Chameleons...
...most of us will come across at least one psychopath during a typical day...
Snakes in Suits - Babiak and Hare
Snakes in Suits - Babiak and Hare
In plain sight
Psychopaths deceive us all by hiding in plain sight, so this site aims to help shine a harsh light on these chameleon like creatures, as well as providing an informative and entertaining resource for those curious to learn more.
There are some good true crime sites out there, as well as many sensationalized accounts that rather strangely aim to glorify serial killers. Very few sites offer a genuine insight into criminal psychopaths.
This site aims to help provide that, and also increase understanding of the destructive behaviours of non-criminal psychopaths.
Factual and fictional aspects are featured relating to both types of psychopath. Feedback, recommendations and comments, are all welcome - please use the contact page here.
Psycho, sociopath or psychopath - what's the difference?
You'll find a lot more on this subject within these pages and the links, but in essence a psychopath is defined by shallow emotions and a total lack of remorse - ie an absence of conscience.
They are not 'psychos' in the sense of the crazy Bate's motel character - he was psychotic.
In reality, most psychopaths are, to all appearances, just like you and me.
The leading authority on psychopaths, Dr Robert Hare, created a checklist to determine whether an individual meets the criteria, now accepted as the international standard for identifying psychopaths, but that assessment should be carried out by a qualified psychologist to be properly effective.
Having said that, there are plenty of characteristics that indicate a person may be a candidate - if there is a cluster of genuine signifiers - but he or she is probably not be a violent murderer or Hitler type leader.
The term sociopath is sometimes used interchangeably with psychopath, though that term usually covers anyone who displays extreme forms of antisocial behaviours, especially learnt behaviours such as typified by gang members, so we will stick with the formal description and definition created by Hare.
Incidentally, after a lifetime of studying psychopaths Dr Hare cannot immediately identify a psychopath at a first meeting, or even after a twenty or thirty minute conversation. They are adept at masking their true nature and our natural instinct to judge people on first impressions works in their favour.
For more on this I recommend Hare's authoritative work on the subject, Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us.
You'll find a link to an extract from this book, articles and other recommended reading on this site.
Why the fascination with these less than attractive personalities?
You'll find plenty of reasons within these pages, but it is worth noting that the most popular fiction genre is crime, with serial killer types littered throughout.
Just flick through some of the best sellers, or think about the movies that have been spawned with psychopaths at their heart - The Silence of the Lambs is but one of many.
Society is threaded through with these individuals, in all sorts of roles, and they generally create havoc for those whose lives they touch. They are highly manipulative and chameleon like as they will play a role designed to meet your expectations:
'A psychopath can appear strong, naive, dominant, honest, submissive, trustworthy, worldly, or whatever he or she believes will get others to respond positively to manipulative overtures...'
From Snakes in Suits - Babiak and Hare
Many appear to be attractive personalities - at least superficially - and there are plenty of examples among our political and business leaders.
Although the author of this site has never met a serial killer, at least not knowingly, I have suffered at the hands of a couple of 'non-criminal' psychopaths – the sort that are all around us.
Unfortunately 'they often have qualities that allow them to succeed in our competitive corporate society. In spades.' Dr Colin Powers, Remorseless (my own fictional creation!)
There are some good true crime sites out there, as well as many sensationalized accounts that rather strangely aim to glorify serial killers. Very few sites offer a genuine insight into criminal psychopaths.
This site aims to help provide that, and also increase understanding of the destructive behaviours of non-criminal psychopaths.
Factual and fictional aspects are featured relating to both types of psychopath. Feedback, recommendations and comments, are all welcome - please use the contact page here.
Psycho, sociopath or psychopath - what's the difference?
You'll find a lot more on this subject within these pages and the links, but in essence a psychopath is defined by shallow emotions and a total lack of remorse - ie an absence of conscience.
They are not 'psychos' in the sense of the crazy Bate's motel character - he was psychotic.
In reality, most psychopaths are, to all appearances, just like you and me.
The leading authority on psychopaths, Dr Robert Hare, created a checklist to determine whether an individual meets the criteria, now accepted as the international standard for identifying psychopaths, but that assessment should be carried out by a qualified psychologist to be properly effective.
Having said that, there are plenty of characteristics that indicate a person may be a candidate - if there is a cluster of genuine signifiers - but he or she is probably not be a violent murderer or Hitler type leader.
The term sociopath is sometimes used interchangeably with psychopath, though that term usually covers anyone who displays extreme forms of antisocial behaviours, especially learnt behaviours such as typified by gang members, so we will stick with the formal description and definition created by Hare.
Incidentally, after a lifetime of studying psychopaths Dr Hare cannot immediately identify a psychopath at a first meeting, or even after a twenty or thirty minute conversation. They are adept at masking their true nature and our natural instinct to judge people on first impressions works in their favour.
For more on this I recommend Hare's authoritative work on the subject, Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us.
You'll find a link to an extract from this book, articles and other recommended reading on this site.
Why the fascination with these less than attractive personalities?
You'll find plenty of reasons within these pages, but it is worth noting that the most popular fiction genre is crime, with serial killer types littered throughout.
Just flick through some of the best sellers, or think about the movies that have been spawned with psychopaths at their heart - The Silence of the Lambs is but one of many.
Society is threaded through with these individuals, in all sorts of roles, and they generally create havoc for those whose lives they touch. They are highly manipulative and chameleon like as they will play a role designed to meet your expectations:
'A psychopath can appear strong, naive, dominant, honest, submissive, trustworthy, worldly, or whatever he or she believes will get others to respond positively to manipulative overtures...'
From Snakes in Suits - Babiak and Hare
Many appear to be attractive personalities - at least superficially - and there are plenty of examples among our political and business leaders.
Although the author of this site has never met a serial killer, at least not knowingly, I have suffered at the hands of a couple of 'non-criminal' psychopaths – the sort that are all around us.
Unfortunately 'they often have qualities that allow them to succeed in our competitive corporate society. In spades.' Dr Colin Powers, Remorseless (my own fictional creation!)
The world is a dangerous place to live;
not because of the people who are evil but because of the
people who don't do anything about it...
Albert Einstein
not because of the people who are evil but because of the
people who don't do anything about it...
Albert Einstein
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The Wisdom of Psychopaths
Another great non-technical book to read if you are interested in how psychopaths affect us all. Dutton's rather controversial view is that they actually offer some benefits to society... I'm not convinced! |
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Contact the site author
If you have any comments, feedback, recommendations for readers or if you are a published author (self-published/independent are particularly welcome) then please use the contact form on this site.
I also send out occasional newsletters offering free books, promotions and prize draws.
Find out more about Will and his writing here.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Will Patching - author of The Widow, The Remorseless Trilogy and The Hack Trilogy
If you have any comments, feedback, recommendations for readers or if you are a published author (self-published/independent are particularly welcome) then please use the contact form on this site.
I also send out occasional newsletters offering free books, promotions and prize draws.
Find out more about Will and his writing here.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Will Patching - author of The Widow, The Remorseless Trilogy and The Hack Trilogy