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Am I a Psychopath?

Take a closer look are your thoughts and feelings with this quiz.

Psychopathy is a condition defined by a lack of empathy, a callous nature, and a sense of emotional disconnect from others. With such an intimidating word making the rounds in casual conversation, it’s easy for your mind to start asking some scary questions, like Could I be a psychopath?

We’ll let you in on a little secret: everyone has negative, less-than-ideal thoughts and feelings sometimes. It’s just a part of being human, and has nothing to do with being a psychopath. Still, if you’d like a little extra reassurance, we have you covered. Hit “Start Quiz” and respond to the following statements to shed a little extra light on how you think and feel.

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Questions Overview

1. Pick the statement you relate to most:
  1. I care a lot about my friends and loved ones.
  2. I feel frustrated by friends and loved ones sometimes.
  3. I don't care at all about anyone in my life.
  4. I don’t relate to any of these statements.
2. Pick the statement you relate to most:
  1. I don't like lying to others, especially my friends. It eats me up inside.
  2. I’ll only lie if I feel like I have no other choice.
  3. I love lying. It’s an easy way to get what I want, and I don't feel guilty about it.
  4. I don’t identify with any of these statements.
3. Pick the statement you relate to most:
  1. I take care of myself, but I also really highly prioritize my loved ones.
  2. I can be a little selfish sometimes.
  3. I don't care about anyone else. I only care about me (so I'm always my first priority).
  4. I can’t see myself saying any of these things.
4. My friend is grieving a death in their family, but I don’t care.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
5. My friend blames me for “sharing a really important secret,” but I don't feel guilty.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
6. I can’t stand long heart-to-hearts. I hate having to pretend that I care about other people’s feelings.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
7. I enjoy manipulating my friends to get what I want. It’s not like they’ll ever know, so I won't have to answer for it.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
8. It’s basically impossible for me to imagine what someone else is going through. Why should I even have to, anyway?
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
9. I ended up hurting my friend’s feelings, but I don’t really care. They should have thicker skin.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
10. I do super risky, dangerous things constantly. I'm not sure why I do, but it gets me into trouble.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
11. If I thought it would work, I would enjoy tricking a close friend into giving me their most valuable possession.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.
12. I love dominate other people when I get the chance. Whenever I have the opportunity to grab control over others, I take it.
  1. Strongly disagree.
  2. Disagree.
  3. Strongly agree.
  4. I’m neutral.

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All About Psychopathy

The word “psychopath” has made its way into casual conversations, becoming shorthand for a “terrible and awful person.” But what does this term actually mean?

What is a psychopath?
A psychopath is a manipulative and callous person who’s unable to feel empathy for others, and who is emotionally detached from the people around them. If you look in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), or the official psychiatric handbook used to classify and diagnose mental health conditions, you won’t find psychopathy listed—but that doesn’t make it any less real. During the 1970s, in fact, psychologist Robert Hare developed a test to help spot people with psychopathic behavior (that’s still used today).

What are common traits of psychopaths?

  • Little empathy: Empathy is all about putting yourself in another person’s shoes and really trying to understand their feelings and experiences. Psychopaths don’t typically have a lot of empathy and may struggle to emotionally connect with others.
  • Frequent lying: Psychopaths have no qualms about bending (or breaking) the truth to suit their needs. Instead, they focus more on doing whatever it takes to get their way.
  • Little moral compass: Many people have some sort of “moral compass,” or an internalized sense of right and wrong that they follow through life. Psychopaths often lack such a compass and don’t tend to operate on a sense of good and bad.
  • Narcissistic qualities: Narcissism and psychopathy are entirely separate conditions, but psychopaths can definitely adopt some narcissistic traits, like a fake sense of grandeur, manipulativeness, selfishness, and more.
  • Gaslighting: Gaslighting is a type of emotional abuse where Person A makes Person B question their reality. Psychopaths often have no problem using this technique to control others and advance their own agenda.
  • Little remorse: Just as psychopaths tend to lack a moral compass, they’re also unable to feel genuinely sorry about the way their actions impact others. If anything, they often try to play the victim when they’re accused of something.

Are all psychopaths criminals?
Not necessarily! While psychopaths sometimes take a criminal path, not all psychopaths end up on a violent or otherwise troubling road in life.

I’m worried I could be a psychopath. What should I do?
Bring your concerns to a psychiatrist. A licensed mental health professional like a psychiatrist can accurately weigh your symptoms, diagnose you properly, and help you figure out your next steps. Chances are, though, you’re likely not a psychopath if you’re genuinely concerned about your capacity to hurt others.

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