Updated: May 16th, 2023
Presented by BetterHelp.
You, like the majority of people, are undoubtedly wary of psychopaths. What’s the best way to be safe? Remember what you learned from horror movies: keep clear of the woods, avoid unlit alleyways, and don’t check unusual noises in the basement. Oh, and don’t forget about prison.
Unfortunately, these measures will not be sufficient. Psychopaths can be found in our daily lives, according to psychology. The prevalence of psychopathic tendencies in the general population is estimated to be between 5% and 10%. They’re not necessarily criminals, but they do exhibit some of the psychopath’s key features, such as a lack of empathy, a lack of self-regard and a high degree of charm. There’s little you can do to avoid dealing with psychopaths on a daily basis, but it appears you can reduce your odds of encountering one by staying away from certain professions.
What Constitutes A Psychopath?
A cruel, emotionless, and morally corrupt individual is referred to as a “psychopath.”. Clinical and legal settings frequently use the phrase despite it not being recognized as an official mental health diagnosis.
A diagnosis of psychopathy does not exist by itself, but many of its symptoms overlap with those of antisocial personality disorder, a more general mental illness that describes individuals who act out and transgress rules on a regular basis. The majority of people with antisocial personality disorder do not meet the criteria for being classified as psychopaths.
The traits of a psychopath, as well as the origins of the name and how to spot a potential psychopath, are all explored in this article. It also discusses therapy options and ways to cope.
One person’s psychopathic behavior may be very different from another’s. Sex offenders and killers can be found in some of these criminals. However, there may be leaders who succeed. There is no one-size-fits-all answer here.
It’s critical to distinguish between psychopaths and those who display psychopathic tendencies. The ability to display a number of psychopathic traits without being a psychopath can be achieved.
Psychopaths don’t always exhibit psychopathic tendencies. In order to be termed a psychopath, an individual must have both psychopathic and antisocial qualities. Feel free to stop by https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/psychopathy/ to read more about what a psychopathy evaluation looks like.
Psychopathic tendencies include the following:
- Antisocial tendencies
- Self-absorption
- Charming in a superficial way
- Irresponsibility
- Emotional apathy and indifference
- Absence of remorse
An estimated 29% of the general population possesses at least one psychopathic feature, according to a recent study. However, just 0.6 percent of people meet the criteria for being classified as psychopaths.
What Causes Psychopathy?
Early study on psychopathy revealed that the condition generally originated from parental bonding difficulties. Psychopathic tendencies are supposed to be exacerbated by emotional deprivation, parental rejection, and a lack of affection.
Insecure attachments and repeated separations from caregivers are all linked in studies. There are some academics who believe that these childhood traumas can lead to psychopathic tendencies.
However, other experts believe the opposite may be true. Adoption complications might arise as a result of a child’s problematic behavior in children with major behavioral issues. Adults may distance themselves from them because of their misbehavior.
Genetics, neurological abnormalities, bad parental behavior, and maternal prenatal hazards like as exposure to chemicals in gestation are possible causes of psychopathic tendencies.
Careers Frequently Chosen By Psychopaths
Government Employees
A career as a civil servant is the tenth most popular choice among psychopaths. Because psychopaths have “no empathy for others, nor moral code, and tend to be exceptionally clever and rational,” the UK government contemplated hiring them explicitly “to keep order” in 2014.
Chefs
Don’t be alarmed by the fact that chefs have access to open flames and blades during the course of their work day. They flourish in a chaotic environment where others might fail, which may explain why psychopaths perform so well in a fast-paced culinary environment.
The Clergy
Clergy positions might be attractive to psychopathic individuals because they can be used to exploit others while also providing them with a sense of legitimacy for their activities. When it comes to obtaining sensitive information, it’s easy to build partnerships, which gives manipulative people an advantage over others.
Police Officers
Psychopaths don’t always have a hidden agenda. Being able to remain calm under pressure is one of their characteristics. It’s a tremendous advantage for police officers to remain calm in a crisis, as their work is extremely stressful and dangerous. Psychopaths may gravitate toward law enforcement for this very reason.
Journalists
Psychopathic characteristics include charm, attention, mindfulness, ruthlessness, and action – all of which are useful in journalism, especially when deadlines are tight and you need to get information from sources.
Surgeons
The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England presented a study in which the authors hoped to determine if surgeons were, in fact, predisposed to psychopathy. Teaching hospital consultants scored higher than district general hospital consultants, who rank higher than the public at large, on a scale of psychopathic personality. Doctors’ “stress immunity is the overriding personality feature,” according to the authors, and surgeons’ daily challenging decisions are other possible explanations.
Salespeople
Self-promotion, theft of other people’s contact information, and the desire to earn the maximum money are all characteristics of a psychopathic salesperson. As a sales manager, this might either be your worst nightmare or your dream employee.
Media Personalities
In some cases, narcissism can be advantageous in a position that requires a lot of public attention. The fact that becoming a TV or radio host or personality is such a common job option for psychopaths may have something to do with the requirement to maintain composure under duress.
Lawyers
“Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight” author M. E. Thomas, a self-described sociopath, believes that being a sociopath helped her become a better attorney. Lawyers may benefit from psychopathic features like arrogance, cold-heartedness, and a penchant for deception, but it’s a fallacy to assume that these characteristics are sufficient in and of themselves. However, in the correct setting, they may be a formidable force.
CEOs
Something known as “resilience to chaos” is a characteristic of psychopaths. In addition to keeping a cool head under pressure, they may also wreak havoc for others because it makes them look good when everyone else is in a state of distress. They may use this strategy to climb the ladder of success all the way up to its peak. Some people, on the other hand, aren’t as cunning and get to the top solely on the basis of their abilities.
