Definition of a psychopath:
‘social predators who charm, manipulate and ruthlessly plow their way through life … completely lacking in conscience and feeling for others, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret.’
But difficult for psychologists to research. Trouble is, a successful psychopath will not consent to being studied.
With more self-control and conscientiousness than criminal psychopaths often in prison, successful psychopaths end up as chief executives, university chancellors, top lawyers, politicians and mayors….
| Describe the psychopath? | Type of success? |
| “Utter absence of empathy; manipulated women and children despite pain/damage caused, dishonest in business, superficial/forced emotionality; absence of remorse; chronic deceitfulness” | “Successful retail business financed through unscrupulous and larcenous behaviors” |
| “Remarkable capacity for furthering own interests at expense of others; glib, charming; I am taken in despite the number of times I’ve observed his act; uses seeming empathy to move others; likable despite all this” | “Succeeded in two careers; positions of power, is likable; gotten generally level-headed people to bend rules for him” |
| “Superficially charming, glib, exploitative of others, deceitful; lack of genuine empathy for others but aware enough to feign concern and empathy well when it was socially appropriate to do so; manipulative of others and would set up situations to sacrifice colleagues in order to advance himself” | Maintained a “managerial position in a government organization and commanded a good salary; interviewed well, could move jobs easily” |
| “All aspects of her life revolved around manipulating the system for personal gain or to dirty others for her pleasure” | “She destroyed at least three marriages/lives; she was prosecuted but the county attorney could not get a conviction, she was smooth” |
| “Total disregard for the rules of society and was completely unremorseful about it” | “Was considered a top notch police detective, a hero” |