Psychopathy anyone enlighten me?

Hi Jemmmy,

Welcome to the Forum.

I would be reluctant to label the person that you've described, but can give you few characteristics commonly associated with a psychopath.

One of the characteristics of a psychopath is a lack of empathy, they lack the capacity to understand how others feel. Enjoying causing undue suffering to animals may be an example, but people who are not assessed as psychopaths can also be cruel!

Psychopaths also find it very easy to lie, they don't have the same feelings of guilt that most of us do.

Living off others, a 'parasitical' lifestyle is another characteristic.

I wonder if more imortant than labelling the person, is for the partner of this person to decide whether this behaviour is acceptable, and if not what should be done about it.

Hi Jemmy

The behaviour you described certainly sounds 'psychopathic'. However given extreme enough circumstances many people will behave psychopathically (Bosnia, Rwanda, Baghdad etc).


Mike was certainly right when he mentioned empathy.


If this person lies casually, treats other people as objects to be manipulated, is unmoved by the suffering of others, uses intimidation and puts their own needs consistantly in front of the needs of others and if much of their behaviouris like this then they certainly sound like a psychopath. It's important to note that we can all be psycopathic on occassion-it's the consistancy of the behaviour that warrents it a label.

Psychopaths are not always phsyically dangerous. Psychopaths can hold down good jobs (beware the psycopathic manager!). The FBI talk about an 'over blown sense of entitlement'. Others have described psychopathy as 'selfishness run riot"'. An indicator of psychopathy in children is often cruelty to animals-live 'disections" etc.

P's are not easy to treat as 1, they are not ususally motivated, for example through empathy, to change and 2, they may be very good at 'covering their tracks' and so only those closest may overtly experience thier strange coldness around the suffering of others.

The best advice, if possible, is-steer clear.

Mark said

Psychopaths can hold down good jobs and ...If this person lies casually, treats other people as objects to be manipulated, is unmoved by the suffering of others, uses intimidation and puts their own needs consistantly in front of the needs of others

I think you've just described the person specification for a politician!!!!

Thank you for your replies. As this person is consistent with his lying and cruel behaviour, I think he has some sort of personality problem - I hope it is not psychopathy - his mother would be devastated if his behaviour escalates. As he is still not quite 20yrs, he may tone down his behaviour. He can be very charming when things are going well for him, and he does have a generous side to his nature. Unfortunately I am unable to speak to anyone in the family about his traits as much of what I know about him reaches me through different channels, and these channels are people who adore him and think he does all this out of entertainment or thoughtlessness. Who knows, they may be right? What I worry most about is his mother's fierce defence of anything he does or says - but no doubt she really knows the truth. Thank you both for your answers, it has given me food for thought. By the way, I agree that these traits are absolutely in evidence in the political field! Jemmmy

Intersting that this person is still under 20. The behaviour of young people can seem psychopathic.

The pre-frontal lobes of the brain don't fully develop until about the age of twenty. They partly have to do with 'putting the breaks' on emotions such as aggression and impulsivity-hence the risk taking behaviour assocaited with young men-not seeing likely consequences to actions etc.

As far as coniving psychopathic politions-the very idea

Mark I am relieved that it may only be to do with his age. But as I seem to have a bee in my bonnet - probably because of the treatment I received and because I think it is very odd to torture animals, I am hoping that hope prevails against fact. I think that his upbringing by a deviant father may count towards some behaviours, and a desire for revenge against anyone from a toddler was encouraged by this father. That coupled with being treated like a 'tin god' by his father and family since a baby could not be conducive to a happy nature? All that being said , I guess I do have too much of a bee in my bonnet coupled with a pessimistic nature and a desire not to see his mother hurt any more , motivates me. Ah well, I will trot off to see a shrink about my problems in the morning! Conniving poloticians, would I suggest such a thing? - huh! J.
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Hi, Can anyone tell me if hurting animals for amusement is a precursor for, or indicator of, a form of psychopathy?
Other behaviours evidenced by the person that I am wary about are:- Controlling and monitoring partner's wherabouts, almost obsessively, i.e. phoning her every 10 minutes. 2. Making sarcastic and contemptuous comments about her for the amusement of others. Rages. One or two against mother when she offerred advice about his relationship. 3. Lying - a lot! Often 'show off' type lies. Or lies which make him look good and others bad. 4. Mockery of the afflicted. 5. Self absorption about hair, fashion etc

I know someone that has a similar behavior. He emotionally abused his girlfriend for quite some time. Then, it got to the point where he raped her. I'm not sure what causes this type of behavior, but I am aware that he may have been abused as a child. Not sure if any of that helped.

Torpid thanks for reply
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Jemmmy42je010b3783@blueyo
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Joined: 23 May 2004
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Torpid thanks for reply


Hi, thank you for your reply. I would not be surprised if the person I wrote about indulged in emotional abuse. I just hope he would not go as far as your friend's partner - I think the girl my subject lives with is protected by having a fairly rough father and brother - otherwise she would have a much harder time. Another weird thing about this young man - he adores lighters, always buying new ones and almost making collections of them. I find his behaviour , especially his lying, very very worrying, his poor mother is made a dupe of many times. Jemmmy
Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:47 pm