How can we spot a psychopath?
The psychopath can do a lot of harm to people he deals with, but what sets him apart is that he is not aware of the harm he causes. He is also unable to love and to feel guilty…
Do they have no empathy?
…But this is also why they are very good manipulators of other people’s feelings. He is incapable of appreciating the pain he inflicts on others. He is aware of what he does, but not of the consequences of his actions on others. Therefore, it is a serious personality disorder, but difficult to perceive in others.
Because?
Because the psychopath is very skilled at manipulating others and this includes the systems and their controls: psychiatrists, psychologists and the entire health, judicial and prison system.
And doesn’t that make them easy to spot?
On the contrary, psychopathy is often confused with other insanities. The psychopath is not insane: he is aware of what he does, but not of the evil he does. And it’s not always violent.
Doesn’t he usually end up committing crimes?
This is the big question in legal psychology: whether or not psychopaths are responsible for their actions, and I would say that unlike those who suffer from a psychotic episode or a serious mental disorder, such as schizophrenia, psychopaths are responsible of their acts.
But do they distinguish right from wrong? What is legal and what is illegal?
In the US, the legal system thinks so: that they are criminally responsible; but it is also true that some of my mental health expert colleagues believe that they are not.
How many psychopaths are there?
Its prevalence? Well, in society as a whole we think they are 1%; but among the incarcerated population the percentage rises to 20%, and also among those who quickly climb positions in a company the percentage increases…
As to?
Some estimates speak of 10%, but obviously in the long term this percentage decreases because they end up being detected and stopped in their career…
As executives?
And especially sales executives. For some reason they tend to be good sellers…
Teach us to distinguish them.
To distinguish a psychopath, look at their interpersonal, affective characteristics and, above all, their sociopathies…
Can you be more specific?
The psychopath tends to be charming, manipulative, deceitful and arrogant… And beware: psychopaths are egotistical, but they know how to pretend to forget themselves in favor of their victims when it suits them to use them. They are very seductive…
Does that make them more dangerous?
…And that’s why it can be difficult to identify them.
What should we observe to detect them quickly?
Their emotional responses.
For example?
For a normal person, an emotion usually lasts for a while and if it is intense, even longer. The psychopath, on the other hand, usually feels less and for a shorter time any emotion…
Well, I focus on this and I already detect it.
…Unless the observed psychopath is aware of his observation and feigns emotions like ours: when we are sad we seek the understanding of others; if we’re happy, we want to share it, and if we need help, we look for it… They don’t.
Are they self sufficient?
They just don’t feel the same as other humans or in the same way.
Do they have no emotions?
They have superficial, quick, changeable emotions… In psychopathic prisoners it is difficult to detect sincere regret: they are incapable. And they compulsively seek ever stronger and faster emotions.
Are they smart?
Like everyone else: some are very intelligent and some are less so.
Do they inherit or contract their psychopathy? Is the psychopath born or made?
We believe that 50% of their traits are inherited as a predisposition, but there are 50% supervening causes such as trauma, abuse or neglect. And especially if they suffer this pain when they are babies or very young.
Are there really 10% of senior executives with psychopathic traits?
It’s an estimate: the truth is, I personally don’t think psychopathy is an advantage in any job. And in the long run, psychopaths with power tend to spot themselves.
How can we protect ourselves from it?
They have a special ability to locate their victims by the way they walk.
Can a psychopath be cured?
Difficult, because they are not aware of their psychopathy, but in Australia there are teams obtaining good results, especially in children with psychopathic traits.
