PSYCHOPATHS IN FACT & FICTION
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On Recognizing Psychopaths

They will lie almost reflexively and also engage in very predatory, planned lying.
They really enjoy pulling a fast one on other people, and they don't feel bad about doing it.


Dr. Ronald Schouten, Director of Law and Psychiatry Services at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

Recognize them... and avoid them!

Maybe you know someone who is:

  • Superficially charming
  • Very glib
  • Sometimes transparently dishonest - yet shrugs it off as nothing if exposed
  • Often devious
  • Suspicious of others' motives (thinks the worst of people)
  • Doing exceptionally well in his (or her) career by screwing colleagues over
  • Promiscuous and regularly hurts people's feelings (maybe deliberately)
  • Failing to accept responsibility for their actions
  • Exhibiting a well developed sense of entitlement
  • Exhibiting a very big ego
  • Convinced you should think the world of them as they certainly do...

If the person has all - or even most - of these characteristics then you probably know a psychopath.
More info


The book Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work by Babiak and Hare is well worth reading. It explores situations where psychopaths have infiltrated positions of power, and abused that power to pursue their self interests, yet managed to hide in plain sight while doing so.

Another text book on the nature of this particular beast is The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout - her treatment of the subject is equally readable although my personal preference is for texts by Hare as he is 'the man', having pioneered the concept and created the clinical/psychiatric/psychological standard test. However Martha's a pretty good read too.

These, plus Hare's bible, Without Conscience, are highly enlightening sources for anyone who wants to be able to recognize these people and avoid them - or wants to know how to handle them if avoidance is impossible.

If you prefer a lighter read then check out Ronson's The Psychopath Test - a highly amusing romp through the world of psychopaths and the difficulties of identifying them accurately. The book is not to be taken too seriously as it has been roundly criticized by academics!

However, you will find some great video documentaries on successful non-criminal psychopaths here too.

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For Fans of Thriller, Suspense and Crime Fiction, and similar Movies - with loads of True Crime including info on real life psychopaths too. If you like to curl up with a good psychopath in print or on screen then welcome! If you are researching psychopaths this is a good place to start. If you are a published author and would like to feature your own book details or include excerpts from your work, or you blog your reviews then let us know. All images and video clips used on this site are purely for educational and promotional purposes and used under the fair use policy. If you own the copyright to any material here and object to having it appear on this site then please use the contact form to notify the webmaster. All original material is copyright Will Patching and should not be copied or posted elsewhere without attribution and links to this site. Thank you! Links from this site include Amazon Associate and Google Adsense advertisements accruing income for the benefit of the author. Read the site Privacy Policy here.
  • Home
  • Chameleons
    • Why Care?
    • Guilt
    • Identifying
    • Psychotic vs Psychopathic
    • Are Psychopaths Evil?
    • The Psychopath's Brain
  • Criminal Psychopath Quotes
  • Psychopath movies & quotes
    • Movie Sexy Beast
    • Movie Leon The Professional
    • Movie There Will Be Blood
    • Movie Se7en
    • Silence of the Lambs
    • Movie Reservoir Dogs
    • Movie The Talented Mr. Ripley
    • Movie Collateral
    • Movie Kalifornia
    • Movie Heat
    • Movie Primal Fear
    • Movie Fargo
    • Movie Mr Brooks
    • Movie Misery
    • Movie Fatal Attraction
    • Movie Basic Instinct
    • Movie Malice
    • Movie Cape Fear
    • Movie Monster
    • Movie Road to Perdition
  • Mass Murder
  • Videos
    • Criminal psychopaths
    • Non-criminal psychopaths
    • Childhood traits
  • Gurus
  • Spouses
  • Psychopaths in Novels
    • Novels - Robin Roughley
    • Novels - Maggie James
    • Novels - Catherine Lee
    • Novels - Tracy Tonkinson
    • Novels - Chariss K. Walker
    • The Remorseless Trilogy
    • The Hack Trilogy
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Author Template
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy