly agreeable and make a distinctly positive impression when he
is first encountered. Alert and friendly in his attitude, he is easy to talk
with and seems to have a good many genuine interests.
There is nothing at all
odd or queer about him, and in every respect he tends to embody the concept of
a well-adjusted, happy person. Nor does he, on the other hand, seem to be
artificially exerting himself like one who is covering up or who wants to sell
you a bill of goods.
He would seldom be confused with the professional
backslapper or someone who is trying to ingratiate himself for a concealed
purpose. Signs of affectation or excessive affability are not characteristic.
He looks like the real thing.
Very often indications of good sense and sound
reasoning will emerge, and one is likely to feel soon after meeting him that
this normal and pleasant person is also one with -high abilities. Psychometric
tests also very frequently show him of superior intelligence.
More than the
average person, he is likely to seem free from social or emotional impediments,
from the minor distortions, peculiarities, and awkwardness’s so common even
among the successful. Such superficial characteristics are not universal in
this group but they are very common.
It must be
granted of course that the psychopath has some affect. Affect is, perhaps, a
component in the sum of life reactions even in the unicellular protoplasmic
entity. Certainly in all mammals it is obvious. The relatively petty states of
pleasure, vexation, and animosity experienced by the psychopath have been
mentioned.
The opinion here maintained is that he fails to know all those more
serious and deeply moving affective states which make up the tragedy and
triumph of ordinary life, of life at the level of important human experience.
Here is The Psychopaths Checklist, be more
aware of the person you are dealing with:
1). Glib
and Superficial Charm -- the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick,
and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy,
self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied.
They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in
talking, for example.
2). Grandiose
Self-Worth -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth,
self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people
who believe they are superior human beings.
3). Need
For Stim ululation And/or Prone To
Boredom -- an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation;
taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low
self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored
easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example,
or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.
4). Pathological
Lying -- can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd,
crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive,
deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.
5). Conning
And Manipulativeness -- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud
others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which
exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of
concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.
6). The
Absolute Lack Of Any Remorse Or Guilt -- a lack of feelings or concern for the
losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned,
dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated
by a disdain for one's victims.
7). Shallow
Affect -- emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings;
interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.
8). Callousness
And The Complete Lack Of Empathy -- a lack of feelings toward people in
general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.
9). Living
A Parasitic Lifestyle -- an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and
exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of
motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete
responsibilities.
10). Having
Poor Behavioral Controls -- expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience,
threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper;
acting hastily.
11). Exhibiting
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior -- a variety of brief, superficial relations,
numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the
maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to
sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing
sexual exploits or conquests.
12). Early
Behavioral Problems -- a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying,
theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting,
glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.
13). Lack
Of Realistic, Long-Term Goals -- an inability or persistent failure to develop
and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking
direction in life.
14). Impulsivity
-- the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or
planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of
deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash,
unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.
15). Irresponsibility
-- repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as
not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or
late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.
16). The
Utter Failure To Accept Responsibility For Own Actions -- a failure to accept
responsibility for one's actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence
of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an
effort to manipulate others through this denial.
17). Many Short-Term Marital Relationships -- a
lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent,
undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.
18). Juvenile Delinquency -- behavior problems
between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve
aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous,
ruthless tough-mindedness.
19). Revocation of Conditional Release -- a
revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations,
such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.
20). Criminal Veracity -- a diversity of types
of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted
for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.
As
always, stay safe !
bird
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