A physiologist has suggested that many psychopaths possess three personality traits that are often overlooked.
Movies often portray individuals with psychopathic tendencies in a way that makes them seem easy to identify. However, life isn’t like the movies, and some traits can be much more subtle and harder to notice.
Abigail Marsh, a Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University, specializes in studying human behavior and offers insights on this topic.
In a video featured on the ‘Big Think’ YouTube channel, Marsh discusses three characteristics that a psychopath might exhibit, which are not so apparent.
“There are certain things I look for that suggest to me that the person is genuinely psychopathic that I think could be useful for people to know,” the expert explained.
Being antisocial does not automatically label someone a psychopath, considering the number of introverts in the world. Yet, Marsh suggests that such behaviors could be indicative of psychopathy.
“The first one is that they tend to be antisocial across a whole range of domains,” the physiologist explained. “They’ve cheated on romantic partners, they’ve cheated in professional settings, or maybe in school, or in a sports setting. It’s not just one thing or one domain.”
Marsh further notes that another potential indicator is when an individual perceives themselves as superior to others.
She said: “They tend to show signs they are better than other people, they tend to believe that problems in the world are always other people’s faults. Other people are dumb, other people are ignorant, other people are easily duped.”
While each individual is unique due to their personality traits, psychopaths often believe everyone is just like them.
“Finally, believing that everybody else is just like them underneath,” Marsh said of the final sign someone is a psychopath.
“So, if somebody seems to believe that everybody is actually fundamentally selfish, they think that’s true in general – but what they’re really telling you is what they’re like.”
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das has previously shared additional signs to be aware of.
He said: “How can you tell if somebody is a psychopath? I think the more interesting version of this question is, how do you – how can you – tell if somebody is a psychopath? Like in real life, out in the real world.
“And my answer to that; I think is, actually it’s quite difficult because psychopaths by the very nature are quite manipulative and they’re good at camouflaging themselves. But there are telltale signs.
“So, a true psychopath will kind of, they’ll try and exploit you for anything that they can get from you – whether it’s money, whether it’s friendship, whether it’s sex, and they’re quite narcissistic so everything’s about them.”