15 Clues Someone Might Actually Be A Psychopath Or Has

Psychopathic Tendencies

It's not uncommon to call someone "psycho," but just like many
other mental health terms that get thrown around, the term is
often misused. However, there are people who are actually
psychopaths, and if you're concerned someone you know might
be one, you can look out for certain clues that someone has
psychopathic tendencies. Although sometimes used
interchangeably with sociopath, a psychopath differs because
they don't have a conscience, which can make them hurtful to
others and sometimes dangerous — although unlike what the
movies would make you believe, not all are violent or murderers.

The term "psychopath" is actually not used in the

official Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders  handbook. Instead, the DSM — which is used to
categorize and diagnose mental illness — uses the blanket
term "Antisocial Personality Disorder."

DSM Handbook, $82, Amazon

"The definition and usage of the term psychopath has morphed

over time," says clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly over
email. "The term psychopath was first utilized around 1900 to
describe persons who exhibited little or no sense of ethics or
concern for the rights of others. The diagnosis of Antisocial
Personality Disorder is used to describe individuals who
'habitually violate the rights of others without remorse.'
If you know someone who continues to hurt others and you're
suspicious of their character, you might want to watch out for
these 15 clues someone is actually a psychopath or has
psychopathic tendencies. Not everyone who does one of these
things is a psychopath, but if someone fits each description, you
might want to be wary.

1. They Lack Empathy Altogether

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Lack of empathy is the most common feature of psychopaths.

"They are people who act recklessly or without sympathy
towards others, which often results in chaotic or superficial
relationships," says clinical psychologist Devon MacDermott,
Ph.D. over email. A study published in the journal Frontiers in
Human Neuroscience looked at the brain activity in psychopathic
people, and it found that psychopaths do not experience
empathy when imagining the pain of others. Even worse, they
possibly take pleasure in it.
2. They're Constantly Aggressive

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"Given the lack of emotional awareness and impulsive

tendencies, the individual can be volatile," says Manly. "As a
result, anger may manifest through irritability and aggressive
fights, especially when the individual feels frustrated. As a result,
the individual may tend to erupt into a fight or angry outburst
when a desired outcome is not achieved quickly."

3. They're Incredibly Impulsive

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"Frequently, they can be impulsive and reckless, jumping into

dangerous situations while ignoring the consequences,"
says psychiatrist Dr. Susan Edelman over email. This isn't the
kind of impulsivity that is adventurous or spontaneous.
Instead, it's considered "dysfunctional impulsivity," which is
characterized by erratic disorderliness, distraction, and
inaccurate decision making, according to the American
Psychological Association.
4. They Seek Out Thrills

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"People with psychopathic tendencies tend to be adrenaline

junkies and will seek stimulation in dangerous ways including
risky sexual behavior, activities that could cause bodily harm, or
illegal activities," says MacDermott. They are prone to boredom,
so they are always looking for stimulation.

5. They Have Manipulative Tendencies

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A psychopath will display patterns of deceiving and manipulating

others for profit or even personal amusement. "People with this
severe type of personality disorder lack a sense of inner right
and wrong," says Edelman. "They don't seem to care about
another person’s feelings, so it doesn't bother them to
manipulate or deceive others for their own gain. They might trick
you with charm, intimidation, or violence."
6. They Commit Criminal Acts

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"Psychopaths tend to be habitual criminals, or they engage in

non-criminal behaviors that are generally regarded as unethical,
irresponsible, immoral, or in violation of social expectations and
norms," says Manly. According to a study published in the
journal Legal and Criminological Psychology, psychopaths make
up as much as 25 percent of male offenders in federal
correctional settings, even though they only account for 1
percent of the general population.

Legal and Criminological Psychology, $160, Amazon

7. They Turn On The Charm

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Don't be fooled by someone's apparent sweetness. "People with

psychopathic tendencies can appear gregarious, funny, and
charming, at first," says MacDermott. "However, they do not
have the genuine warmth and caring to support long-term
relationships. They tend to be charming to get what they want
from people, not because they actually care about investing in
others."
8. They Have Shallow Emotions

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Deeper emotions such as kindness, empathy, compassion,

sorrow, remorse shame, and guilt are foreign to the individual
who is considered a psychopath, according to Manly. "Shallow,
more easily accessed feelings, such as anger, rage, and
frustration are often much more accessible to the individual,"
she says. "The person with ADP may, at times, be able to feign
a deeper emotion, but this would be done only on a temporary,
superficial level in order to achieve the desired end result."

9. They Demonstrate Insincere Speech

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A person with Antisocial Personality Disorder has a hidden

agenda. "Although comments may sound kind and benevolent,
the underlying intention is personal gain," says Manly. "For
example, a comment such as, 'You are the most beautiful
woman!' would be intended to flatter to achieve a personal goal
(sex, theft, etc.) rather than being a sincere, heartfelt comment
with no secondary gain involved."
10. They Avoid Responsibility And Blame Others

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Rather than taking responsibility for their actions, psychopaths

evade accountability by casting blame on others. "For example,
rather than saying, 'I’m sorry that I took your wallet, that was
simply wrong of me,' the comment might be, 'I don’t know how
your wallet ended up in my closet. You are so forgetful — you
must have put it there,'" says Manly.

11. They Have An Inflated Sense of Self-Worth

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Individuals who possess a psychopathic personality usually are

narcissistic, arrogant, and dominating. "This population tends to
have an exaggerated sense of self-worth and self-importance,"
says Marc Romano, Psy.D over email. Because of this, they
also show a sense of entitlement.
12. They're Pathological Liars

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As part of their manipulative personalities, psychopaths tend to

be pathological liars and and masters of deception. "Lying is key
to their existence and when caught in a lie, the psychopath will
double down," says Romano.

13. They Exhibit Promiscuous Sexual Behavior

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"Impulsive behavior and sexual promiscuity are common among

this population," says Romano. Because their personality traits
prevent them from having healthy relationships, their sex life is
often not healthy either. Research shows that psychopaths tend
to have many short-term relationships, but they exhibit
promiscuous sexual behavior.
14. They Don't Have Goals

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People who fall into the category of psychopath often have an

inability to plan for the future, according to Psychology
Today. They fail to set realistic, long-term life goals, and they
are carefree about not having any of these plans.

15. They Live A "Parasitic Lifestyle"

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Psychopaths take advantage of others to get what they need out

of them. "This can also be referred to as a 'parasitic lifestyle' in
which people will persuade or force others to meet their every
need without offering anything in return," says MacDermott. "It's
an exaggerated version of the person who sleeps on your couch
and eats all your food, but never offers to contribute anything to
the household and doesn't search for a job."

SOURCE: https://www.bustle.com/p/15-clues-someone-might-
actually-be-a-psychopath-has-psychopathic-tendencies-43831