On Psychopathy

A couple of days ago, I stumbled across a video about psychopathy in my YouTube recommendations (Yes, I don't know what YouTube is trying to say (*′☉.̫☉)), and it got me thinking about what goes on in the mind of a psychopath, or people with psychopathic traits, I should say. I feel like those of us who have binge-watched crime shows or read thrilling novels featuring cold-blooded killers with no remorse have a very skewed perception of what those people are actually like. So, today, after reading a bunch of Reddit threads, I'm going to write down my thoughts on this topic.

What Exactly is Psychopathy?

Before anything else, "psychopathy" is not equivalent to "crazy" or "evil". Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, shallow emotions, and antisocial behaviors. It's a whole different way of experiencing the world, one where feelings don't run as deep and other people's emotions don't quite register. I think the closest that people without psychopathic traits can relate to those with is during periods of emotional numbness caused by stress.

Like many other psychological disorders, psychopathy exists on a spectrum and is not black and white. Some people might have a few psychopathic traits without being full-blown psychopaths with an inclination to misdemeanor and law violation.

Famous Cases That Grabbed Headlines

Having said that, there's no denying that some of the most notorious criminals in history have been psychopaths. By popular estimate, about 16% of those incarcerated in America exhibit severe psychopathic traits, compared to 2% globally. Let's take this as a chance to look at a few cases that'll make our skin crawl:

• Ted Bundy - the charming law student who murdered at least 30 young women in the 1970s. Bundy's case is fascinating because he used his charisma and good looks to lure victims. He showed zero remorse and even acted as his own lawyer during his trial.
• John Wayne Gacy - known as the "Killer Clown," Gacy assaulted and murdered at least 33 young men in the 1970s. He was a respected member of his community, even performing as a clown at children's parties. Talk about a double life.
• Aileen Wuornos - one of the most famous female serial killers, Wuornos killed seven men in Florida. Her case is particularly interesting because she claimed self-defense, saying the men had tried to rape her. In a documentary that I watched about her, when she thought she wasn't being filmed, she confessed to her interviewer, who seemed to be the only person showing some sympathy to her, how cruel the guards had been to the incarcerated, how much struggle she'd been through, and how she saw being on death row as her only way to get out of it. That's why she wasn't elaborating on her self-defense in front of the judges, even if it was indeed self-defense. We still don't know where the truth lies, but what's clear is that she'd been a victim of life's extremely difficult circumstances and had nobody to love her, and is rather a sociopath than a psychopath - terms that often get mixed up.

To clarify, psychopathy is thought to be an inborn disorder, while sociopathy is usually a product of one's environment.

These cases show the extreme end of what can happen when psychopathy combines with other factors like childhood trauma, substance abuse, or opportunity. But - and this is a big but - they're not the whole story.

High-Functioning Psychopaths

The idea that all psychopaths are violent criminals is simply not true. In fact, many people with psychopathic traits live among us leading pretty normal lives - these are referred to as high-functioning psychopaths.

So what are high-functioning psychopaths up to? Well, some of them are crushing it in the business world. Their charm and confidence can open doors, while their lack of anxiety allows them to perform under pressure. A study found that about 4-12% of CEOs might have psychopathic traits. That's way higher than the general population, which is 1%.

But it's not just about success in business. Psychopaths can be found in all walks of life. Some might be surgeons, able to make tough decisions without getting emotionally involved. Others might be daredevil athletes, fearlessly pushing their limits.

Others might struggle with relationships and social norms. They might come across as cold or insensitive, not understanding why their behavior upsets others. Some might seek therapy to learn how to better interact with the emotional world around them. The point is, psychopathy doesn't automatically equal "criminal."

The Emotional World of Psychopathy

Let's talk about feelings, or rather, the lack of them. One of the key features of psychopathy is a reduced capacity for emotions, especially empathy. The psychological mechanism behind this is impaired automatic activation of brain regions, such as the amygdala, involved in producing emotional response and empathy when witnessing others' emotions or pain.

This emotional disconnect can have some interesting effects:

• Reduced fear and anxiety: Most of us have that little voice in our head that says, "Maybe this isn't a good idea." For psychopaths, that voice is on mute. This can lead to risk-taking behaviors, which can be good (like in business or sports) or bad (like in crime).
• Lack of remorse: Without deep emotions, there's no guilt or shame to hold them back. This is why psychopathic criminals often seem so cold and collected – they genuinely don't feel bad about their actions.
• Charm and manipulation: Many psychopaths are great at faking emotions to get what they want. They might not feel love, but they can sure act like it if it serves their purpose.

We often think of emotions as what makes us human. But they can also cloud our judgment, make us act irrationally, or hold us back from taking necessary risks, so what if it's a double-edged sword?

Living Without Fear

Most of us have a healthy dose of fear that keeps us from doing irrational or painful things, or otherwise things we know we could benefit from but still can't overcome our fear to take action.

This kind of fearlessness that psychopaths have, on the other hand, can lead to some pretty extreme behaviors. On the positive side, it might make someone an amazing firefighter, able to rush into burning buildings without hesitation. Or they might become a successful entrepreneur, taking financial risks that would give most of us a big headache.

But there's a downside too. Without that inner alarm bell, psychopaths might engage in dangerous or violent behaviors, such as property damage, robberies, and in extreme cases murder, without considering the consequences. It's like driving a car with no brakes – thrilling, but potentially disastrous.

Is Psychopathy a Superpower?

How much of our life is dictated by what others think of us? For most of us, it's quite a bit. We worry about fitting in, about being judged, about making a good impression. All of it is exhausting.

Now imagine not giving a damn about any of that. That's the psychopath's reality. They're free from the social anxieties and insecurities that plague the rest of us. In a way, it's like a superpower.

This indifference to others' opinions can be liberating. It allows psychopaths to pursue their goals single-mindedly, without being held back by fear of judgment or failure. They can ask for that raise, approach that attractive stranger, or make that risky business decision without breaking a sweat, while we often feel trapped by our own emotions and social awareness. We might dream of telling off that rude customer but hold back to keep our job. We might have a brilliant idea but never share it for fear of being laughed at. In a way, our emotions and social consciousness, while valuable, can also be a cage.

The Importance of Emotions

Now, before you start thinking being a psychopath sounds pretty awesome, let's pump the brakes. While their emotional detachment might seem freeing, psychopaths miss out on a lot of what makes life rich and meaningful.

Think about it:

Love and Connection: The joy of experiencing love, the warmth of family bonds, the comfort of deep friendships – while psychopaths can logically analyze these experiences and try to imitate them, they simply cannot genuinely feel them and thus fully appreciate them.

Empathy and Compassion: The ability to truly understand and share the feelings of others is a fundamental human experience. It's what allows us to form deep connections and work together as a society.

Personal Growth: Our emotions, even the negative ones, teach us important lessons. They help us grow, learn from our mistakes, and become better people.

The Full Spectrum of Human Experience: From the highs of joy to the lows of grief, our emotions color our world and give life its depth and meaning.

So while psychopaths might be free from emotional turmoil, they're also missing out on the full, vibrant experience of being human. It's a high price to pay for emotional detachment.

Final Thoughts

Despite all we've learned about psychopathy, there's still so much we don't understand. What causes it? Is it nature, nurture, or a mix of both? Can it be treated or managed? These are questions that researchers are still grappling with. It's a fascinating aspect of human psychology that challenges our understanding of emotions, behavior, and what it means to be human.