What is a psychopath?

Perhaps not what or who you think.

Did you know that if we believe psychologists and psychiatrists,  one in twenty-two people fit the category, although few are serious criminals and only one percent of people are “severe” psychopaths.

In fact, sometimes, because they are cool and emotionless, you might prefer a surgeon who is psychopathic to a normal one who under tension may exhibit nerves and make mistakes (at least according to certain scholars who study such matters).

They’re hardly all Charles Mansons or Ted Bundys. Indeed, very few are. They are usually upstanding citizens. They can be cops. They can be embezzlers. There are thieves who smile at you but would also feel no remorse in stealing your purse or wallet. There are adults, even officials, ministers, and priests, who abuse young children. Often they have a fixed star. “With less emotions and more logical thinking, human have a higher chance of success because overemotionalism can be very dangerous and get people killed,” noted one observer, though another, Dr. Andreia Rodrigues of Portugal, added:

“It truly depends if you are a low or high-functioning psychopath at that time and if the other person you are meeting is low or high functioning as well. Upon first meeting, most psychopaths recognize each other by instinct. It’s not really a logical feeling per se but you get this instinctual alarming feeling of “danger” in your gut. Like you are being preyed on. Which, for the record, you are. And it is incredibly uncomfortable and familiar at the same time and you can’t put your finger on it since it is not logical.”

According to some researchers, psychopathy is on the rise. Would that really be a surprise? Is it not another “sign of the times”? Inconsiderate or uncaring interactions desensitize us to psychopathic behavior while increasing incipient psychopathic tendencies. If we want less psychopathy in the world, we must see that our actions don’t contribute to it.

We’re to pray, not judge. (“First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

The question: is it a condition or a spirit? Are they at fault or victims?

It can be how a child is raised and cared for.

“Psychopaths are conditioned to behave in certain ways towards people, they will usually search for the best ‘mask’ to use with you before engaging,” wrote Dr. Rodrigues (on Quora). “This can sometimes take time on their end. Because they analyze the situation and search for the best “persona” to suit their needs.”

Most likely, we would say they are cold and calculating, which can go a long way in the current business climate.

If you want to go by a psychological definition, it’s personality disorder characterized by profound deficits in empathy, emotional depth, and moral reasoning, coupled with antisocial and manipulative behaviors.

Signs of one (according to “experts”):

–superficial charm

–puffed-up self-esteem

–aggression and hostility

–manipulation

–pathological lying, even when lying isn’t necessary

–lack of fear

–a riddle of contradictions

–boredom and need for stimulation

–“gaslighting” and bullying

Of course, everyone likely has one or more of those traits; it’s the combination that defines one, according to psychologists.

These days, there is an epidemic of them, it seems.

A subcategory is “narcissism.” That, by definition (if we want to go by definition), is a personality trait characterized by excessive self-love and self-importance as well as a lack of empathy for others.  

It’s a preoccupation with oneself and one’s own needs, often at the expense of others.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula, who is based in Los Angeles, claims that while “everybody” is talking about narcissism, “nobody seems to be understanding it.” By contrast, a so-called “toxic” person who is not narcissistic probably isn’t beset by insecurity and shame.

Dr. Ramani says that a person whose behavior is toxic rather than narcissistic “may not have the same demons and insecurity” as a narcissist.

Isn’t that an interesting use of medical metaphor: “demons”?

Another definition: the opposite of the Manger; the opposite of humility.

Are all these categories really categories and really explainable by the “science” of psychology, or simply spiritual in nature? Do we pray for such people or simply despise them?

According to Dr. Ramani, a narcissistic person has the following traits: low, inconsistent empathy; grandiosity; entitlement; and arrogance.

She says: “They’re very superficial, they have an excessive need for admiration, validation and praise; they envy other people or they believe other people envy them, they’re pathologically selfish.”

A narcissist is also likely to be dismissive, minimize other people, have contempt for them, betray them and belittle them, according to Dr Ramani.

In addition, they shift blame, get angry easily, have poor frustration tolerance, are passive aggressive, are controlling, have a need for power, lie and future-fake.

Future-faking is when someone talks at length about plans for the future but never follows through on them.

Beyond criminality, psychopathy is also observed in corporate, political, and professional settings. Successful psychopaths may thrive in high-powered positions, using charm, manipulation, and risk-taking tendencies to achieve personal goals. While they may avoid criminal prosecution, their behavior can still result in unethical decision-making, financial harm, and exploitation of others.

Studies have found there are “successful psychopaths” who are more likely to be promoted to leadership positions and less likely to serve time behind bars.

It is all around us. How often do we pray about it?

Our society is in the throes of an epidemic of narcissism (read also: selfishness), and it’s growing exponentially with incubators called social media and Wall Street that have expanded the “mirror on the wall” to the size of the internet.