Psychopathy is a developmental disorder with an understandably negative reputation, but its core features may strike readers as eerily relatable. Experts in the field say it’s much more common than most people realize.
The three signs that parents, caregivers and other family members should be familiar with likely pop up at some or other among many children. Child psychopaths often have ordinary hobbies, and in many cases likely blend in with their classmates and siblings. So it’s worth knowing for sure what to look out for.
The three core features of psychopathy may be more relatable than you’d like to think
According to Psychopathy Is, a non-profit aiming to “lead a new conversation about psychopathy”, the three core features of psychopathy are:
- an uncaring temperament
- boldness and social dominance
- disinhibited behavior
Someone with an uncaring temperament might behave in ways that cause others harm; express little or no guilt or concern when having caused others harm; lie to, or manipulate, other people to get what they want; and seem superficial or insincere to others.
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Boldness and social dominance manifests in fearless personalities. People with this trait might take risks more than others, not show or feel fear in situations others would find scary, and fail to learn to avoid behaviors that cause harm to others.
And disinhibited behavior refers to impulsivity and feeling spontaneous, or a penchant for acting without thinking. Psychopaths might routinely fail to keep commitments, and get bored or impatient more easily than others.
Understanding the difference between a sign and a symptom
Symptoms are subjective experiences. In other words, they’re something the person – in this case, a potential psychopath – feels within themselves. Other people can’t identify them. Such is the way in the field of psychology, where so much is down to personal experience.
A sign, on the other hand, is an “objective, observable phenomenon”. Other people can see signs. Psychopathy Is lists the signs of psychopathy for people of different ages.
Preschool age children might, for example, show little fear in dangerous situations and not react when their peers are scared or sad.
Psychopathy manifests differently in adolescence, or in adults. Teenagers are more likely to engage in illegal activities and struggle to keep friends. Adults can be superficially charming, adept liars, and uncaring about their performance in working environments.
Mild psychopathy is more common than you think
Severe psychopathy affects about 1% of people. But some research suggests that nearly a third of us have some kind of psychopathic traits, according to the American Psychological Association’s Speaking of Psychology podcast.
When it comes to psychological traits, genetic factors account for about half, says Abigail Marsh, PhD. The same seems to be true of psychopathy.
But that’s a “long way from saying that psychopathy is inborn or innate or hardwired,” she adds. “Features of a child’s environment will also shape the degree to which any sort of latent potential for psychopathy gets expressed.”
The upshot of this, and the ease with which some people with psychopathic traits blend in with the rest of society, is that it’s more common than most people realize.
“People with psychopathic traits show less empathy and remorse than other people. They may lie, cheat, and steal, but they may also be friendly, smart, and basically unremarkable. In other words, impossible to pick out of a crowd.”
