There are certain personality traits that give away a psychopath. However, displaying just one or two of the traits listed below does not mean someone is a psychopath… it’s their overall personality that leads to a discovery of psychopathy. So here’s a list of traits to look out for:
Psychopaths are masters of manipulation, their true intentions hidden behind a veneer of charm and a pleasant, even caring personality. They’re so nice to everyone, your family, your friends… but it won’t last! Before long, their rather inflated opinion of themselves will give them away.
Psychopaths have a grandiose sense of self worth, of their own importance. They are never wrong, they’re ‘expert’ opinions are more valid than anyone else’s, they are amazing at everything they do they will turn on anyone who doesn’t accept this. They are extremely manipulative and think nothing of using every trick in the book to achieve their aims, including emotional blackmail or even threats — even threats of violence.
They often jump from one short-term sexual relationship to another… a series of short term romantic relationships are often their hunting ground, and none of them last very long. They lack empathy and even the mildest criticism can activate a very short and unpleasant temper. You might not notice at first, but once you get to know a psychopath, you begin to see that their whole life is a lie. For psychopath, lying is a way of life.
They will use lies, charm, anger, to get what they want. The problem is, you won’t even realise you’re being played, at least up to the moment you realise you’ve been manipulated. You will look back on the relationship and wonder how you could have been so stupid! But don’t look for remorse or guilt, because the psychopath doesn’t worry about ruining their victim’s lives — they are only interested in their own aims and if those aims hurt others, that’s their own fault!
There are a number of early behavioural problems evident during childhood that indicate a person could grow up to become a psychopath. Significant violence as a child is one sign and this can be directed at other children, animals, or even adults, including parents. But the real giveaway is a lack of empathy. Psychopaths don’t care about other people’s feelings. Psychopaths are simply not interested in what people might be thinking.
There are however, a couple of things you can do to disarm them or even fight back. It’s essential to show genuine empathy for the bully because only someone who is suffering inside would insult someone else. So… if someone insults you, you should remain relaxed, pause for a moment and then ask them “are you ok?” This is called the ‘empathetic reply’. If someone insults you, they are most likely insecure or just feeling bad, so maybe pause for a moment, look around a bit, and then ask them if they’re ‘doing all right.’
You should ignore insults… if someone does insult you to your face or in a group setting, don’t change your facial expression, try to stay relaxed, and keep talking about the thing you were talking about. Ignoring them will make them feel uncomfortable. If you show you’re not phased, or didn’t even hear it, that’s going to be awkward, they’re going to look bad, and you’re going to be in control.’
