And when they are attacked, they strike back massively. Often, this ends in the destruction of the attacker, professionally, financially, or even socially and personally.
Psychologist Dr. Jens Hoffmann about psychopaths and narcissists.
About Psychopaths and Narcissists
Psychopaths are extremely cold-hearted and highly manipulative. These individuals derive pleasure from dominance and control, finding satisfaction in it. They enjoy humiliating others and often like it when others are afraid of them. They themselves have no fear.
Nevertheless, an above-average number of psychopaths and narcissists—people who are excessively self-centered—are found in positions of power. “It is estimated that about four percent of the population are narcissists and about one to two percent are psychopaths,” says Dr. Hoffmann. “Their share in leadership positions is about six percent.”
Many people do not even realize when they are dealing with psychopathic personalities because these individuals often play a role and are very good at manipulating others. “These people have no real conscience. Psychopathic individuals are solely focused on their own advantage, and other people interest them only marginally as means to achieve their goals. Others often do not notice this because psychopathic individuals can feign emotions and have perfected the art of lying. On the contrary, they are sometimes recognized, and others might even think, ‘What a great person.’
Psychopathic individuals are very good observers and deceivers, who precisely analyze their fellow human beings and recognize their needs. They coolly analyze how to break the other person,” says Dr. Jens Hoffmann. In certain situations, such personalities can switch from friendly and nice to aggressive and provocative. “Sometimes within the same conversation. Then a different tactic is used to confuse and unsettle the other person.”
They rarely know genuine empathy, are seldom emotional, and are often self-absorbed. They are frequently cunning and eloquent manipulators with superficial charm and are very confident. This correlates with a high need for stimulation, a “hunger for experiences,” and a constant feeling of boredom. It can be compared to the feeling of a hunter who is constantly searching for prey.
Dr. Jens Hoffmann
The Canadian criminal psychologist Robert D. Hare, emeritus professor at the University of British Columbia, estimates that one in 100 men over the age of 18 has a psychopathic personality. Most of them are what Hare and his colleagues call “successful psychopaths.” Hare ventures the prognosis that someone with a high probability will continue to behave as they have in the past, showing the same behavior patterns, because they are not easily impressed by punishment or opposition.
Prof. Dr. Robert D. Hare
“These are people who generally have a poor criminal prognosis. Identifying this and adequately assessing the dangers is a diagnostic achievement.”
Prof. Dr. Robert D. Hare
Psychopathic personalities are often described as cold, meaning they have no real emotions but can feign feelings to others. Lying is their constant companion, and they can be described as pathological liars. “They have perfected the art of lying,” says psychologist Dr. Jens Hoffmann. “That’s why they are often socially successful. They can build networks and quickly and strongly enthuse others. Particularly intelligent psychopaths often make successful careers. They can manipulate others extremely well. They pull the strings behind the scenes. Often, those being manipulated do not notice it at all.”
“People with a psychopathic personality overestimate themselves and generally love the thrill. However, they do not form genuine, close bonds. For them, other people are more like tools. And if they are attacked, they strike back massively. This often ends in the destruction of the attacker, be it professionally, financially, socially, or personally,” Hoffmann continues.
https://rp-online.de/leben/gesundheit/psychologie/psychopathen-empathielose-puppenspieler-das-muessen-sie-wissen_aid-52157911
People with psychopathy can often conceal their condition well. They can mislead therapists by faking empathy. Psychopaths often have a strong inner drive to exert violence and power. This desire cannot be erased in therapy.
Psychologist Dr. Jens Hoffmann
#survivor of a psychopath
