Can psychopaths live normal lives? |HUMAW BRAN! Psychopathic characteristics are not attractive: they are unscrupulous, ruthless, manipulative, non-empathetic. In addition, psychopaths are often aggressive, violent, impulsive and disrespectful. So psychopaths are 20-25 times more likely to go to prison than ordinary people. It is estimated that 20% of inmates in American jails are psychopaths. But not all psychopaths are killers or violent criminals. Some adapt to societal norms and can appear highly successful. The unscrupulous and manipulative behaviour can be used to rise to the top of the business world, and many psychopaths have prestigious jobs. Researchers estimate that of the general adult population, between 1.2% and 4.5% are psychopaths, but the percentage increases significantly among people in powerful positions such as executives, lawyers and surgeons. Psychopathic behaviour is caused by developmental defects in the brain, so that, as for people with schizophrenia and other mental disorders, it can be difficult to live a normal life. Many find it difficult to form close relationships, partly because they do not empathise with others, and because of the longterm effects of their tendencies to lie extensively and deceive others for their own benefit.