Notably, the clinical description of psychopathy emphasizes an individual with reduced empathy but intact or possibly exaggerated anger [14].
This elevated level of anger can manifest in rage-induced aggression and even adult temper tantrums. Those living with a psychopath may feel they constantly “walk on eggshells,” never knowing what statement or behavior will set off rage in the psychopath.
Sociopaths experience anxiety and find rage far harder to control. They may act without thought and, as a result, they may have a harder time blending in. Inconsistencies between their words and their lives may be easier to see.
Taken together, the findings consistently demonstrate that psychopathy is intimately connected to aggressive tendencies and behaviors across different components (i.e., anger, hostility, physical and verbal aggression) and forms (i.e., reactive and proactive aggression).
Psychopaths struggle to understand how someone else might feel afraid, sad, or anxious. It just doesn't make sense to them as they're not able to read people. A psychopath is completely indifferent to people who are suffering—even when it's a close friend or family member.
Like other types of personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder is on a spectrum, which means it can range in severity from occasional bad behaviour to repeatedly breaking the law and committing serious crimes. Psychopaths are considered to have a severe form of antisocial personality disorder.
There is no single known cause of psychopathy. Genetics, trauma, brain structure, exposure to violence during childhood, and environmental conditions are possible contributing factors.
Yes, research shows there are “good” psychopaths. Many people in positively heroic professions have strong psychopathic traits.
There are some areas where psychopaths may experience normal emotions and grief is one such area. In response to death of a person with whom there is a bond, some psychopaths can experience sadness and this may even bring about feelings of guilt which are otherwise impossible to feel. Crying may be a part of this.
“It is possible that psychopathic individuals both enjoy fear and also do not experience the negative aspects of fear to the same extent as other people.” “These findings may help explain the risk-taking and criminal behaviour of people with psychopathic traits.
Elevated anger responding is intrinsic to many descriptions of psychopathy. Both Cleckley and Hare's case studies include numerous descriptions of psychopaths whose misbehavior included frequent temper tantrums and rage-induced aggression.
Self-Destruction
Psychopaths may feel that all life is worthless, including their own.
Psychopathy is the single best predictor of violent behavior. Individuals with traits of psychopathy and/or with psychopathy are disproportionately involved in violence.
Studies show psychopaths usually speak in a controlled manner. They don't emphasize emotional words like other people do. Their tone remains fairly neutral throughout the conversation. Researchers suspect they craft a calm demeanor intentionally because it helps them gain more control in their personal interactions.
Because many psychopaths lack empathy, they can't love other people. Their children are seen as being just like them. That makes it possible for their parents to have strong emotions about their children. However, these feelings don't extend beyond the family members that psychopaths see as part of themselves.
The reasoning behind psychopaths going into great detail on the food they ate the day they killed someone or the money that was involved is, according to the researchers, because they look at the world to be full of things that are theirs for the taking.
Psychopaths can suffer emotional pain for a variety of reasons. As with anyone else, psychopaths have a deep wish to be loved and cared for. This desire remains frequently unfulfilled, however, because it is obviously not easy for another person to get close to someone with such repellent personality characteristics.
Instead, psychopathy is characterised by an extreme lack of empathy. Psychopaths may also be manipulative, charming and exploitative, and behave in an impulsive and risky manner. They may lack conscience or guilt, and refuse to accept responsibility for their actions.
[...] Psychopaths, on the other hand, are unable to form emotional attachments or feel real empathy with others, although they often have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are very manipulative and can easily gain people's trust.
One thing psychopaths tend to have in common is the careers they go for. For example, you're likely to find a lot of them in leadership positions because of their ruthlessness, charisma, and fearlessness. They're very good at making snap decisions, but not so good at the empathetic professions like nursing or therapy.
Although sociopathy and psychopathy cannot be diagnosed until someone is 18, one of the hallmarks of both conditions is that they usually begin in childhood or early adolescence. Usually, the symptoms appear before the age of 15, and sometimes they are present early in childhood.
Trait psychopathy is characteristics by features such as untruthfulness, manipulativeness, callousness, lack of remorse or shame, as well as impulsive and antisocial tendencies (Benning et al., 2003).