People like to use the term psychopath when someone is acting out, but they don’t understand what it really means. In reality, it’s much more serious than someone being aggressive. To find out more, here are 10 surprising signs someone you know could be a psychopath.
1. They’re shallow.
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Psychopaths have no issues being shallow and vain—they don’t have a voice of reason that’s worried about how they’ll be perceived, like most people do. This is caused by a total “lack of empathy” which means there is no inner guidance telling them to second guess or reflect on what’s appropriate, according to a VeryWell Mind study. They seem not to care what you think, nor are they aware you could have an opinion. It’s their world, you’re just living in it.
2. They lack remorse.
You’ve never seen them express a real, vulnerable emotion—let alone cry. It makes the people around them uncomfortable, so if this weirds you out, you’re not alone. When someone has emotional walls so high that you couldn’t possibly get through them, it’s a sign that they might be a psychopath.
3. They were neglected in childhood.
An APA study highlighted the fact that having a complex childhood, filled with abandonment, neglect, or abuse, can be a huge contributing factor in someone developing psychopathic tendencies. Genetic, hereditary, and environmental factors can also cause Psychopathic traits. So if someone’s childhood seemed traumatic, it’s a strong sign that could code their “potentially problematic” behaviors as being “psychopathic”.
4. They can’t regulate their emotions and are impulsive.
A key concept in the world of Psychopathy is the ‘triarchic model‘ which suggests there are three ( dikey responses (disinhibition, meanness, and boldness) that underpin this behavior. Disinhibition specifically is an obvious trait to look out for when identifying psychopaths, so take note if someone is bewilderingly inconsistent and impulsive. Your inconsistent work colleague might not just be careless, you may be working with a psychopath.
5. They find immoral ways of getting what they want.
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One common sign of a person exhibiting psychopathic tendencies is that they don’t rely on social or moral processes to govern how they get their way. They never got the appropriate developmental support from their parents and, as a result, they were never taught to problem-solve. They always resort to immoral, quick fixes, such as cheating or deceiving through manipulation. You judge them for it but they literally don’t know any better.
6. They leave a trail of broken hearts in their wake.
Because they lack the desire for emotional connections that most other people do, psychopathic people are terrible in relationships. Patrick’s theory states that psychopathic people demonstrate “exploitative boldness” in order to get what they want. That means they aren’t afraid to leave a trail of broken hearts because they don’t have any compassion. They just operate on an “as-needed” basis.
7. They are cold, manipulative, and immature.
For anyone trying to get into a deeper relationship with someone like this, a warning: You will be met with several emotional blocks, for they are neither emotionally available nor mature. A study by VeryWell Mind revealed that the “parent-child” relationship—or lack thereof—was a key determining factor in how a child develops. So if they weren’t taught about morality and compassion when they were younger, they grow into cold, immature, and manipulative people. It’s almost impossible to unlearn these key developmental behaviors.
8. They can switch from tantrum to criminal in a second.
One of the most common traits of these people is that they never learned how to handle conflict or frustration like an adult. What’s scarier is the correlation (identified by Nathaniel Anderson) between psychopathic tendencies and “criminal behavior.” While these people seem like childish toddlers one minute, they shift into criminal activity the next to express their unprocessed feelings. This could take the form of shoplifting and other petty crimes—or much more dangerous activities.
9. They have an undercurrent of violence.
This is very worrying, but it’s a key factor in determining whether someone is just weird, or if they’re a psychopath. A VeryWell Mind study noted key historical figures who are considered psychopaths often engaged in violence, too. Examples of this include Ted Bundy and Jack the Ripper. The study reflected that not all psychopaths will have violent tendencies, but cautioned that if you ever feel unsafe: Get out.
10. They show contempt for other people.
The superiority complex is at work again. Psychopaths often put themselves on a pedestal—seeing themselves as superior and others as less than the dirt on the bottom of their shoe. The kind of people who show indiscriminate contempt for the people in their lives are likely to be psychopaths and should be avoided at all costs.
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