So why should you care?
Perhaps you think psychopaths are irrelevant to your life, that you have had no dealings with them, that you are totally unaffected by them. You would be wrong.
They are all around us - often leading us...
In truth, a lot of our business, political and military leaders exhibit traits that could indicate an underlying lack of conscience – the most significant factor in a psychopathic make-up.
The classic line 'I did not have sex with that woman' created a huge online debate about the psychopathic characteristics of the very well known philandering politician who uttered the words - just do a Google search for more on this.
Absence of guilt and no fear of consequences, taken together, remove any social pressure to conform, but the most successful psychopaths mimic our emotions, superficially modify their behaviour and manage to convince us they are normal.
They are not.
They each have a major hole in their psyche, and although it is politically incorrect to say it, psychopaths cannot be cured of this deficiency.
Not that they would want to be - they generally see themselves as superior from their perch at the top of the human food chain.
The best you can do is put yourself in a position to identify them and then avoid them...
Ken Lanning, a retired FBI profiler believes being able to recognize non-criminal psychopaths will help you protect yourself and says:
They are all around us - often leading us...
In truth, a lot of our business, political and military leaders exhibit traits that could indicate an underlying lack of conscience – the most significant factor in a psychopathic make-up.
The classic line 'I did not have sex with that woman' created a huge online debate about the psychopathic characteristics of the very well known philandering politician who uttered the words - just do a Google search for more on this.
Absence of guilt and no fear of consequences, taken together, remove any social pressure to conform, but the most successful psychopaths mimic our emotions, superficially modify their behaviour and manage to convince us they are normal.
They are not.
They each have a major hole in their psyche, and although it is politically incorrect to say it, psychopaths cannot be cured of this deficiency.
Not that they would want to be - they generally see themselves as superior from their perch at the top of the human food chain.
The best you can do is put yourself in a position to identify them and then avoid them...
Ken Lanning, a retired FBI profiler believes being able to recognize non-criminal psychopaths will help you protect yourself and says:
If you don't understand these psychopathic types,
you'll be easily conned by them...
you'll be easily conned by them...
Some years back I lent my original copy of Without Conscience to a female friend who was struggling to understand why her ex-boyfriend had hurt her so much, and why he continued to do so - mentally, not physically - after they had split.
She started reading Hare's book, became totally engrossed, and finished some hours later with an entirely new understanding of what had really happened to her, and that none of it was her fault...
She started reading Hare's book, became totally engrossed, and finished some hours later with an entirely new understanding of what had really happened to her, and that none of it was her fault...
Living with a psychopath is like having an egg beater
turned loose on your brain.
turned loose on your brain.
The chances are, you’ve met at least one socialized psychopath who has caused you personally some serious heartache, or if not, then certainly someone you know has suffered at the hands of one.
It pays to understand these individuals and be able to identify them – they are most definitely not all crazies or axe murderers...
It pays to understand these individuals and be able to identify them – they are most definitely not all crazies or axe murderers...
He will choose you, disarm you with his words, and control you with his presence.
He will delight you with his wit and his plans.
He will show you a good time, but you will always get the bill.
He will smile and deceive you, and he will scare you with his eyes.
And when he is through with you, and he will be through with you,he will desert you and take with him
your innocence and your pride.
You will be left much sadder but not a lot wiser, and for a long time you will wonder what happened and
what you did wrong.
And if another of his kind comes knocking at your door, will you open it?
Hare, Without Conscience
He will delight you with his wit and his plans.
He will show you a good time, but you will always get the bill.
He will smile and deceive you, and he will scare you with his eyes.
And when he is through with you, and he will be through with you,he will desert you and take with him
your innocence and your pride.
You will be left much sadder but not a lot wiser, and for a long time you will wonder what happened and
what you did wrong.
And if another of his kind comes knocking at your door, will you open it?
Hare, Without Conscience
Contact me
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 look forward to hearing from you!
Will Patching - author of The Widow, The Remorseless Trilogy and The Hack Trilogy
Find out more about Will Patching here
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 look forward to hearing from you!
Will Patching - author of The Widow, The Remorseless Trilogy and The Hack Trilogy
Find out more about Will Patching here