Have you ever wondered if the nasty person you’re dealing with is a psychopath? After all, they can be charming one second and act like evil personified the next. The reality is that it’s not always what you see in the movies. Not all psychopaths are serial killers or criminals. In real life, psychopaths often hide in plain sight. And often, they can be highly successful and charismatic individuals, which makes it difficult to detect their true nature.
But what exactly is a psychopath? This is a person who has a mental disorder called psychopathy, which is characterized by a lack of empathy and remorse. At the same time, they often exhibit charisma that many find irresistible. Given the complexity of their personality and behavior, it’s easy for them to disguise themselves and pretend to be just an average Joe.
So today, we’re diving deep into their behavior patterns that might surprise you. Stick around to discover eight hidden behaviors often tied to psychopathy. You’ll be so surprised that you’ll never look at the people around you the same way again.
Number 1: They mainly use the past tense when speaking.
Something really interesting that’s been observed in people with psychopathic tendencies is how often they use the past tense. Research shows that folks with psychopathic traits might have some challenges with memory and attention. So, they might find it somewhat easier to talk about past events. Also, psychopaths have this tendency to use the past tense when they want to avoid taking responsibility for what they’re doing or the situation they’re in right now. It’s like they’re trying to keep the focus on the past to shift the blame from themselves and dodge any sort of accountability.
Another possible reason for this behavior could be that they struggle to empathize with the current situation. By talking about things that have happened in the past, it’s like they’re able to distance themselves from their own emotions and what others are going through. This may be because they have a limited ability to empathize.
Number 2: They find it challenging to distinguish different smells.
It seems like the sense of smell of people with psychopathic tendencies isn’t really their strong suit. That is, they might have a hard time smelling things. This is because a specific part of their brain called the orbital frontal cortex doesn’t work as well when it comes to processing scents. But we still need more research to fully understand why this is happening and how exactly it works. Even so, this is a really interesting area of study that gives us some valuable insights into how the brains of people with psychopathic tendencies are different.
Number 3: They tend to speak quietly and slowly.
Psychopaths usually speak slowly and softly for several reasons. One possible reason for this could be related to how their brain works. Psychopaths are known to lack empathy, right? And that could explain why they’re less likely to show emotions, which is why they end up speaking slower and quieter than others. Speaking in this manner also gives them a sense of control and power. It allows them to keep their listeners on the edge of their seats, waiting for something big to happen. The soft voice also adds to their charm and makes them seem more trustworthy. Moreover, it’s a sneaky strategy. By using this communication style, they can easily plant ideas or suggestions in other people’s minds. For instance, they can make their claims more likely to be accepted or believed, even if they’re not really true or beneficial. They can even amp up the charm at the same time to better manipulate others to do their bidding.
A Book: Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men.
Number 4: They hardly get affected by other people’s yawns.
You know that yawns can be incredibly contagious, right? When we see someone else yawn, we can’t help but find ourselves doing the same. The power of this unconscious mimicry is truly intriguing. Well, not so for psychopaths. It’s like they’re immune to yawning even when they see others do it. Why? Empathy is actually pretty important when it comes to contagious yawning. This is because, normally, we can understand and share the feelings of others. So, when we see someone yawn, our brains get stimulated and we end up yawning too. But as you know, people with psychopathic tendencies tend to lack empathy, which means you’re less likely to catch them yawning when they see you do it.
Number 5: They laugh at inappropriate moments and places.
Those with psychopathic tendencies have been observed to have this strange thing with laughter. In particular, you’ll see them laugh or giggle in situations where there’s no humor at all. But why do they do this? Well, apparently, the differences in their brain structure and function mess with their ability to feel and understand emotions like the rest of us. So, they end up laughing in inappropriate situations—for instance, those that most people find really creepy or just sad. But here’s the thing: it’s important to remember that not everyone who acts this way can be called a psychopath, and not everyone who laughs inappropriately fits that label either. There are other health conditions that can cause this type of inappropriate laughter.
Number 6: They practice cause-and-effect thinking.
Psychopaths see life in a very black-and-white way. To be precise, they focus on facts and their results rather than emotions or ideals. This way of thinking has a big impact on how they make decisions. Because they’re fixated on the cause-and-effect relationship of something, they don’t really think about how their actions will affect themselves or others, not to mention the more subtle emotions or moral concerns. And because of this, they often end up causing harm to those around them. In turn, they struggle to form genuine connections with people. After all, who would want to keep spending time with someone who constantly hurts them and others without a second thought?
Number 7: They seemingly don’t feel fear.
Psychopaths are thought to have less brain activity in areas that handle fear and anxiety. Because of this, they might have difficulty recognizing and dealing with these emotions effectively. This lack of fear often shows in their calm demeanor, even in situations that would normally make others anxious. Let’s consider a psychopath standing at the edge of a cliff. You’ll notice that they show no fear whatsoever. This lack of fear in psychopaths can make them more likely to engage in risky actions without the usual caution that most people have. It also contributes to their tendency toward being aggressive towards others or, worse, violent.
Number 8: They stare at others seemingly without blinking.
Psychopaths are known for their tendency to give others a creepy stare, holding eye contact without blinking much. It’s called the predatory gaze and can be really unsettling if you’re on the receiving end of it. One possible reason for this behavior is that people with psychopathic traits might struggle to form emotional connections with others. When we see someone with empathy and genuine interest, we naturally blink as a way to establish rapport and connect.
However, psychopaths don’t really feel this need to connect to someone emotionally. This leads to their longer periods of uninterrupted gazing at that person. Moreover, psychopaths might use the strategy of intense staring to intimidate or assert dominance over others. It’s a manipulative tactic aimed at unsettling or provoking a reaction in others. By maintaining unbroken eye contact, to the point of not blinking, they can make others feel uneasy. This also allows them to create a power play in their interactions that’s in their favor.
Read More: 10 Signs of Narcissists on Social Media.
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