Today, I want to cover this topic: Signs of a Psychopath to help you know whether you are dealing with the run-of-the-mill narcissist or a psychopath, because if you didn’t know, they actually share many similar traits. Also, I personally believe that narcissism is the foundation of narcissists, other Cluster B personality types, sociopaths, and psychopaths, and that is why they share very similar traits.
Narcissists and psychopaths live and work alongside us. Many are hidden in the shadows and have prestigious careers and titles. So, it’s very important to know what red flags to look out for, as everything that shimmers is not gold, okay?
I will first go through the things they have in common and then will expound on what makes the difference—what lets you know you are dealing with a psychopath instead of just a narcissist.
For anyone who has not looked into this before, you may be surprised by the similarities and the slight differences. Some may even leave thinking that they are dealing with a psychopath instead of a narcissist, but let’s get into it.
Similarities.
Okay, so the similarities are, in no particular order, as follows:
- Lack of empathy: They are unable to relate to, understand, or even care about what others are experiencing. They do not feel remorse.
- No accountability: They do not take accountability for their actions; they blame others for their faults and wrong actions.
- Manipulation: Using a fake image and charm to impress and gain the trust of certain individuals. They see other people as tools or toys that they can play with.
- Pathological liars: They would lie about anything and everything. They operate in deceit; they are not honest people.
- Acting skills: They are great at acting and mimicking others—captivating storytellers. They are masters at charming and keeping people intrigued.
- No moral compass: They do whatever makes them happy, whatever feels right to them.
- Testing and pushing boundaries: They are both very controlling and think that their way of thinking and being is superior to that of the other people around them.
- Selfish and arrogant: Their wants and needs come first. They have an inflated sense of self-worth or delusions of grandeur.
- Hints of their true nature: They show hints of their true nature ever so often but disguise it with humor or something else.
- Terrible mood swings: They can fluctuate between extreme emotional states.
Finally, they both like to appear smart or intelligent; you know, the book-smart kind, so they like to increase their knowledge in different subjects, etc.
So, psychopaths and narcissists are manipulators, liars, deluded, selfish, moody, lack empathy, and accountability. They hate boundaries; they are fake, two-faced, etc.
Now, let’s look at what the differences are. What are the psychopathic tendencies you need to look out for?
Differences.
Well, psychopaths are all of the above but are more risk-seeking. For example, narcissists cheat on their partners, but the psychopath tends to be super promiscuous and doesn’t care to cover their tracks as well as a narcissist would attempt to.
Another difference is in the abuse: narcissists are abusive, but mostly it’s insidious or emotional abuse, whereas psychopaths are prone to be violent, and it doesn’t have to be provoked.
Psychopaths are also very impulsive, which complements their risk-seeking nature. No forethought or consideration is given. They act on a whim or an impulse to do or get that thing that they desire in that moment, but this can lead to them outrightly breaking the law—and it does. It can be something as small as shoplifting to something extreme like being a serial killer or rapist. Their impulsive behaviors are something they try to play down or control in order to get by in society.
One of the other major differences between a narcissist and a psychopath is that the narcissist is driven by fear. They are very fearful creatures. They are afraid of exposure, abandonment, and shame, whereas the psychopath has no fear, which is why they take more risks and why they are even more dangerous.
Because as much as a narcissist would love to hurt some of their victims physically, they are too afraid of the consequences and any risk of being caught and ruining their reputation, etc. Whereas the psychopath would relish this. The riskier, the better.
The psychopath also doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, whereas a narcissist is more likely to employ flying monkeys and other agents.
Also, along with fear, the psychopath feels no sorrow. They are not weighed down by any particular emotion, and the few emotions they experience are too short-lived to be counted. As a result, they can appear eerily calm most of the time. Psychopaths are not depressed or tormented like narcissists are, because the psychopath has become one with the darkness. They are the darkness.
Conclusion.
Psychopaths are darker and deadlier, but they walk amongst us like narcissists do. Their lack of emotion, even the negative ones, is a clear sign that something is terribly wrong.
But they hide in plain sight, mimicking our actions and behaviors to appear normal and cohesive. Like the covert narcissist, they have learned to blend in and go undetected as much as possible, so that only those who become closest to them uncover the truth.
That’s why it’s important to know the signs. I believe the best sign will always be that if something ever seems too good to be true, it probably is.
