Do You Know What A Psychopath Is?
Do you know what a psychopath is? Ever met one? Worse still, have you ever been a psychopath’s victim? Actually, I hate to say it, but the answer to the last two questions may well be ‘yes,’ although you probably wouldn’t realize it.
The research scientists tell us that one person out of a hundred is afflicted with the condition, and it breaks down evenly between men and women.
What image springs into your mind when you think of the word ‘psychopath?’ A figure in a cloak, laughing maniacally as he bears down on you with a huge, blood-soaked knife?
That man you and your spouse met last night at the party. Your spouse mentioned what dead, humourless eyes he had. Well, even deadeye Dick doesn’t fit the bill, I’m afraid, and certainly not the knife wielder.
Naturally enough, they’re Hollywood’s favourite bad chaps and chapesses! The problem with Hollywood, well one of them, anyway, is that they regularly confuse the psychopath with the psychotic.
Probably the most famous, or infamous, mad bad man of all time was Norman Bates in ‘Psycho.’ I wouldn’t mind betting that if you asked a dozen people on the street what he was, everyone would say he was a raving psychopath. Wrong! In fact, he was your garden variety delusional psychotic.
This splendidly dramatic business of ‘hearing voices’ telling him or her to kill someone, or seeing skeletal visions of the long dead telling you to do the same thing, makes for great storytelling, but the chances are that they’re symptoms of a psychotic illness like schizophrenia.
This latter condition, by the way, is another Hollywood blunder that makes for a good storyline. They will insist that because the baddy has a split personality, he’s schizophrenic. It has nothing whatever to do with schizophrenia.
A more accurate depiction of a psychopath would be ‘The Jackal’ in the film ‘Day of the Jackal.’ I believe another excellent example would be Tom Ripley in ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley.’
In real life, while many criminals are psychopaths, most psychopaths aren’t criminals, but they are amoral. The vast majority aren’t murderers, but they’re not the type to seek out as your best friend. They’re bad, but not mad.
So, do you know what a psychopath is? Have you been nursing one to your bosom? To begin with, they’re usually extremely bright, far too bright to end up in prison. They’re not easy to spot, either. You’d have to know one really well and have considerable insight yourself before recognizing the fact that Fred, that charming chap you’ve known for three years, is a psychopath.
They can be charming and delightful company, but they only do what they choose to do. It’s their way or the highway!
Thought I might write something to frighten the life out of you! Mike Bond again, this time on the subject of psychopaths. Seriously, though, it’s a very interesting psychological study and you’ll find lots more of interest if you look in on my site. Really. It’s well worth the trouble. While you’re there, don’t forget the downloads, which you can grab simply by clicking on http://www.wealthyoldman.com