Would You See The Signs?

Travis Uresk
Mar 1, 2023
5 min read

Updated: Jul 1, 2024

Posted by Travis Uresk | March 1st, 2023 | Signs Of A Psychopath |

By Travis Uresk

3/1/23

I STRONGLY suggest you watch the first video before you make any comments saying you could/would see the signs. A 25 year Veteran Detective didn't see the signs of a killer before he was beaten to death by his own son.

Psychopathy is a type of antisocial personality disorder, but not all those with antisocial personality disorder are psychopaths.

How can you spot a psychopath or people with psychopathic tendencies? According to the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy (Psychopathy Society), most individuals with psychopathic tendencies display the following symptoms:

An absence of a sense of guilt – Psychopaths do not feel remorse after causing harm, loss, or suffering to another person or creature
A lack of compassion and empathy – Psychopaths cannot identify and feel the pain of others, often viewed as being cold, inconsiderate, and disrespectful.
An absence of attachment – Psychopaths typically maintain an emotional distance from others, and the depth of their feelings is shallow, which causes them to display a sense of interpersonal coldness.
Narcissism – Psychopaths have narcissistic tendencies and an inflated sense of self-worth and ability, and are often opinionated and arrogant
Superficial charm – Psychopaths typically have charming personalities and know what to say in certain situations; however, their actions often do not match what they say, and many of them tend to be smooth, charming, engaging, and slick.
Dishonesty – Psychopaths tend to be dishonest, manipulative, and deceitful.
Manipulative behavior – Psychopaths try to manipulate and cheat others for personal gain through charm and charisma
Reckless risk-taking – Psychopaths take significant risks without regard for the consequences.
Need for stimulation and prone to boredom – Some psychopaths require activities that will give them exciting stimulation, as they are prone to boredom when faced with routine or dull assignments.
Irresponsibility – Psychopaths tend not to fulfill or honor their commitments and obligations and do not accept the responsibilities of their actions.

Although psychopathic tendencies are more prevalent in males compared to females, history has recorded many instances of female psychopaths. One of the most famous female psychopaths in history is Countess Elizabeth Báthory, responsible for killing and torturing over 600 women and bathing in their blood in a twisted and mistaken attempt to maintain her beauty and youth.

In general, psychopaths are in touch with reality and are fully aware of their conduct. Due to this characteristic, they may learn to fit in with other people and keep their psychopathic tendencies hidden. However, most psychopaths typically have a run-in with the law at some point in their lives.

Sociopath vs. Psychopath: What are the Differences?

Some people often mistake a sociopath for a psychopath. While all psychopaths are sociopaths, not all sociopaths are psychopaths. The following are the differences between the two:

Psychopath

Vs Sociopath

Psychopaths have a more severe lack of empathy and guilt

Sociopaths lack empathy and guilt but are known to form deep personal bonds with family members or loved ones

Psychopaths do not have a conscience

Sociopaths still have a sense of conscience, although it is weaker than most people.

Psychopaths display consistent antisocial behavior throughout their lives

Sociopaths tend to improve their antisocial behavior over time

Psychopaths do not have a sense of guilt or remorse over hurting someone else (family members or not)

Sociopaths may not feel guilt over hurting strangers but may feel remorse over hurting someone they share a personal bond with

Narcissism vs. Psychopathy: What are the Differences?

Narcissism is one of the attributes displayed by psychopaths. However, although all psychopaths are narcissistic, not all narcissists are psychopaths. For someone to be considered a narcissist, he or she must fulfill five or more of the following criteria:

An inflated sense of self.
A preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or love.
A belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, people of high status or respectable institutions.
A desire for excessive admiration
A sense of entitlement
An absence of empathy
A belief that other people are envious of him or her
Display arrogant or superior attitudes.

Studies have shown that in people with high psychopathic tendencies, their brain responds differently to those with low psychopathic scores. One study found that the amygdala of people with antisocial personalities reacts differently to those with less antisocial personalities.

This difference is believed to contribute to the development of psychotic traits since the amygdala is part of the brain that regulates emotion. In the study, when people with low psychopathy scores were faced with violence, they experienced an increase in respiration and heart rate. However, the people with psychopathic characteristics would not experience fear and instead became calmer.

Harvard University-led team discovered that psychopathic individuals tended to show more significant activity in areas of the brain associated with immediate rewards. They were also weaker in areas of the brain associated with projecting and thinking about the future consequences of their actions.

In other words, the brain of a psychopath are more likely than others to make decisions based on immediate gratification, and their decisions are less likely to be governed by a projection of future consequences.

Environmental factors experienced during childhood, combined with genetic differences, may contribute to the development psychopathic personalities. While the genetic differences described above are significant factors, the following environmental factors also contribute to the development of psychopathic traits:

Inconsistent parenting, or parenting styles that focus on punishment and a lack of reward.
The absence of or insufficient parental involvement
Physical abuse or neglect during childhood
Separation from a parent or parents

Examples of environmental factors can include a parent’s drug addiction, childhood bullying, or stresses occurring during pregnancy or within the first two years of a child’s life. However, not all children who experience these circumstances become psychopaths.

As such, it would suggest that environmental factors do not account for the cause of psychopathy, and a genetic component must also be present.

Examples of psychopathic tendencies in children include: