The Psychopath

It is both interesting and difficult to distinguish a true psychopath from a person with specific psychopathic traits.

psychopath-and-his-traitsThe label “mentally ill” is based on the person’s ability to engage with reality. Therefore, the psychopath is “not” mentally ill, even though he lacks genuine human emotional intelligence. Their “way of being” does not distort their accurate perception of reality.

Being a psychopath does not mean being a criminal, but they will certainly be responsible for acts that come very close to being illegal and to the abuse of the most vulnerable.

If there is such a thing as a “criminal personality,” it is found in the traits of psychopathy. Psychopaths are ideally suited to carry out absurd criminal ventures with no apparent gain, and they are also the most skilled at deception—but above all, at being gratuitously violent.

psychopaths-and-their-typesWhen they aren’t criminals, they are very versatile, as they become experts in the intricacies of the law and the economy, etc…

If we look at the full range of their shortcomings, we can understand our own.

Psychopathy consists of two types of traits or dimensions.

First, the emotional and interpersonal aspect: his complete lack of the elements of human empathy—which leads human beings to be mindful of their actions—could be said to result in manipulative, deceitful, self-centered, and cruel behavior.

The second trait is their antisocial, aggressive, and impulsive behavior, in which the purpose of their existence is the thrill of getting what they want when they want it. This can involve anything from a whim to a goal that captures their interest at that moment, and what matters most is feeling that thrill.

TYPES OF PSYCHOPATHS:

“Unmasked” Criminal Psychopath:This is the basic psychopath, who combines a lack of empathy, an overwhelming need for gratification, and a strong propensity for violence with a life that has generally been harsh and on the margins since childhood, where a lack of affection and early exposure to sex and drugs shape them from an early age into clearly cruel, violent, and self-centered individuals, for whom the sole goal is immediate and intense pleasure at any cost and at the expense of anyone.

Regardless of the fact that a person with this mindset may commit horrific crimes, such individuals are a minority within a minority, and for these crimes to occur, the psychopath must suffer from other mental disorders in addition to being a psychopath.

Intellectual Psychopath “Intellectual Camouflage”: The socialized psychopath adopts various strategies depending on the needs of his or her purpose. His or her great capacity for manipulation, cunning, narcissism, and outward charm make him or her ideally suited to be a leader in whatever field he or she operates in.

Clearly, in addition to the traits of psychopathy, must be combined with above-average intelligence, and so we are faced with a strategist who will stop at nothing in manipulating situations, discarding or attracting all kinds of people who will help him in his climb to the top—a climb in which he will leave a multitude of “bodies in the ditch.”

To them, the enemy is anyone who questions their behavior, work, knowledge, etc.

psychopaths-and-their-strategies“The ‘Misunderstood’ Disguise”: These are the most unsettling because they are perfectly integrated into our society; they do not exactly stand out for their intelligence, and although they are not technically criminals, many of their actions border on illegality.

Despite their lack of intelligence, they are determined at all costs to be the power that controls their environment, so it is inevitable that they will create the typical “everyday horrors”—through lies, humiliations, blackmail, and so on—that pit people against one another, with a clear objective: to take control of people’s wills and thereby feed their extreme egos and their need for power.

Emotional traits:

– Superficial charm and talkativeness:

psychopath-and-their-traitsPsychopaths tend to be self-assured and talkative, as well as possessing great charm and a knack for spinning stories—usually false or self-serving—in which, of course, they are the victims or witnesses of the world’s injustices or of the person who is currently bothering them.

It’s hard to see through his tactics, but they tend to be rather superficial—he offers opinions on topics without really being prepared. Even if he’s caught in a lie or exposed for his lack of preparation, he doesn’t seem too bothered; His strategy is “say whatever you want—I’ll do whatever I want”; in a word, “unflappable.”

-Self-centeredness and a strong sense of self-worth:

psychopath-and-the-egoThe psychopath feels like the “center of the universe,” so narcissism and egocentrism lead them to take it for granted that they can always do whatever they see fit, given their high self-esteem.

The feeling of superiority makes him or her very confident, arrogant, and domineering. His or her need to control others makes him or her unable to accept differing opinions, so his or her rules are non-negotiable.

If you encounter personal, financial, or legal difficulties, it will always be the fault of third parties or unforeseeable circumstances.

-Lies and manipulation:

two-faced psychopath A psychopath’s natural talent lies in their great ability to manipulate, lie, and deceive. One challenge for them is to confuse situations in order to get what they want, which they sometimes fail to do, as those around them may assume they’re a little off their rocker, but the psychopath will not give up and will continue to coldly twist and alter the story until it finally fits, which is why bewilderment and confusion are often the atmosphere that surrounds them.

-Lack of remorse or feelings of guilt:

psychopath-and-the-absence-of-guilt

They are unaffected by the consequences of their actions on those around them, even going so far as to manipulate situations to defend their position. If they do happen to acknowledge that they “feel bad” about it, this apology is usually just another tactic to save face. Their subsequent actions contradict all their excuses regarding a lack of knowledge or responsibility for the situation that caused a specific problem, and they see themselves as the victims of the situation.

– Superficial Emotions and Lack of Empathy:

emotionless-psychopathFor a psychopath, it is impossible to feel another person’s pain or sadness; it is as if the empathy that most of us feel toward others’ misfortune—whether deserved or not—is experienced by them in a purely intellectual way. Feelings of pity or compassion do not exist in their brain circuits, so they cannot understand them either. At times, alongside a cold and distant demeanor, they may display dramatic outbursts of emotion, but they are incapable of distinguishing between different emotional states; one might say they seek a result without caring in the least about it.

This lack of empathy is not limited to strangers, but extends to family and friends as well; as a result, the bonds they maintain with everyone around them are based purely on financial interest and the desire to satisfy their own needs. Their indifference to the suffering or dignity of others leads them to view the people around them as possessions meant to satisfy their desires.

Fortunately, psychopaths make up only 1% of the population on average, and they are clearly a minority. What is more common, however, is the immense suffering they cause to everyone around them through their aggressive, cruel, and persistent manipulation of those in their circle—often for no reason at all.

Behaviors:

-Impulsivity and Anger:

psychopath-and-his-behaviorHis poor behavioral control prevents him from considering the pros and cons of a decision or its possible consequences; he simply acts. His impulsivity is a sign of his constant desire for immediate gratification, without any moderation or control.

Sudden changes and verbal or physical aggression are normal reactions for a psychopath in response to what he or she perceives as criticism, insults, or provocations, since he or she has very little tolerance for frustration of his or her desires.

Outbursts of anger tend to occur in response to any kind of discipline or trivial matter, although they lack the aggressive intensity of his impulsivity; they tend to last for a while with a certain detachment, disappearing just like that from one day to the next—and, of course, without him acknowledging the behavioral problem he has. Another matter is the situation that triggers his anger, which he will attack in a silent but relentless manner.

The result of all this is that much of their behavior occurs without any explanation or expectation that it will happen, which is why they are people who create constant tension and instability wherever they are.

-Need for continuous stimulation:

psychopaths-and-their-needs Psychopaths have an excessive desire—an obsession—to experience new sensations and events that fill them with adrenaline, which is why they frequently use drugs and alcohol and constantly change jobs or places of residence, etc…. .

They lack the qualities of patience and strategic planning, as their tendency to react impulsively to instructions or orders makes it difficult for them to participate in long-term projects.

-Lack of responsibility: Psychopaths’ lack of responsibility extends to all areas of life; the people under their care are merely stepping stones toward achieving their lifestyle, which is often riddled with debt. They may boast about how much they care for their children, employees, or friends, but there is rarely any evidence of this.

A marriage of convenience, children he later fails to support, companies he drains of capital, friends he uses to commit fraud, etc.—he couldn’t care less about the consequences of his actions; all that matters are his desires and the present.

Behaviors of a psychopath in a relationship:

psychopath-and-his-romantic-relationships Given that with a psychopath, a relationship is only “on his terms,” it’s predictable that he’ll depersonalize his partner to gain “free rein” in his environment. He may be charming and intelligent at first, but as we begin to detect his extremes, we’ll realize that the relationship will fall apart if we don’t continually give him what he wants, which could lead to abuse or manipulation within the family.

A psychopath is incapable of love, and the things he defines as “proof of his love” merely reflect his desire to take, not to make his partner happy. Depending on the benefits the relationship provides, they may be convincing in their promises to change so as not to disappoint—something that is extremely difficult, since their need and craving for power and unrestricted freedom within the relationship often turn love into torture for the one who feels it. They exploit their partners’ vulnerabilities to make them feel guilty—saying things like “you have mental problems,” “you’re killing me,” “you’ll finally realize how much I love you,” or using gifts, etc.

-Imposing his philosophy of life:

He questions the appropriateness of certain friendships, family relationships, work, children, household chores, or even personal matters, etc.—which may stem either from his view that the relationship is too close or from his criticism of insufficient or misguided dedication. It all depends on their need to control their partner or on their interests at that moment, which are often not just lifestyle choices but, in many cases, financial considerations as well.

-Continuous variability in character and manipulation of situations:

psychopaths-and-their-strategiesTheir physical, verbal, and mental aggression make living with psychopaths a “descent into hell,” interspersed with heartfelt “remorse,” during which they acknowledge their mistakes and promise to change, which is really just a way to manipulate situations so they can continue doing whatever they want.

If the partner is emotionally dependent on this predator, they will experience confusion and psychological and emotional suffering—which is quite common, given that the predator manipulates situations to induce guilt, presenting the facts in a biased, distorted, or completely unrealistic way, with great confidence, playing the victim and creating extreme situations to override the partner’s will. Of course, when faced with an autonomous partner, the psychopath’s influence will last only as long as their whim permits, since they have an urgent need to feel that everything around them is under their control; a psychopath accepts only their own needs.

-Parasites and liars:

psychopaths-and-lyingTheir lies are often both frequent and absurd, so personal or family finances must be kept out of (and never has a phrase been more apt) their “clutches,” since they feel no remorse for the hardships that may result from the risks they take.

He tends to be a burden on the family, and the only jobs he manages to hold onto are those where it’s difficult to fire him if he uses his wits.

If he ever comes to power, he will be a despot with subordinates—servants—on whom he will unleash his entire abusive and erratic personality; his surroundings give him away; he may meet people, but no one appreciates him, nor does he appreciate anyone, for his unsettling nature troubles everyone who knows him, causing them to avoid any kind of relationship with him.

Breaking up with a psychopath:

measures-against-a-psychopath

It’s vital to have the fighting spirit to break free from his web, especially if he stands to lose financially when you leave him—though fortunately, everything works out when you confront him with his own tactics and a good lawyer, since honesty and consistency aren’t his strong suits.

Rebuilding one’s self-esteem with the help of family and experts will put an end to the chaos they cause in the people who become the focus of their interest or obsession.

It’s only hard to break up with a psychopath if we give up on seeking the truth, no matter how harsh it may be.