- [Lily] Hi, Psych2Goers, and
welcome back to another video. Your love and support have enabled us to bring another wealth
of everyday psychology, so let's explore. What comes to mind when
you hear psychopath? It is used to describe anyone ranging from serial killers
to problematic exes. In reality, however, psychopaths make up only 1%
of the general population as found in a study by Freeman in 2011. So what basically is the
definition of psychopathy? According to a study, psychopathy is not an official diagnosis, but refers to a combination
of behavioral traits, including antisocial
behavior, callousness, and low levels of empathy
and interpersonal emotions. Before we begin, here's a reminder as to this video being intended for educational purposes only. We urge you not to use it as a diagnosis or treatment for any conditions. If you feel you or anyone you know can relate to these signs mentioned, be sure to seek professional help. With that said, here are eight signs you're dealing with a psychopath. One, they lack empathy. According to research at Duke University, cognitive deficits prevents psychopaths from experiencing automatic empathy, the ability to interpret other people's perspectives
subconsciously, even when there's no
personal need to do so. However, psychopaths still
experience controlled empathy, the ability to understand
how someone is feeling by consciously considering that person's actions and reactions, and reasoning through their
thoughts and feelings. If someone never reacts to
others' tears, joy, or fear, unless it directly affects their goals, they might harbor psychopathic tendencies. Two, they don't feel guilty. Lack of remorse is one of the
telltale signs of psychopathy. Due to their decreased automatic empathy, psychopaths don't process
care-based transgressions, where one person harms
another as morally wrong. This lack of guilt often correlates to violent, illegal,
or unethical behavior. As described in a study, a
psychopath might be someone who embezzled clients' hard-earned
savings without remorse. On average, are three times
more likely to re-offend than people who are not psychopathic. Three, they're charismatic. Psychopaths often mimic others' behaviors in order to get what they want, sometimes adopting completely
different personalities. This process is called reverse learning because instead of reacting
to external stimuli, psychopaths learn how to act based on people's reactions
to their behavior. So if you catch someone
acting instead of reacting, it could be a sign of a psychopath. Four, they are fake or manipulative. Another sign you're
dealing with a psychopath is if they suddenly undergo shifts in personality and behavior, turning from charming and outgoing to threatening or violent, for example. This is known as extinction. In a study by Blair in 2018,
explains that it happens when people are no longer rewarding one of the psychopath's behaviors. They will then try a different tactic to try and manipulate you into giving them what they want. Five, they lie constantly. Psychopaths use lies
to get what they want. Since they don't naturally
experience empathy or guilt, people on the psychopathic spectrum are more likely to view lying as a tool than a moral exception. Additionally, research suggests that psychopaths are
better able to detect lies, although this trait appears in psychopathic men more than women. Six, they are irresponsible. Psychopathy is synonymous
with irresponsibility. Their cognitive deficits in empathy mean that psychopaths are
almost always centered around their personal goals and will sometimes do whatever
it takes to achieve them, including breaking their promises. Coupled with their lack of guilt and moral responsibility to others, it is unsurprising that psychopaths are not the most reliable. Seven, they blame you for their mistakes. Although psychopaths lack remorse, when confronted with
things they've done wrong, they may blame you. Why? Because they probably won't take the time to think through how
placing the blame on you will make you feel the same
way they do at the moment. Instead, they use you as a scapegoat in an attempt to relieve
the discomfort and anger they are experiencing. Eight, they are impulsive. Another giveaway that
someone may be a psychopath is impulsivity or high
levels of risk-taking. Do they repeatedly break laws for fun or because they don't feel compelled to uphold society's moral standards? Are they frequently
engaged in reckless driving or drug use without fear? These are examples of behaviors that could be due to psychopathy. Because impulsivity is also a sign of other personality disorders,
bipolar disorder, or ADHD, it's important to consider
these signs' presence alongside other signs on this list. Hence, it requires a detailed
professional analysis. Looking at these signs, it's understandable how
people who rank highly on the psychopathic spectrum could pose an increased risk to society, but it's also important to keep in mind that psychopathy is a spectrum, and like other mental disorders, highly stigmatized and
misused in the media. We hope we were able to give
you insight into how you know when you might be dealing
with a psychopath. Have you ever seen or
experienced these signs in your daily life? Do any of these describe your experience? Know of any signs we missed? Leave a comment down below
about your encounters with them. If you'd like, feel free to share any
thoughts you have as well. If you find this video interesting, be sure to hit the Like button and share it with those out there who might be dealing with a psychopath. Don't forget to subscribe to Psych2Go and hit the notification bell icon for more new videos. Thanks for watching. Keep checking this place for more.
