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littlemissmartypants

(31,979 posts)
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 06:16 AM 9 hrs ago

One more time for the people in the back: He's a psychopath.

Unfortunately, he's not a lone wolf.

Folks keep wondering why we have 30% of the population that's so deranged and as undemocratic as recalcitrant...

I'd like to offer a suggestion:

Stats on Psychopaths

Psychopathy is a very common
mental disorder. It is twice as
common as schizophrenia,
anorexia, and bipolar disorder.
It is equally common as bulimia,
panic disorder, and autism.
The only mental disorders
significantly more common than
psychopathy are substance abuse
or dependence, depression, and
post-traumatic stress disorder.

Psychopathy affects all
ethnic, cultural, racial,
and socioeconomic groups.

...psychopathy
is a spectrum disorder,

Prevalence in the United States
Approximately 70% of the
population is estimated to
have no psychopathic traits
whatsoever.

Key Point
👇👇👇👇👇👇
The remaining
30% have low, medium, or
high levels of psychopathy.

Source:
https://psychopathyis.org/stats/


Characteristics of Psychopaths

1. Aggressive, callous, and cunning
2. Complete absence of conscience and empathy
3. Very adept at manipulating others
4. Willingness to engage in immoral, criminal conduct
5. Willingness to take what they want and do as they please, regardless of who is hurt or wronged
6. Deceptive ability to appear outwardly benevolent
7. Deceptive ability to behave in superficially charming ways to hide purely selfish motives
8. Willingness to use intimidation and violence to control others in order to satisfy their own needs
9. Willingness to intentionally violate the basic inherent human rights of others
10. Complete absence of any sense of guilt or remorse for the harm their actions have caused to others
11. Rationalization of their own immoral behavior
12. Will attempt to lay blame upon someone else for their own conduct
13. Denial, will deny their own wrongdoing outright
14. Utter contemptuousness toward the feelings and desires of their fellow beings
15. Pathological lying, will say anything without any concern for truth to advance their own hidden agendas
16. Ablity to feign [fake] normal human emotions and empathy
17. Distorted sense of the consequences of their actions
18. Total failure to accept any responsibility for their own socially irresponsible ways
19. Strong bellef that they will never be brought to justice for their criminal behavior


*psychopath indicates that the disorder has a genetic basis, sociopath, that the basis is societal. I'm unequivocal in my stance because of his familial history and because of the expanded knowledge of the genetics of mental health disorders that supports the notion. He has benefited (his pathology is exacerbated and sustained) from and by the support for his psychopathic personality by the many other psychopaths that exist among us in the US population.


Credit: Pinterest (unknown artist)


Stay strong. Stay encouraged. Keep the faith. This too, shall pass.
❤️pants

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
One more time for the people in the back: He's a psychopath. (Original Post) littlemissmartypants 9 hrs ago OP
Great, Frightening Post! Chasstev365 9 hrs ago #1
Awesome drawing!!! mysteryowl 9 hrs ago #2
I have heard a high percentage of political leaders are psychpaths. mysteryowl 9 hrs ago #3
Politics and Business. littlemissmartypants 8 hrs ago #5
Hey I also wanted to thank you for bringing this Tadpole Raisin 6 hrs ago #30
Yeah bucolic_frolic 9 hrs ago #4
Would it be possible for our grade schools KS Toronado 8 hrs ago #6
Training people to identify, assertive reactions and avoidance, maybe. littlemissmartypants 8 hrs ago #8
LOL, I'll check it out KS Toronado 8 hrs ago #19
30% is a very alarming number LymphocyteLover 8 hrs ago #7
Prevalence estimates for psychopathy tend to be lower outside the US ... Auggie 8 hrs ago #9
Probably because other countries value family, time off, Tadpole Raisin 8 hrs ago #16
Link suggests genetics is mostly the reason why Auggie 7 hrs ago #27
True. But societal norms may then play a role in what Tadpole Raisin 6 hrs ago #29
Something empowers/stimulates the gene. Media? Politics? Auggie 5 hrs ago #31
Well, I do have a brother who's a psychopath but I can't say that pychopathology is... NNadir 4 hrs ago #33
Top 10 occupations which attract psychopaths. Tadpole Raisin 8 hrs ago #10
Thanks so much for sharing this, TR. I'm curious, why did chef surprise you? ❤️ littlemissmartypants 8 hrs ago #11
Mostly I think due to lack of any interaction with those people. Tadpole Raisin 8 hrs ago #14
Interesting. Thanks for the reply. ❤️ littlemissmartypants 7 hrs ago #20
The Dark Triad Javaman 8 hrs ago #12
Toxic masculunity, in large part SheltieLover 8 hrs ago #13
Jeezus. That's a lot of mean out there. Joinfortmill 8 hrs ago #15
I was listening to a psychiatrist explain this last week. BigmanPigman 8 hrs ago #17
Great, unnerving article ybbor 8 hrs ago #18
Hahaha!!! littlemissmartypants 7 hrs ago #25
Thinking of Francisco Solano Lopez, Paraguayan dictator who warred against RVN VET71 7 hrs ago #21
Interesting. Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to have to read about it some more. Later when the roads freeze & I'm littlemissmartypants 7 hrs ago #26
It's so nice..... SergeStorms 7 hrs ago #22
Well, yeah. I have a brother who fits the bill but happily... NNadir 7 hrs ago #23
Perfect description of him! Mtnmama 7 hrs ago #24
It's barbtries 7 hrs ago #28
My ex is a psychopath. Glad he's my ex. Clouds Passing 5 hrs ago #32

littlemissmartypants

(31,979 posts)
5. Politics and Business.
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:11 AM
8 hrs ago

Why CEOs are more likely to be psychopaths
http://www.businessinsider.com/psychopath-jon-ronson-ceo-traits-2015-5
Description
We talked to Jon Ronson, author of New York Times bestseller "The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry," about which specific personality traits you should look for when trying to spot a psychopath.

Tadpole Raisin

(1,976 posts)
30. Hey I also wanted to thank you for bringing this
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:29 AM
6 hrs ago

topic up several times. It’s really getting traction now. I’d love it if it were pinned to the top of 1 or more forums because I think this subject is crucial to keep in mind for our future.

We can’t emphasize this enough and try to make people aware of it to individually and collectively root out these people as much as possible. Some may think that is an alarmist attitude but I don’t (obviously).

bucolic_frolic

(54,241 posts)
4. Yeah
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:03 AM
9 hrs ago

I dated one of them, and another was my shrink, probably because there were a few in the family tree. And so it goes.

That is an excellent list that describes their behavior.

KS Toronado

(23,197 posts)
6. Would it be possible for our grade schools
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:19 AM
8 hrs ago

to teach classes that would steer kids away from these traits?

littlemissmartypants

(31,979 posts)
8. Training people to identify, assertive reactions and avoidance, maybe.
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:29 AM
8 hrs ago

But psychopaths are born. In other words, there's a strong, documented genetic basis.

Very good question, KS.

I did a tribute to you in Weather Watchers, BTW.
🤓😉❤️

Auggie

(32,930 posts)
9. Prevalence estimates for psychopathy tend to be lower outside the US ...
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:29 AM
8 hrs ago

according to the link.

Tadpole Raisin

(1,976 posts)
16. Probably because other countries value family, time off,
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:49 AM
8 hrs ago

and living life to the fullest in our younger years.

Other countries give far more time off for lunch, vacation, etc.

They believe in their citizens having good healthcare and are willing to contribute in taxes to that end for the betterment of their fellow countrymen.

And Businesses are content with say 8-10% profits vs. 20%+ profits. The people running businesses here have a hernia if they lose a few pennies per unit in their weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports.

Tadpole Raisin

(1,976 posts)
29. True. But societal norms may then play a role in what
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:20 AM
6 hrs ago

occupations a psychopath may choose to enter. That’s actually a fascinating point! How is the list different in countries where they have have a different set of societal values.

Where do they gravitate? Either they go to a profession that can satisfy them - limited by available options, go to a country that will provide them what they want, or maybe there really are fewer psychopaths in other countries because of genetics.

I’ve never seen an article that discusses this but now you’ve got me thinking!

Auggie

(32,930 posts)
31. Something empowers/stimulates the gene. Media? Politics?
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 10:12 AM
5 hrs ago

Especially in the last 50 years or so.

NNadir

(37,379 posts)
33. Well, I do have a brother who's a psychopath but I can't say that pychopathology is...
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 12:05 PM
4 hrs ago

...a commonly observed feature in my family although dyslexia, which both my brother and uncle and possibly my grandfather all exhibited has been genetically mapped.

For most of my adult life I've pushed back against rote genetic reductionism associated with my brother's personality for obvious reasons.

People are fairly sloppy with these behavioral and difficult to measure properties associated with genes. Obviously genes do play a role in behavior, but environmental factors are also clearly in play. I attribute my brother's psychopathology to an interplay between his dyslexia genes (again these have been mapped) and the effects it had on his upbringing, into which my poorly educated but loving parents stumbled.

Tadpole Raisin

(1,976 posts)
10. Top 10 occupations which attract psychopaths.
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:30 AM
8 hrs ago

I’m sure there is some variability in this list but for most people it reflects those we are most likely to come in contact with.

1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media person
4. Sales person
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police officer
8. Clergy person
9. Chef
10. Civil servant (?Politician)

https://www.businessinsider.com/professions-with-the-most-psychopaths-2018-5

I think I have personally had experience with a police officer, clergy, surgeon, and lawyer who were psychopaths. There were subtle tells in the interactions sending my spidy sense through the roof. I woul also add contractors and plumbers to the list.

We have all experienced political psychopaths and although I believe they are far more common in Republican Party because of their beliefs and actions which we all knew but which are now in the open, Dems have their own members but sooner or later we recognize them and kick out. I believe it will be crucial in the future to weed them out before they get elected and achieve senior status because they will be charasmatic and say everything we want to hear. We should not dismiss the early warning signs.

Chef surprised me.

Tadpole Raisin

(1,976 posts)
14. Mostly I think due to lack of any interaction with those people.
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:41 AM
8 hrs ago

Although having watched some ‘Greatest Chef’ shows (or the despised Apprentice show), and been completely turned off I probably should have realized Chefs could fit the definition.

Javaman

(65,231 posts)
12. The Dark Triad
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:33 AM
8 hrs ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_triad

Dark Triad

The dark triad is a psychological theory of personality, first published by Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002,[1] that describes three notably offensive but non-pathological personality types: Machiavellianism, sub-clinical narcissism, and sub-clinical psychopathy.[2][3][4][5] Each of these personality types is called dark because each is considered to contain malevolent qualities.[2][6][7][8]

All three dark triad traits are conceptually distinct although empirical evidence shows them to be overlapping. They are associated with a callous–manipulative interpersonal style.[9]

Narcissism is characterized by grandiosity, pride, egotism, and a lack of empathy.[10]
Machiavellianism is characterized by manipulativeness, indifference to morality, lack of empathy, and a calculated focus on self-interest.[11][12]
Psychopathy is characterized by continuous antisocial behavior, impulsivity, selfishness, callous and unemotional traits (CU),[13] and remorselessness.[14]
High scores in these traits have been found to statistically increase a person's likelihood to commit crimes, cause social distress, and create severe problems for organizations, especially if they are in leadership positions.[15] They also tend to be less compassionate, agreeable, empathetic, and satisfied with their lives, and less likely to believe they and others are good.[16] However, the same traits are also associated with some positive outcomes, such as mental toughness and being more likely to embrace challenges.[17]

A factor analysis found that among the big five personality traits, low agreeableness is the strongest correlate of the dark triad, while neuroticism and a lack of conscientiousness were associated with some of the dark triad members.[12] Research indicates that there is a consistent association between changes in agreeableness and the dark triad traits over the course of an individual's life.

BigmanPigman

(54,660 posts)
17. I was listening to a psychiatrist explain this last week.
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:50 AM
8 hrs ago

Everything on that list is exactly what he said. I was curious about Stephen Miller and tRump and did what their mental issues were, mainly sociopath vs psychopath.

I have heard various doctors over the years when I hear about mass murderers like Ted Bundy.

Psychopaths are very good at what they do and they can spot the most vulnerable person in a room full of people. They know who to target and manipulate right away. When they realize you are not being conned by them they quickly move to their next victim. Deception and manipulation are their main skills in life.

ybbor

(1,720 posts)
18. Great, unnerving article
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 07:53 AM
8 hrs ago

A little psychopath story from my youth.

I grew up in Flint, MI when it was still a very prosperous city. GM was doing well, and they actually paid taxes that supported a lot of good things, including a top notch school system. My dad worked for the schools and was an admin for the athletic programs. This was the early ‘70s. He was a member of the president’s board of physical fitness. One day he picked up a man from DC who was visiting to see their model. On the way from the airport he asked my dad if there were any “psychopaths” in the city. My dad responded, probably the same as any city our size. He asked if he could show him any. My dad replied he didn’t really know where they hung out. At this point the man said, what do you think I’m asking? I am wondering about “cycle paths, bike paths”, what did you think I meant? My dad told him, and being an automotive city, my dad said, “Oh, no”, and they both had a good laugh.

I thought a little humor could lighten the mood.

littlemissmartypants

(31,979 posts)
25. Hahaha!!!
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 08:30 AM
7 hrs ago




Believe it or not I wrote my Master's thesis on something very similar. I would share the null but it's so long it would probably bore you.

Thanks so much for sharing this, ybbor. ❤️

RVN VET71

(3,137 posts)
21. Thinking of Francisco Solano Lopez, Paraguayan dictator who warred against
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 08:21 AM
7 hrs ago

Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, the so-called "Triple Alliance", in a war that killed a full 70% of Paraguayan males -- including the mad dictator, himself.

I think Trump, a man devoid of conscience, is capable of this same extreme hubris as was Lopez.



littlemissmartypants

(31,979 posts)
26. Interesting. Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to have to read about it some more. Later when the roads freeze & I'm
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 08:45 AM
7 hrs ago

Stuck inside. Any recommendations?

❤️

SergeStorms

(20,055 posts)
22. It's so nice.....
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 08:26 AM
7 hrs ago

that they've found each other beneath the MAGA dumbrella.

In the service they used to say, "Don't bunch up. One hand grenade will get you all." Well...........

NNadir

(37,379 posts)
23. Well, yeah. I have a brother who fits the bill but happily...
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 08:28 AM
7 hrs ago

...he was never elected to anything.

Perhaps "have" is not the right word, "had" might be better, since I have no idea if he's dead or alive, having not spoken with him for more than two decades.

But yeah, the orange pedophile in the White House is definitely familiar to me on that analogous level, although I was rather unfamiliar with him until he rode ignorance, racism and sexism into the White House.

The difference between my brother and the orange pedophile that my brother, unlike the pedophile, is (or was) highly intelligent, if malignant.

barbtries

(31,152 posts)
28. It's
Thu Jan 22, 2026, 09:03 AM
7 hrs ago

#MassSociopathy or #MassPsychopathy

been saying this since the election. it's very hard to square the behavior of these people for empathetic, normal human beings.

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