Signs of a psychopath: The five personality traits to look out for

Do you know a psychopath? Is there someone in your life who comes across as nice and charming but you are convinced not everything is as it seems?

If you think you know a psychopath, Dr Jaleel Mohammed, from the UK, has revealed the five personality traits to look out for.

“Having just one of these traits does not make someone a psychopath,” the consultant psychiatrist said.

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“But its the overall picture of someone’s personality based on these (and other) recognised traits of psychopaths that can lead to a classification of psychopathy.”

1. Superficial charm

The first trait that Dr Mohammed explained was called the “superficial charm”.

“You know when you meet someone for the first time, and they blow you away, they are really charming and nice? But as you get to know them more and more that sort of charm withers away and they are not anywhere near as nice as you thought they were,” he said.

“Then you might notice that actually, everyone who meets them for the first time thinks, ‘Oh wow they’re so nice’. But you are aware after having known them for a while that this is just a superficial thing.

“Underneath they are nowhere near as charming as they seem.”

2. Grandiose sense of self-worth

Dr Mohammed said psychopaths are characterised as having a “grandiose” sense of self-worth.

“Psychopaths think they are the absolute ‘bees-knees’,” he said.

“They think they are the best at everything. They can never be wrong and there can never be anyone who is better than them. In their mind, they are just amazing at everything and nobody can tell them any different.”

3. Pathological lying

The consultant psychiatrist — who treats mental health conditions — said psychopaths often engage pathological lying.

“So lies upon lies upon lies,” he said.

“You might not notice this at first but once you start getting to know a psychopath, you will realise that they will lie almost seemingly for the sake of it and the enjoyment of it — even without an actual intent behind it.

“They would just lie out of the fun of lying.”

4. Highly manipulative

Dr Mohammed said psychopaths are highly manipulative.

“A psychopath will know every trick in the book to try to achieve their aims,” he said.

The expert explained how psychopaths will use “anger, charm and so many different techniques and tactics to try to get what they want.“

“You may not even realise you are being manipulated until you look back on things,” he said.

5. Lack of remorse/guilt

Lastly, Dr Mohammed said psychopaths have a “lack of remorse and guilt”.

“Psychopaths don’t feel bad about treading on people, they don’t feel bad about causing harm to anyone, they are only focused on achieving their aims,” he explained.

“Whoever gets in the way, psychopaths believe it is their fault. If any harm comes to anyone else it is their fault and not the fault of the psychopath.”

The video has been viewed more than nine million times — with many people sharing their own experiences with a psychopath.

“Even if you break up with a psychopath, they keep manipulating everything in your life, especially if you have kids,” one said.

Another shared, “You’ve just explained my ex”.

While a third added, “Whenever I meet someone charming, the reminder kicks in and I am on the watch”.

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