20 Signs of a Psychopath: Traits & Characteristics

What Is a Psychopath?

The term psychopath connotes a vivid image of a person who lacks empathy and is likely to engage in aggressive or violent behavior towards others. Psychopathy is not a clinical diagnosis, but does share many traits with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), a serious and chronic personality disorder. It has been hypothesized that psychopathy is an extreme version of ASPD, but there are key differences in their presentation.⁴ Sociopaths and psychopaths both lack empathy and concern for others, but psychopaths are more likely to engage in violence without thought about its consequences or the harm it brings others. ^1,3,5

Psychopaths often engage in criminal, cruel, or socially irresponsible behavior, including lying, stealing, or being violent or abusive toward others. Because psychopaths have no empathy for a person’s needs or rights, they also feel no remorse—even when their actions harm others. These combined traits and deficits mean that psychopaths are likely to engage in crime, violence, abusive behavior, and additional forms of cruel or dangerous behaviors. ^1,3,5,7

20 Signs of a Psychopath

Many psychopathic people are pathological liars and master manipulators, which can make it much more difficult to spot the signs of a psychopath. Psychopathic traits and characteristics often become more obvious when you have more frequent interactions with a person, at which point the symptoms of psychopathy may become more evident.

Here are 20 signs of a psychopath to look out for:

1. Superficial Charm & Charisma

Psychopaths can be very charming, charismatic, and persuasive people. This can be especially so with female psychopaths, who are more social and emotional than their male counterparts. While they lack true empathy, they are often very skilled at “faking” prosocial behaviors like flattery, kindness, and false sympathy. They may use these skills to get what they want from people, but eventually, they are unable to keep up with the act. Over time, the charm and charisma will probably wear off, unmasking an underlying coldness or cruelty.^1,7

2. Unnecessary Cruelty or a Mean Streak

Once the superficial charm and charisma wear off, a psychopath will often demonstrate moments of cruelty or meanness. These may include gossip, biting comments, lashing out aggressively at others, or being entertained when they hurt or embarrass someone. Cruelty and meanness are hallmark signs of a psychopath and typically lead to a pattern of violating the rights of others.^1,3,7

3. Lies, Exaggerations, & Dishonesty

Psychopaths are often pathological liars, using deception to manipulate, control, or influence others for their own benefit. They may exaggerate the truth to inflate their ego, distort facts to suit their agenda, or fabricate stories entirely to achieve their goals. Unlike most people, who might feel guilt or fear about being caught in a lie, psychopaths lack a conscience, making dishonesty a guilt-free and frequent behavior. Deception is also a hallmark symptom of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), often manifesting as ‘faked’ remorse or concern designed to mislead others.^2,7,8

4. Lack of Accountability & Playing the Blame Game

Psychopaths commit some of the cruelest, most violent, and most heinous acts in society. However, they rarely take responsibility for their actions. Instead, they are more likely to blame others, make excuses, and try to justify their actions, no matter how bad they are. This sign of a psychopath is indicative of their lack of morals and conscience, meaning they do not have the same sense of ‘right and wrong’ that most people do.^7,8

5. Need for Power, Control, & Dominance

Many psychopaths seek out positions of power and authority because they enjoy domination and control of other people. According to research, psychopaths may search for and secure positions of leadership in the corporate world, suggesting there is a grain of truth in the stereotype of the “psychopathic CEO.”⁹ There is also a known overlap between psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism (immoral and exploitative tendencies), which can lead to this hunger for control.^8,10

6. Sadistic Enjoyment of Pain & Suffering

Sadism is a word that describes a sick sense of pleasure from the pain and suffering of others. For some psychopathic people, the pain of others is sexually arousing. On the other hand, pleasure is non-sexual and has more to do with excitement, power, or the ‘rush’ of the experience.^3,7,8 Not all psychopaths are sadistic, but this quality is not an uncommon trait in a psychopath, which may explain why psychopathic traits predict violent and sexually violent crimes with 80% accuracy.¹

7. Boredom & Thrill-Seeking Behaviors

Because psychopaths lack some of the normal emotional wirings that most individuals have, it takes a lot more to excite them, make them happy, or thrill them. Psychopaths are overall less impulsive than sociopaths because they aren’t driven by strong emotions, but their dulled emotional response may cause them to seek out thrills. This may be why psychopaths are more likely to engage in crime, violence, sexual promiscuity, and drug or alcohol use. ^1,3,7

8. Disregard for Rules, Laws, & Norms

Psychopaths do not follow the same code of ethics as most people in society, which is why they often behave in immoral or illegal ways. These may include minor offenses like inappropriate comments and profanity, or serious offenses such as crime and violence. Not all psychopaths are violent criminals, but a high percentage of those who commit crimes (especially violent crimes) have psychopathic traits.^1,6,7

9. Unaffected & Unafraid of Consequences

Many individuals who engage in criminal behaviors live in fear of being caught. However, psychopaths don’t always possess this same worry. This may be partially explained by the fact that psychopaths are believed to have abnormalities in areas of the brain that create normal fear responses and those related to impulse control and good long-term decision-making.^3,5

10. Detached, Cold, & Callous Demeanor

Psychopaths often display a cold, callous, and apathetic demeanor.^1,7,8 The differences in the structure of their brains are believed to limit their ability to experience a normal range of human emotions, making them less likely to experience strong feelings.^3,5 In situations when others are sad, upset, anxious, or excited, a psychopath may seem oddly detached or apathetic.⁸

11. A History of Childhood Behavior Problems

Antisocial personality disorder can be diagnosed only after the age of 18, but the signs and symptoms of ASPD usually begin in childhood or early adolescence.² Most psychopaths show signs of conduct disorder before the age of 15, and the most severe psychopaths may be able to trace their behavioral issues to before the age of 10.⁶ Some common signs of a psychopath in childhood include frequent fights, lying, stealing, cruelty to animals or other children, and a disregard for rules or authority.^2,6

12. A Trail of Short, Broken Relationships

Because of an inability to empathize with other people, it makes sense that psychopaths have trouble forming and maintaining close relationships. While they may be able to use their charm or powers of persuasion to fool somebody into liking them, they usually lack the ability to sustain these relationships over time.⁸ This is why most psychopaths have very short, shallow relationships, as well as a long trail of individuals who they’ve betrayed, hurt, or turned into enemies.

13. Exploitation of Others for Personal Gain

Psychopaths are master manipulators who readily use, abuse, and exploit others to achieve their goals, whether it’s power, wealth, or recognition. Their lack of empathy and remorse allows them to disregard the harm they cause, leaving a trail of victims in their pursuit of personal gain. Psychopaths are unhesitant to betray or undermine even those who have supported them, seeing people as mere tools to advance their agenda. This calculated and self-serving behavior underscores their dangerous and destructive nature.^1,3,7

14. Calculated & Strategic Planning

While sociopaths are driven by emotions, a psychopath is cool-headed and calculated in their decision-making.^1,3,7 This can make them more dangerous as it’s not as easy to predict what they will do or when they will make their move. Some psychopaths devise detailed plans on how to con, exploit, or take advantage of people who are naturally generous. While psychopaths are not generally patient individuals, they are typically less impulsive than sociopaths.^1,3,6,7,9

15. A Lack of Conscience

Even when they harm another person, a psychopath will not feel genuine remorse for their actions, and may not be phased by the consequences of their actions when they get in trouble. This also makes them especially dangerous because they are less likely to limit their behavior based on fears of getting caught and feeling guilty after. Psychopaths are also less likely to learn from their mistakes.

16. Abnormal Ways of Thinking

Abnormal thoughts are common in psychopaths because their brains are wired differently. This could cause them to make strange, odd, or off-putting comments during normal conversations. A psychopath may occasionally provide a disturbing view into their twisted minds when talking about strange things they like, mean comments about others, or statements that make it clear they don’t care about anyone else.

17. Poor Attention Span & Loss of Interest

A lesser-known sign of psychopathy is a poor attention span, often resembling symptoms of ADHD. Psychopaths are prone to boredom, quickly losing interest in activities, tasks, or relationships that once captured their attention. They constantly seek new thrills or excitement, leaving behind unfinished projects, abandoned goals, and strained relationships. This restless nature often contributes to a pattern of irresponsible decision-making, as they prioritize short-term gratification over long-term commitments or consequences.^7,8

18. Violent Tendencies, Abuse, or Aggression

One of the most dangerous signs of a psychopath is a tendency towards violence, aggression, and abuse. Psychopathy is one of the strongest predictors of violent behavior, including crimes and sexual violence. Unfortunately, many violent psychopaths will re-offend, even after receiving treatment, rehabilitation, serving prison time, or having other legal consequences.^1,3,5,7

19. Hostile & Oppositional by Nature

Another less commonly known psychopath trait is a hostile and oppositional demeanor. While psychopaths can pretend to be friendly and charming for a short time, their true nature is aggressive. Psychopaths are more likely to hold racist, sexist, or misogynistic views toward others, and treat people in malicious or unkind ways.^1,7 They may be more argumentative and combative, seeking out conflict and confrontation (while most people try to avoid it).

20. Masters of Deception

A final warning sign of a psychopath is a person who seems to be especially skilled at the art of deception. Psychopaths are masters of deception and use distortions of truth, gaslighting, and other dishonest tactics to emotionally manipulate others and falsely represent the facts. Unfortunately, psychopaths in treatment may use these deceptive tactics to fool counselors and treatment providers into thinking they have improved. One study found that psychopaths with the highest treatment success scores were most likely to re-offend.⁹

Is There a Psychopath Test?

The most commonly used psychopathy test is the Psychopathy Checklist, or PCL-R, which is a 20-question survey used to identify the traits, characteristics, and signs of a psychopath.⁷ Technically, psychopathy is not a diagnosable condition listed in the DSM 5 but it includes symptoms of ASPD in addition to the predilection for violence and bringing harm to others.²

Psychopaths display many of the symptoms of ASPD and also a range of other traits, characteristics, and behaviors. While individuals with ASPD may or may not seek treatment, individuals who display psychopathy are likely to engage in behaviors that result in criminal charges and incarceration. In fact, the PCL-R has been validated specifically with incarcerated populations, as these facilities are where psychopathy is most likely to be diagnosed.⁴

How to Deal With Someone Who Shows Signs of Psychopathy

While individuals with ASPD may be callous and manipulative in how they treat others, psychopathic individuals pose a serious threat to personal safety. Psychopaths have no empathy for others’ suffering and often enjoy the act of causing others to experience pain. If you are in the company of someone who exhibits psychopathic tendencies, prioritizing your personal safety is essential. Trust your instincts and have a plan for escape, if needed.

Some tips for managing interactions with a psychopath include:

• Set boundaries: Psychopaths are masters at taking advantage of others, so ensure you enforce limits on the time you spend in their proximity.
• Maintain your composure: Psychopathic individuals try to get others off-balance through their words or actions, so be prepared and don’t let them get the best of you.
• Control your emotions: Keep cool and don’t rise to their bait. When you are able to stay calm and not react in fear or anger, you avoid giving them any advantage.
• Be skeptical of what they say: Don’t let yourself be gaslit; don’t buy into their wild tales or efforts to get you to think that they are victims. They may be seeking sympathy in order to gain your trust to take advantage of you in disturbing ways.
• Trust your instincts: When most people are in the company of individuals with personality disorders, they get a feeling that there’s something amiss. If you feel that a person is showing signs of psychopathic thoughts or actions, trust yourself and find a way to exit the situation.
• Engage in reality-testing with trusted others: When you feel that someone’s behavior isn’t “normal,” check in with people you trust to confirm your feelings and brainstorm ways to respond.
• Avoid face-to-face engagement: If you must communicate with someone with psychopathic tendencies, use email to ensure that there is less chance to be at a disadvantage. Email is less personal and allows for distance that can serve as protection.

Can You Treat Psychopathy?

Antisocial personality disorder is an underlying condition that drives psychopathy and is among the most difficult mental health issues to treat and there is no cure for psychopathy. Research suggests that psychopaths rarely seek treatment on their own and that when they are forced into treatment, it usually does not lead to long-term improvements or changes.⁶ In fact, some studies comparing treated and untreated psychopaths found that treatment increases the likelihood of crime and violence in those with a history of these behaviors.¹⁰

Research suggests that early intervention may help prevent the development of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in some cases. Addressing early signs of antisocial behavior in young children, such as aggression or rule-breaking, can reduce the likelihood of these behaviors escalating into ASPD.¹¹ However, for children raised in high-risk environments—characterized by neglect, abuse, or chronic instability—preventing the disorder becomes significantly more challenging. While there is no cure for ASPD, individuals committed to change can work to minimize symptoms through targeted therapies and supportive interventions.

Psychopathy Treatment Options

There is always hope for a person who has a sincere desire to change and improve themselves, no matter what their diagnosis is. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may help people with ASPD manage their symptoms and improve their relationships, decision-making, and behavior.⁶

There are no medications that can treat or cure psychopathy, unfortunately. However, there are often co-occurring disorders that are diagnosed that can be successfully treated with medicine. These include antidepressants for depression, medications to manage anxiety, and medicine like Antabuse for addictions, among others. When symptoms of these disorders are managed through medication, symptoms related to psychopathy may be reduced and overall well-being can be improved.