How to defeat a psychopath - effective methods, methods and recommendations

Psychopaths are capable of the most heinous crimes, but they are often so charming and so skilled at manipulating others that they can hide behind a dazzling mask of normality for years, and perhaps their entire lives. Those who are exposed often gain worldwide fame, such as Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and many others. Moreover, the results of several scientific studies show that 1 in 100 people are psychopaths who tend to blend into the crowd like cold-blooded chameleons. Psychopathy is defined as a condition (sometimes called a personality disorder) characterized by a lack of empathy and manipulative tendencies. But are the brains of psychopaths different from the brains of everyone else?

Still from Stanley Kubrick's cult film The Shining

Holds certain positions

According to an anonymous survey conducted by Oxford University psychologist Kevin Dutton while writing his book The Wisdom of Psychopaths, psychopaths are most often found among people in the following professions and positions:

• CEO;
• advocate;
• media representative (radio or television);
• Sales Manager;
• surgeon;
• journalist;
• police officer;
• clergyman;
• Chef;
• civil servant.

Of course, this does not mean that every boss or lawyer has a personality disorder. Most likely, in these positions it is simply easier for psychopaths to realize their potential and achieve success.

In addition, it is worth considering that the survey covered only UK residents and questions remained about the purity of the study. However, Dutton’s data indirectly confirms the statement of Corporate psychopaths common and can wreak havoc in business, researcher says Australian psychologist Nathan Brooks. According to his information, the proportion of psychopaths among Australian top managers is 21%. That's a lot.

And during his research, Dutton found out that psychopaths prefer the Financial Times to other newspapers. Apparently, the analytical press helps them become leaders.

Is the disease curable?

Can a psychopath be healed? The symptoms and treatment of this disease are largely a mystery even to doctors. Such violations are difficult to correct. If a psychopath himself is aware of his own problem and wants to treat it, he has a chance to correct his behavior. Unfortunately, this awareness is available to few, and the ability to push a psychopath into treatment seems unlikely.

Before treatment, you need to get a diagnosis from a psychotherapist. To do this, a conversation is held with the person, his behavior is observed, and a tomography may be needed.

Usually no medications are prescribed; a stable condition can only be maintained with the help of antidepressants. To begin with, they are prescribed in small doses, gradually increasing, but it is extremely difficult to convince a person to take anything. They mainly try to treat the side effects of psychopathy - drug addiction, alcoholism and other types of addictions.

Also, a course of psychotherapy is conducted with such people, holding conversations and directing the patient’s behavior in the right direction, eliminating negative, painful thought patterns.

Prefers the night

According to the study Creatures of the night: Chronotypes and the Dark Triad traits, published by Australian scientists in 2013, psychopaths are more night owls than larks. This conclusion was made for all representatives of the so-called dark triad. In addition to psychopaths, it includes people who are characterized by narcissism and Machiavellianism.

As stated in this study, representatives of the "dark triad", like many other predators, prefer the dark time of day, when others sleep and become more defenseless.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise shamelessly tries to use charm to woo women. And behind all his charm, as many believe, hides a real psycho. Tom is sometimes inadequate. You can take, for example, that incident on the Oprah Winfrey Show. According to Insider, even actress Leah Remini once called Cruise the real devil.

The full moon in Cancer affected every zodiac sign: what to expect in 2021

Now you can get a passport for someone vaccinated against Covid-19 on the government services portal

Garlic “knots” with herbs fly off the table in an instant: recipe

Likes bitter things

The study Individual differences in bitter taste preferences are associated with antisocial personality traits, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Appetite in 2015, proved that psychopaths and sadists like bitter foods. Especially gin and tonic, strong black coffee, dark chocolate, broccoli, cabbage, radishes, and - horror of horrors - strong beer.

Addiction to bitter foods, according to researchers from the University of Innsbruck, may be associated with Machiavellianism, narcissism, sadism, aggression and other antisocial character traits. Scientists believe that the reason is as follows.

Evolutionarily, most people do not tolerate the taste of bitterness, because in nature most things that are poisonous or inedible taste bitter.

But psychopaths are different from most: they may eat less-than-tasty food just to diversify their experience, and they don't care even if the food isn't good for them. While sociable, pleasant and balanced people, on the contrary, dislike bitter taste.

True, Dr. Stephen Meyers, a philosophy professor at Roosevelt University, recommends Are You Really a Psychopath If You Drink Black Coffee? treat the research results of your colleagues with caution. According to him, it is easier to identify a psychopath or sociopath by the way they treat the waiter in a restaurant, rather than by the food they order.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale was arrested for assaulting his mother and sister at the Dorchester Hotel in 2008 and was known for having major meltdowns on set. It should also be noted that he managed to distinguish himself on the set of the film “Terminator”. Then he apologized for his behavior, saying that sometimes his enthusiasm simply goes off scale.

5G will become a de facto standard: 10 Android predictions for 2021

In the new year - with a new figure: Alena Vodonaeva spoke about her intention to lose weight

Ivanka Trump is proud that her children left handprints in the White House garden

Takes a lot of selfies

It would seem that people who love selfies are sociable and want to share their impressions with others, while real psychopaths are embarrassed by their appearance. But it is not always the case.

The study The Dark Triad and trait self-objectification as predictors of men's use and self-presentation behaviors on social networking sites by psychologists Jesse Fox and Margaret Rooney from Ohio University revealed a connection between the desire to take selfies all the time and tendencies towards Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. Participants who were suspected of having a psychopathic disorder spent more time on social media than others and took more photographs of themselves.

To be fair, it should be said that only men aged 18 to 40 participated in the experiment. So, girls, you can continue taking seductive selfies as much as you like - you are above suspicion. Although…

Treatment of psychopathy

It is impossible to completely eliminate this violation. Some patients with psychopathy recognize that they have characteristics that make it abnormal for other people to live with them. If a person himself is aware of the presence of a problem, psychocorrection turns out to be more effective.

The patient can learn to control his impulses and change his attitude towards others. Family psychotherapeutic consultations and explanatory conversations with the patient can be of great benefit. Hypnosis is often used. In especially severe cases, psychotropic drugs are selected for patients.

Engaged in creativity

According to research Investigating the prosocial psychopath model of the creative personality: Evidence from traits and psychophysiology by Dr. Adrian Galang from Masaryk University, psychopathic personality traits sometimes correlate with significant creative achievements.

According to Galang, psychopaths are not necessarily antisocial and criminally inclined. There are also prosocial individuals who use their inherent courage and disregard for society's expectations to realize their creative potential.

Such psychopaths are characterized by high creativity.

For example, Van Gogh became an outstanding artist, despite the fact that he was crazy enough to cut off his own ear. Picasso, who showed the traits of a psychopath, at the same time created a new direction in painting - cubism. Beethoven was prone to sadism and treated those close to him rather cruelly, but he wrote magnificent music. So the stereotype that brilliant people are partly insane is not unfounded.

How to recognize a psychopath

This is a person with a certain set of specific traits. Psychologists and psychiatrists describe psychopaths as charming, emotionally abusive, manipulative, and potentially criminal. According to expert estimates, approximately one percent of the Earth's population has such a deviation. Such people are excellent at camouflage, so they are perceived by others as completely normal, attractive individuals.

Not all psychopaths are violent, but they pose a threat to society, especially among people with criminal records. The actions of the sick are destructive to human nature. An excitable psychopathic personality has inflated demands on others; it is characterized by: conflict, easy entry into a state of rage, and even the ability to kill. Psychopaths are predators in society, as evidenced by the following traits:

• the ability to feel someone else's pain, but remain indifferent;
• ability to manipulate, cunning, resourcefulness;
• laziness, parasitic lifestyle, lack of desire to work.

Listens to rap

Perhaps when you hear the word “psychopath,” you imagine a sophisticated maniac listening to classical music to the accompaniment of the screams of his victim. Or a long-haired, pale devil worshiper who prefers heavy metal.

But psychologist Pascal Wallisch of New York University analyzed the Playlist of the Lambs: psychopaths may have distinct musical preferences and concluded that people who score highest on tests of psychopathy like to listen to rap music. These subjects were most attracted to the song Blackstreet No Diggity, but they also liked Eminem's hit Lose Yourself.

But classic rock, jazz and pop music are of little interest to psychopaths - fans of the compositions My Sharona by The Knack and Titanium by Sia turned out to be the most normal and balanced people.

Gary Busey

According to Ranker, Gary Busey once exploded and yelled angrily at a reporter at the Oscars and started a fight on set. Busey's strange behavior also included getting into a fight with the actor, whom he punched in the stomach. There was also the time he hosed down an interviewer, and many will remember the incredibly weird red carpet interview he gave during the 2010 Oscars.

Likes to have fun

Psychopaths are bored all the time, and they are ready to do anything to relieve their boredom. Crazy men like Ted Bundy killed young women just for fun. But even if a psychopath is not a killer, he still wants to do something like that - such people lack adrenaline and bright emotions, and they are unable to enjoy simple, everyday joys.

The nervous system of a psychopath is designed in such a way that he simply needs to continue to do exciting, exciting things all the time in order to feel normal and maintain the desired level of his arousal.

Robert Schug, neurocriminologist and clinical psychologist

Psychiatrist Eric Monasterio found in Self-Transcendence in Mountaineering and BASE Jumping that people who exhibit psychopathic traits engage in extreme sports such as BASE jumping and mountaineering to relieve boredom.

And many of these athletes exhibit characteristics similar to those of psychopaths - the search for new sensations, disdain for danger, excessive self-confidence and risk-taking. Monasterio's research is confirmed by Psychiatric Aspects of Extreme Sports: Three Case Studies and another psychiatrist, Jan Tofler.

In addition, the fight against boredom can manifest itself in less extreme ways. For example, Dr. Randall Salekin states 13 signs you're dealing with a psychopath, according to experts, that psychopaths are more likely than others to encourage their colleagues to go somewhere together to drink, have fun and look for adventure.

Distinctive Behaviors

In order not to fall into the “trap” and become a victim of a tyrant, it is important to be able to evaluate some hidden personality traits and pay attention to a person’s behavior in relationships. Science identifies the following main types of psychopathy:

1. Schizoid. Psychics of this type prefer solitude, they are unsociable, with autistic traits, avoid the manifestation of feelings, are dry and formal in contacts with others, and are often self-centered. Among schizoids there are cruel natures. The basis of their temperament is a combination of high sensitivity and coldness, by which they are easy to recognize.
2. Psychasthenic. Signs of this type of psychopathy are a tendency to doubt, a lack of inner confidence in the correctness of one’s own judgments, the truth of feelings, and indecisiveness when choosing a course of action. Such patients are conscientious, take into account every detail in their work, are pedantic, and tend to worry about any reason.
3. Asthenic. People of this type are characterized by general nervous weakness, strong impressionability, sensitivity, and timidity. An asthenic psychopath can be recognized by increased fatigue. During work that requires increased expenditure of energy, the asthenic person becomes distracted and his concentration is impaired.
4. Affective. These are sociable, good-natured, friendly individuals, who are characterized by emotional lability and mood swings, sometimes reaching the level of affective disorders.
5. Paranoid. This type is characterized by one-sided but persistent affects that take precedence over logic and common sense. Paranoids are capricious, not prone to revelation, despotic, cruel, suspicious, and constantly expect tricks from others. Paranoid psychopaths are divided into litigators, jealous people, reformers, and religious fanatics.
6. Hysterical. Representatives of the species strive to appear more significant than they are. They use every opportunity to get into the spotlight, so they choose bright clothes and prefer demonstrative forms of behavior - these are characteristic signs by which they can be recognized. Hysterics are prone to boasting, lying, imitation, frivolous actions, inventions, and various adventures. In such patients, their character is dominated by stubbornness, capriciousness, and touchiness.
7. Excitable and emotionally dull psychopaths. This is a separate species, including hot-tempered, devoid of compassion, irritable, sullen and cruel individuals. Frequent forms of reaction of these psychopaths are attacks of anger, affective discharges even for minor reasons, which are accompanied by sharp motor excitation and narrowed consciousness.

Desire for dominance

Psychopaths often exhibit dominant, narcissistic tendencies. Such patients have an increased sense of self-worth and inadequately high self-esteem. These individuals are characterized by an inappropriate, beyond the reasonable, sense of entitlement. Psychopaths are characterized by “fearless dominance” - the absence of fear in a dangerous situation, the ability to charm people. Such traits, according to research, have been observed in some American presidents. They were clearly expressed in the character of Theodore Roosevelt.

Emotional Indifference

Men and women with psychopathic characteristics are characterized by chaotic, superficial relationships, since they are not capable of empathy - sympathy and empathy. The journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience published the results of a study that examined more than 120 brain images of incarcerated individuals (including highly psychopathic individuals). According to these data, people with disabilities lacked neural networks responsible for feelings of anxiety and sensitivity to others.

Rage, jealousy, anger, disappointment are typical emotions by which psychopaths can be recognized. These people avoid deeper feelings such as kindness, love, compassion. Their behavior is driven by a desire for more easily accessible and superficial variety.

• Why Soviet women had the thickest hair
• Taking into account unconfirmed length of service when recalculating pensions
• Benefits for major repairs provided to labor veterans

Tendency to aggression

Lack of behavioral control often leads to violent acts of aggression by psychopaths. Individuals with mental illness typically do not cause physical harm to others, but are almost always emotional in speech and verbally abusive.

Thrill seeking

The thirst for adrenaline is a characteristic feature by which individuals with psychopathic characteristics can be recognized. Such people are prone to actions that stimulate their insatiable desire for a sense of danger. Even if this can lead to negative consequences, causing harm to the psychopath, the desire for thrills remains stable.

If a person strictly follows established rules and laws, he is unlikely to have a tendency towards psychopathy. Patients do not like to obey and consider themselves above any canons. This leads to the fact that about 25% of prisoners have signs of psychopathy. However, most sufferers avoid jail time by continuing to break laws without feeling any remorse.

Desire for manipulation and personal gain

Individuals with psychopathic traits have a reputation for being skilled manipulators and liars. They tend to cheat often for fun. Some patients do not seek personal gain like others, they simply seek the thrill that manipulation of third parties gives them. As a rule, to achieve what you want (money, fame, power, even satisfying any small momentary need), ostentatious goodwill and kindness are used.

Self-centeredness and irresponsibility for one's own actions

Psychopathy is characterized by a lack of responsibility for one's own behavior. Instead, deviant individuals seek to impose a feeling of guilt on their victims. It is impossible to build true friendship with such people because they neglect any relationships and do not respect others. Psychopaths tend to be dominant, narcissistic, self-centered, and arrogant. They can be recognized by their inflated sense of self-importance and lack of responsibility for their actions.

• 3 ways to reduce your cell phone costs
• Which category of working pensioners will have their pensions indexed?
• The benefits and harms of green beans

Has many short novels

Because psychopaths are constantly bored, they quickly become bored with their relationships and rush out to find new ones. The study The dark side of love and life satisfaction: Associations with intimate relationships, psychopathy and Machiavellianism by British psychologist Thomas Chamorro-Premuzic found that people with this disorder tend to have short affairs, charming their partners with their charm, and then leaving them. Sex in this case is not an end in itself or a way to express affection.

Through affairs, a psychopath gets pleasure from dominating a partner or simply nurtures his ego with love victories.

However, psychopaths are still capable of sometimes experiencing affection. Researcher Christian Keysers in the Netherlands established Brain research shows psychopathic criminals do not lack empathy, but fail to use it automatically, that such people usually do not tend to feel compassion for others, but still the parts of the brain responsible for empathy work for them.

When a psychopath understands that he is expected to show empathy, he uses it - not automatically, like a normal person, but through an effort of will. This explains why psychopaths, despite their coldness, can adapt well socially.

Classification of psychopathic personalities

The disease in question is considered a borderline mental state. They occupy a position between character accentuations and progressive mental disorders.

In order to classify psychopaths, various aspects and approaches can be used. There are constitutional or nuclear psychopathy, which combine types of disorders caused by hereditary pathology, and regional psychopathy, caused primarily by improper upbringing.

In the post-Soviet space, the most popular classification was proposed by P. Gannushkin in 33 years of the previous century.

The term “psychopathy” is quite ambiguous, since it can be used as a synonym for dissocial disorder and as a designation for mental pathologies in general. As a result, Gannushkin uses the term “constitutional psychopathy,” focusing on the static, congenital etiology of the group of disorders under consideration.

P. Gannushkin divided psychopathic personalities into: hysterical characters, unstable ones, asthenics, antisocial epileptoids, schizoids, paranoids, cycloids, constitutionally stupid.

Asthenics, in turn, suffer from asthenic or psychasthenic psychopathy.

Individuals diagnosed with the first type of the described disorder are characterized by increased timidity, shyness, uncertainty, and impressionability. They are especially lost when in a new or unknown environment, and at the same time feel inferior. High sensitivity occurs both as a result of physical overload and exposure to mental stimuli. Often this category of people cannot tolerate changes in temperature, the sight of blood, and react unhealthy to harshness and tactlessness. At the same time, their reaction of disapproval can be expressed by silent touchiness or grumbling. They are often characterized by autonomic disorders: sweating, headaches, discomfort in the myocardial region, gastrointestinal dysfunction, poor sleep. They get tired quickly. They tend to get “stuck” on their own well-being.

Personalities of the psychasthenic type of psychopathy are characterized by pronounced timidity, indecision and continuous hesitation. Psychasthenics are shy, vulnerable, but in addition, they are also painfully proud. They are characterized by self-control and a desire for introspection. They are predisposed to abstract, abstract logical conclusions, annoying doubts and fears. Psychasthenics are afraid of any life metamorphoses, for example, a violation of the usual structure of life. This provokes an increase in their uncertainty and causes anxiety. They are excellent deputies, but they will not qualify for leadership positions. The need to independently resolve issues and take the initiative is disastrous for them. An inflated degree of aspirations and a lack of a sense of reality lead to decompensation.

People suffering from schizoid psychopathy are distinguished by their lack of communication, isolation from reality, a desire to process their own experiences within themselves, and coldness and callousness in relationships with family. They are characterized by emotional disharmony: increased sensitivity, impressionability when the problem is significant, and emotional callousness, impenetrability, if the problem concerns “strangers”. Their hobbies are extraordinary and original. Among this category of people there are many musicians, people involved in theoretical sciences or art. Their judgments about other individuals are unpredictable and categorical. At work, the described category of people is often uncontrollable, since they work based on their own views about value guidelines in life.

The main feature of persons suffering from paranoid psychopathy is a tendency to form significant, highly valuable ideas, which are developed by the age of 25. Since childhood, this category of people has been characterized by stubbornness, straightforwardness, and one-sided interests. They are self-confident, touchy, vindictive, and overly susceptible to the disregard of their opinion by those around them. A persistent craving for self-affirmation, categorical categorical views and actions, selfishness and excessive self-confidence create the basis for the emergence of confrontations with the environment. An obsession with grievances and certain thoughts, rigidity, and conservatism are the basis on which dominant ideas affecting significant experiences are formed. Such ideas differ from delusional ones in the specificity of their content and their reliance on real facts. Moreover, their views are based on subjective conclusions, a superficial and limited assessment of reality that corresponds to the confirmation of their theory.

The leading characteristics of the epileptoid type of psychopathy are severe irritability and excessive excitability, short temper leading to fits of rage, and the response does not correspond to the strength of the stimulus. People suffering from the described disorder, along with fixation, viscosity, rancor, are also characterized by sweetness, flattery, hypocrisy, and a tendency to use diminutive words in conversation. Excessive pedantry, cleanliness, despotism, selfishness and the prevalence of a gloomy, pessimistic mood make this category of subjects unbearable in the professional sphere and in everyday life. Among psychopaths of this type you can often find gambling addicts, binge drunks, sexual perverts and murderers.

Hysterical psychopathy is manifested by a thirst for recognition. In other words, psychopaths of this type are ready to do anything just to draw the attention of others to themselves. This is manifested by demonstrative behavior, theatricality, hyperbolization and embellishment of personal experiences. Hysterical individuals are characterized by mental infantilism, manifested in emotional reactions, actions and judgments. Their feelings are shallow and unstable.

Cycloid psychopathy unites individuals with different, constitutionally defined, levels of mood. Individuals with invariably low mood form a group of hypothymic psychopaths (constitutionally depressed). These are gloomy, saddened, uncommunicative and dissatisfied individuals.

The constitutionally excited type is represented by hyperthymic individuals. They differ from the previous category by optimism, activity and invariably high spirits. These are sociable, carefree, talkative people. Due to increased sexual desire, they are promiscuous in relationships and have promiscuous sexual intercourse.

Emotionally unstable individuals, characterized by constant changes in mood, are classified as the cycloid subtype. The mood of cyclothymics ranges from sad to joyful. Periods of joyful or bad mood have unequal duration.

The emotionally labile category of psychopaths are subjects in whom changes in state occur extremely frequently. Unstable psychopaths are highly dependent on external influences. These are weak-willed, easily suggestible persons.

Features of the antisocial subtype of psychopath are pronounced moral defects, partial emotional inhibition, an almost complete absence of social emotions, and feelings of shame.

The constitutionally stupid variety of psychopaths is manifested by limitations and mental insufficiency. They study well. This is the difference from oligophrenia. However, after entering “adult” life, they encounter difficulties due to the need to use the acquired knowledge in practical activities and take initiative.

Maintains friendly relations with exes

If you dated a very strange guy (or an extremely eccentric girl), decided to break up and he (or she) finally offers to “stay friends” - you should seriously think about this proposal.

Don’t think that every ex of yours who offered to remain friends has psychopathic tendencies. But still, psychopaths are very interested in maintaining contact with their exes for selfish purposes, such as constant access to sex or borrowed money. At the same time, they do not care at all what emotional impact they have on their ex-partners.

Paulette Sherman, psychologist, author of Dating from the Inside Out

According to the study Staying friends with an ex: Sex and dark personality traits predict motivations for post-relationship friendship by psychologists Justin Mogilsky and Lisa Welling, psychopaths are very willing to stay close to their ex-halves, maintaining “friendship.” There is no altruism - they view these relationships as a resource, trying to get from them what they need.

Signs of psychopathy

Psychopathic deviations are accompanied by a number of symptomatic manifestations. People suffering from the disorder are not capable of long-term relationships. Pathology is often manifested by the desire to establish relationships only with those people who can bring material benefit. The patient deliberately ignores existing norms of behavior. The following signs may indicate the presence of this disorder:

• superficial charm;
• hypertrophied sense of self-esteem;
• rancor;
• short sleep duration;
• pathological deceit;
• outbursts of rage;
• inconsistency in actions;
• frequent change of place of work;
• sexual depravity;
• inability to assess the degree of danger;
• frequent change of character masks;
• accusing the opponent of shortcomings and lies at the slightest dispute;
• own set of moral laws;
• presence of high intellectual abilities;
• charm and visual attractiveness;
• out-of-the-box thinking.

Psychopaths are characterized by attacks of groundless jealousy, irresponsibility and impulsiveness. Such individuals often try to sow chaos and discord around them, because... By quarreling other people, they get pleasure from it. They lead a parasitic lifestyle. They cannot be relied upon in an emergency.

In men

Men suffering from psychopathy are distinguished by thoughtful tactics of behavior in society. They often hide or smooth out facts to their advantage. The behavior of a psychopath in most cases is hypocritical, so in public and in the family they are 2 different people.

Such a man can achieve high success in business or at work. Present yourself to colleagues and friends in the best possible light. At the same time, physical and psychological violence at home is the norm. It is extremely difficult for any woman to leave such a man. They deftly manipulate feelings and can threaten and intimidate.

Among women

A psychopath is characterized by emotionality and hot temper. Such women are unbalanced. Despite their outward goodwill, psychopaths are extremely hostile towards others. Especially often their aggression is directed at other women, communication with whom cannot bring them material benefit. The patient is dismissive of the feelings and problems of her family.

Patients suffering from this disorder have too much selfishness. It begins to appear in adolescence. Despite her attractiveness in the eyes of men, such a woman is not able to experience feelings of love and affection. Such women often build relationships on cold calculation, leaving their partner as soon as personal interest is realized or a better candidate appears. The patient is not able to love even her children. They are often the ones who suffer the most from her words and actions.

In children

Psychopathy can have different manifestations in childhood, because During this period, the child is just learning to communicate with others. Some children already at an early age acquire the skills to manipulate the feelings of others and show signs of selfishness. In other cases, children with this disorder have difficulty communicating with peers. They gradually hone their manipulation skills. Possible behavioral problems.



And yet a criminal

Although it has already been said that not all psychopaths behave antisocially, their proportion among criminals is still much higher. According to various estimates, it may account for more than 7% of Psychopathy among prisoners in England and Wales, about 15% of Psychopathy/antisocial personality disorder conundrum, or over 20% of Psychiatric morbidity among sentenced prisoners: prevalence study in Iran. Dr. Paul Babiak, in a report [Psychopathy: An Important Forensic Concept for the 21st Century] for the FBI, states that 15-20% of psychopaths have criminal tendencies. Considering that approximately 1% of the world's population has psychopathic personality disorder, the numbers look impressive.

Obviously, this is due to the fact that it is easier for such people to neglect moral standards, and the inability to feel remorse can make them recidivists.

Of course, the presence of one or two signs from the list does not yet indicate psychopathy. But if a coincidence is noticed on a larger number of points and, moreover, the person exhibits character traits inherent in psychopaths, there is reason to think. By the way, how confident are you?

Avoid negotiations

If we talk about how to protect yourself from a psychopath, then first of all you need to understand that such people never hear those around them. It is impossible to convince such a person. If you enter into a discussion with a psychopath, citing the most reasonable arguments and reasons, then you will get nothing but a headache in response. And sometimes it comes to assault.

If your opponent does not have a strong psyche and is not able to suppress a psychopath, then it is better not to even try. The best solution would be to get away from an unpleasant conversation by moving the topic in a different direction.

How common are mental illnesses?

According to reports from the US National Institute of Mental Health, 26% of Americans over 18 years of age suffer from some diagnosable personality disorder. The figures may be different in Russia, but there is no reason to expect a significant reduction in this percentage.

More than 30% of the subjects felt something similar to a mental disorder throughout the year. About 50% suffered from this type of dysfunction during their adult life. A deeper analysis of the study found that mental disorders accounted for 23% of all years lost due to disability. Almost a quarter of people who lose their capacity for a year do so because of mental illness. These diseases easily rival neurological diseases and musculoskeletal injuries in terms of prevalence.

And perhaps Viktor Tsoi was right: “And I don’t know what the percentage of crazy people is at a given hour, but if you believe your eyes and ears, it’s several times higher.”