A psychiatrist has shared five signs which could suggest you're dealing with a psychopath on a daily basis.
Psychopathy, known medically as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), is a condition which is believed to effect 3 in 100 people throughout their lifetime, as per statistics from Mind.
According to a 2023 study, a number of factors are said to factor into a personality disorders, such as childhood development, genetics and environmental influenced, however, research on ASPD is scarce. It is also estimated that the prevalence of ASPD is 2 to 3 percent of the general population.
So, while it's very unlikely you'll ever have to deal with a Patrick Bateman or Anton Chigurh type character in real life, here are five signs of psychopathy which could come up in daily life.
Sharing the advice on his TikTok account, London-based Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Jaleel Mohammed revealed the most common tell-tale traits of ASPD.
Antisocial personality disorder is now favoured in place of the term psychopath (Getty Stock Images)
Chronic Lying
First on the list is chronic lying, with Dr Mohammed explaining that a psychopath is able to create 'entire realities to suit their own needs'.
"The worrying part is, they're often very good at it," he added. "They can lie with charm and confidence."
Lack of Empathy
A lack of empathy is often considered one of the core characteristics of ASPD, which is seen as inability to understand or sympathise with the feelings of others. This is why psychopaths are typically characterised as cold and indifferent to the suffering of others.
"While they understand emotions intellectually," Dr Mohammed noted. "They just don't understand emotions such as compassion, guilt or remorse."
He also added that some psychopaths will even 'fake' these emotions as a way to 'fit in or gain trust'.
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (Lionsgate films)
Superficial Charm
Ever met someone who appears so charming and charismatic that it feels almost unnerving to be around them? This could also be a sign of ASPD.
"Psychopaths can appear highly charismatic, drawing people in by how warm and likeable they are," Dr Mohammed said.
However, their charm is typically 'surface level' and a tool used in order to gain another person's trust, he adds.
Impulsivity
Traits such as impulsivity, reckless and often criminal behaviour can be witnessed in people with antisocial personality disorder.
"Whereas most people may hesitate or think twice about their actions, psychopaths can be dangerously impulsive and make reckless decisions without considering the risk to other people," Dr Mohammed explained, adding that they wouldn't feel any 'guilt or responsibility' afterwards.
Grandiose Self-Worth
Last on the list is an inflated sense of self worth. While most of us will be guilty of bigging ourselves up a little too much from time-to-time, Dr Mohammed explained that a psychopath may often 'believe they are superior to other people'.
This 'inflated sense of self' is often used as a justification for their behaviours such as manipulating and controlling others.
According to the NHS, ASPD is diagnosed after a 'rigorous detailed psychological assessment' when a person is 18-years-old. To be diagnosed, a person must fit three criteria of ASPD, including being impulsive, repeatedly being deceitful or breaking the law, and lack of remose.
They add that while their behaviour may be extreme in their early adult life, it may improve by the time they are in their 40s.
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