Behavioural Traits of Psychopaths

“Psychopaths, also known as sociopaths, are manipulative, deceitful, impulsive and

inclined to take risks”.

While most people’s actions are guided by a number of factors, such as the desire to avoid
hurting other people, the psychopath selects a course of action based on only one factor—what
can he get out of it. This cold-blooded mode of reasoning enables the psychopath to commit acts
that most people’s consciences would not allow.

Manipulative and Deceitful

Psychopaths lie easily and because they don’t feel anxious when doing so, many can pass lie
detector tests. They manipulate those around them to get money, free places to stay, sexual
favours and sympathy. Those who are jailed for crimes continue the pattern of manipulation and
deceitfulness. Psychopaths often claim to have suffered from amnesia, temporary insanity,
multiple personality disorder or blackouts to justify their crimes.

In addition to lying outright, psychopaths are inclined to evade, providing responses that do not
answer the questions put to them. This is done as a smokescreen, an attempt to trick people into
thinking they’ve received an answer. Most psychopaths are very proud of their ability to lie
convincingly, and in addition to lying to evade consequences, they lie to get sympathy. When
caught in a lie, they simply move on, leaving shattered lives in their wake. Or they promise to
change, and in some cases do change for long enough to worm their way back into the lives of
their targets, after which they inevitably revert to their old ways.

While psychopaths tend to engage in fewer criminal activities once they pass the age of 40, most
continue to manipulate and deceive those around them. A common deception is obtaining phony
credentials to pose as doctors, psychiatrists, real estate agents, lawyers or teachers. One
psychopath posed as a doctor and performed surgeries, severely botching operations and leaving
his patients emotionally and physically damaged. He disappeared when his credentials were
questioned, and was found later in England posing as a psychiatrist.

Impulsive and Lacking Self-Restraint

Inability to delay gratification combined with a lack of fear and other constraints on behaviour
leads to impulsivity. This, along with a lack of empathy, causes psychopaths to be selfish and
irresponsible. They are like infants in adult bodies, demanding that others gratify their immediate
needs while not understanding that they should offer anything in return. They take what they
want when they want it through manipulation, threats or force.

Because they lack inhibition, psychopaths tend to be short-tempered, becoming emotionally

abusive or even violent in response to minor frustrations, criticism and failure. Quick to take
offense, they are inclined to blow up at people, but because their emotions are shallow, such
outbursts are usually short-lived. Afterward, the psychopath will behave as though nothing has
happened, leaving the victims of his tirade feeling hurt and bewildered.

Because they are impulsive and irresponsible, many psychopaths jump from job to job and
relationship to relationship. They break their promises, fail to fulfill their financial obligations,
leave their families behind without a backward glance and pursue their own interests at everyone
else’s expense. The rules of society are considered inconvenient and unreasonable. A chilling
example of this cold-hearted irresponsibility was the case of Diane Downs, who murdered her
own children, whom she claimed to love, so that she could pursue a relationship with a man who
didn’t want kids.

Risk Taking

Psychopaths take extreme physical and psychological risks due to their exaggerated need for
excitement. These can range from driving too fast to substance abuse to crime. Of course there
are many naturally brave or sensation seeking individuals who are not psychopaths. However,
these can be distinguished by their ability to feel guilt, remorse, empathy and shame. A surplus
of physical courage is only a marker of a personality disorder when there are many adverse
symptoms present.

Bragging

Because psychopaths think very highly of themselves, most are prone to bragging. Many
psychopaths talk obsessively in an attempt to convey their toughness and importance to others.
Of course there are people who like themselves who are not psychopaths, and many others who
brag because they actually have low self-esteem and are attempting to bolster themselves.
However, bragging in conjunction with extreme risk taking, irresponsibility, lying, manipulation,
impulsiveness and a lack of self-restraint indicate that there is something seriously wrong.

Behaviour Problems in Childhood

Even if he comes from a good, nurturing family, the psychopathic child will usually steal, cut
school, have sex, take drugs, start fires, vandalize and be cruel to animals and other children by
the time he is just 12 years old. The psychopathic child is indifferent to the feelings of other
people and animals. He lies continuously and appears unfazed when caught in a lie. Threats of
punishment (and even actual punishment) don’t usually deter him from doing what he wants.

However, it’s not a good idea to assume that a child with behavioural problems is a psychopath.
Some children have conduct disorder, which is characterized by many of the same behaviours,
but does not include the egocentricity, inability to experience guilt and remorse, and the
complete lack of empathy that characterizes the psychopath.
 Further Reading

For a comprehensive list of references on psychopathic personality disorder, visit Dr. Robert
Hare’s website. For more information on psychopathy, see Personality Traits of a Psychopath,
Causes of Psychopathy and How Psychopaths Exploit Others.