Psychopathy

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Psychopathy is a personality disorder (PD) characterized by maladaptive and aversive traits, including glibness and superficial charm (“mask of sanity”), manipulation, lack of empathy and remorse, impulsivity, and irresponsible behavior. Psychopaths are prone to boredom. It’s often their need for stimulation that leads them to an irresponsible and parasitic lifestyle. Psychopathy is part of the dark triad/tetrad, along with narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism. While not an official clinical diagnosis, it’s a developmental disorder, involving poor behavioral controls, early behavioral problems, juvenile delinquency, and criminality. The Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R), developed by Robert Hare, is a widely used assessment tool.