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- Superficial Charm & Charisma. Psychopaths can be very charming, charismatic, and persuasive people. This can be especially so with female psychopaths, who are more social and emotional than their male counterparts.
- Unnecessary Cruelty or a Mean Streak. Once the superficial charm and charisma wear off, a psychopath will often demonstrate moments of cruelty or meanness.
- Lies, Exaggerations, & Dishonesty. Many psychopaths are prone to pathological lying. They may exaggerate the truth to get their way, inflate their ego, or get others to think, feel, or do what they want them to.
- Lack of Accountability & Playing the Blame Game. Psychopaths commit some of the cruelest, most violent, and most heinous acts in society. However, they rarely take responsibility for their actions.
- They're charming—superficially. A common psychopath characteristic is charm. And don't assume that charm goes hand-in-hand with confidence or arrogance.
- They try to manufacture negative reactions. Another sign of a psychopath is the propensity to create chaos. Psychopaths intentionally cause chaos, then sit back, play innocent, and blame you for reacting.
- You catch them in lies—repeatedly, and with no clear motive. Lying is a common psychopath characteristic. Psychopaths lie constantly, even when the truth would be a better story—even when there's absolutely no reason to lie.
- They seem incapable of guilt or shame. Normal people feel intense remorse when they do things that psychopaths do (lie, cheat, steal, and manipulate).
- Overview
- Psychopathy
- Signs of psychopathy
- Psychopathic diagnosis
- Psychopath vs. sociopath
- Causes of psychopathy
- Can you treat psychopathy?
- The takeaway
Psychopathy, while not a clinical diagnosis, often refers to someone with antisocial personality disorder.
Few psychology terms stir up confusion like “psychopath.” Even though it’s commonly (though incorrectly) used to describe someone who has a mental health condition, “psychopath” is not an official diagnosis. Instead, it’s an informal term often used for a condition called antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) does not list psychopathy as an official clinical diagnosis.
Since the term “psychopath” is not an official diagnosis, experts refer to the signs described under ASPD. According to Masand, some of the more common signs of ASPD can include:
•behavior that conflicts with social norms
•disregarding or violating the rights of others
•inability to distinguish between right and wrong
•difficulty with showing remorse or empathy
•tendency to lie often
Since psychopathy is not an official mental health condition, the condition experts diagnose is ASPD. This is one of four cluster B personality disorders outlined by the DSM-5, and the other three are:
•borderline personality disorder (BPD)
•histrionic personality disorder (HPD)
•narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)
Before explaining the criteria used to diagnose ASPD, it’s important to mention that diagnosing and treating ASPD presents some unique challenges.
According to Masand, ASPD can be difficult to treat because the person who needs help often doesn’t believe there is a problem with their behavior. As a result, they rarely seek treatment.
“Psychopath” and “sociopath” are often used interchangeably to informally describe someone with ASPD. Since sociopath is also not an official diagnosis, it typically joins psychopath under the umbrella diagnosis of ASPD. There is no clinical difference between the two terms.
Both psychopathy and sociopathy are other terms or ways to describe ASPD. The behaviors that are often seen in both tend to fall under the criteria of ASPD.
While the exact cause of ASPD is not known, researchers believe that its development may involve a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
More research needs to be done to understand the genetic aspects of ASPD. Previous research estimates that between 38 and 69 percent of cases may be hereditary.
Additionally, some of the environmental triggers of ASPD may include childhood neglect and other adverse experiences, such as childhood abuse.
ASPD may also be seen in people who previously received a diagnosis of CD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Like the diagnostic process, treating someone with traits that fall under the ASPD diagnosis can be difficult. Typically, a doctor may recommend a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication.
While no evidence supports that any medication or form of psychotherapy can cure ASPD, these methods may still help manage some of the symptoms, like impulsivity and aggression, and improve quality of life.
According to a 2015 review, early interventions in adolescents and teens who received a diagnosis of CD may also help prevent ASPD.
The researchers in the 2015 review also found that for some people with ASPD, the condition may improve or remit as they get older — with improvement occurring at a median age of 35. They also found that people with stronger social ties and support, such as a spouse or family, were more likely to experience remission.
Psychotherapy may be helpful in understanding how the disorder can impact your life and relationships. A mental health professional will work to develop strategies that help decrease the severity of the symptoms.
If medication is part of the treatment plan, a doctor might prescribe medications that treat related mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or symptoms of aggression.
The word “psychopath” is often informally used to describe someone with ASPD.
ASPD is notthe same as being “antisocial.” It primarily involves behavior that conflicts with social norms, as well as a general lack of disregard for others.
Despite the complexities surrounding ASPD, a mental health professional may be able to identify this condition and offer treatment that can help.
Read this article in Spanish.
Signs of a Psychopath: With Nameeta Sahni, Charles A. Morgan III, Chriscelyn Tussey, Chitra Raghavan. For every psychopath there are signs. Would you see them? Revisiting some of the most dangerous killers in modern history to see which psychopathic traits they exhibited. Featuring real archive footage.
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- 2020-08-23
- Crime
- 30
4 days ago · Learn psychopath characteristics, the history of the term, and how to recognize if someone might be a psychopath. We also cover the differences between sociopath vs. psychopath, available treatments, and things you can do to cope with this type of person.
- 2 min
Oct 7, 2021 · Psychopath is an outdated term for someone with antisocial personality disorder. Think you know someone who fits the diagnosis? Read about 5 signs to look out for here.
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Psychopathy is a condition characterized by the absence of empathy and the blunting of other affective states. Callousness, detachment, and a lack of empathy enable psychopaths to be highly ...
