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The term 'psychopath' often conjures up visions of cinematic antagonists such as the Joker, John Doe, and Anton Chigurh. While Hollywood's depiction isn’t always precise, one thing it consistently nails is how terrifying psychopaths can be. Devoid of empathy, they feel no remorse and act on impulse. Though they may not match the intellect of Hannibal Lecter, they are undeniably crafty, deceitful, and charismatic. Making up just 1 percent of the population, they captivate, terrify, and drive scientific inquiry, uncovering a host of startling new insights. For instance:
10. Psychopaths Are Incapable of Identifying Fear
Most people can easily spot fear in someone’s expression—wide eyes, raised eyebrows, and a gasping or screaming mouth. While an average person would interpret this as fear, a psychopath remains oblivious because they cannot comprehend it. It’s not a choice; they genuinely lack the ability to recognize fear.
Georgetown University researcher Abigail Marsh conducted a study involving 36 children aged 7–10, testing their responses to facial expressions. The children were placed in an MRI machine and shown a series of faces—some neutral, some angry, and some utterly terrified. While most children could easily distinguish between neutral and scared expressions, those exhibiting psychopathic traits struggled to grasp the meaning behind fearful faces.
This gap highlights a dysfunction in the amygdala, the brain region responsible for fear responses. In psychopaths, the outer layer of the amygdala is significantly thinner and smaller compared to a healthy brain. This reduced volume leads to decreased activity in the area, explaining why psychopaths cannot process or interpret expressions of fear.
Interestingly, this issue appears to be specific to fear. Psychopaths can recognize and understand most other emotions, except for fear (and sometimes sadness). They also struggle to feel or express fear themselves. Without an innate understanding of fear, they cannot relate to or respond appropriately to others' expressions of terror. As one female subject in Marsh’s study chillingly remarked, “I don’t know what that expression is called, but I know it’s what people look like right before I stab them.”
9. Psychopaths Have an Insatiable Need for Dopamine
When notorious serial killer Ted Bundy was questioned about his heinous actions, he confessed, “I just liked to kill, I wanted to kill.” What motivates individuals like Bundy to commit such atrocities? And why do psychopaths derive such pleasure from manipulating others? The answer lies in dopamine, the neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain’s reward system. Similar to the feelings evoked by falling in love, consuming drugs, or indulging in chocolate, psychopaths experience this on an extreme level—they are essentially addicted to dopamine.
Joshua Buckholtz from Vanderbilt University in Nashville explains that a psychopath’s brain not only generates more dopamine but also places an excessive “value” on the neurotransmitter. Buckholtz suggests that this intense craving for dopamine fuels their relentless pursuit of control, often disregarding the well-being of others.
Buckholtz conducted a study involving 30 individuals with psychopathic traits, administering amphetamines that bind to dopamine-producing neurons. These drugs were tagged with radioactive markers, allowing researchers to monitor dopamine production in response to the amphetamines. The results revealed that those with high levels of antisocial impulsivity—characterized by a strong urge to dominate others—produced significantly more dopamine than their counterparts. To validate these findings, Buckholtz had 24 volunteers participate in a guessing game, rewarding correct answers with small cash prizes. Participants scoring high on antisocial impulsivity exhibited a greater dopamine surge upon winning compared to others.
8. Psychopaths Might Possess an Empathy Switch
It’s widely recognized that psychopaths struggle to empathize with others, often treating people as mere tools for their own entertainment. The root cause of this behavior remains a topic of debate. While some experts argue that psychopaths are biologically predisposed to this mindset, neuroscientists from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands offer a different perspective.
In 2012, these researchers conducted an experiment involving psychopathic criminals, utilizing MRI technology and a series of unusual home videos. The clips featured a disembodied hand gently caressing, rejecting, or striking another hand with a ruler. As anticipated, the psychopaths showed little emotional reaction to the scenes.
However, the experiment took a fascinating turn when the criminals were instructed to empathize with the individuals on screen. This time, when the victim was struck, the psychopaths displayed a response—they were able to feel another’s pain. The researchers concluded that psychopaths possess an “empathy switch” in their brains, typically set to “off” but capable of being activated when prompted. This explains why psychopaths can sometimes appear warm and engaging. The findings suggest that with proper intervention, psychopathic criminals might be rehabilitated by learning to keep this switch “on.” Conversely, if their lack of empathy is a conscious choice, it makes them even more terrifying than previously thought.
7. Psychopaths Tend to Receive Stricter Criminal Penalties
To determine whether a psychopathy diagnosis benefits or harms defendants, researchers from the University of Utah presented a fictional case to 181 state judges. The case centered on a character named Jonathan Donahue, inspired by a real criminal. Judges were informed about Donahue’s violent robbery of a fast-food restaurant, during which he displayed no remorse and even boasted about his actions while evading capture. Convicted of aggravated battery, Donahue’s psychopathy was disclosed to all judges, but only half received a biological explanation for his condition.
Before deciding on a sentence, judges were asked about their typical sentencing for aggravated battery convictions. Most indicated around nine years. However, they were far stricter with Donahue. Judges who were merely informed of his psychopathy handed down an average sentence of 14 years. Providing a scientific explanation for his disorder had minimal impact, reducing the sentence by just one year on average.
Interestingly, the perspective from which the explanation was presented—whether from the defense (“Donahue isn’t responsible for his actions”) or the prosecution (“Donahue is a danger to society and likely to reoffend”)—made no difference. What mattered was their understanding of how psychopathy affects the brain. While some judges may have felt sympathy for Donahue’s lack of control, a 13-year sentence remains significantly harsher than the typical nine years.
6. The Corporate World Is Rife With Psychopaths
In 2013, Oxford researcher Kevin Dutton identified professions most appealing to psychopaths. While it’s unsurprising that many psychopaths pursue careers as police officers, lawyers, and surgeons, the top occupation for psychopaths was found to be CEOs.
This aligns with a 2010 study by Paul Babiak, who evaluated 203 rising executives during management training programs using a questionnaire based on Robert Hare’s renowned psychopathy checklist. Babiak’s findings were startling: 1 in 25 participants exhibited full-blown psychopathic traits, a rate four times higher than that of the general population.
While this revelation is alarming for the corporate world, the reasons may not be what you expect. Psychopaths are ineffective leaders and struggle to maintain positive relationships, often advancing in their careers through charm rather than competence. When manipulation fails, they resort to intimidation and coercion.
5. Online Trolls Exhibit Psychopathic Traits
A study conducted by psychologists from several Canadian universities surveyed internet users with questions such as, “How much time do you spend online?” and “Do you comment on YouTube?” Participants were also asked to agree or disagree with statements like, “I enjoy trolling people in forums or website comment sections,” “I like playing the villain in games and tormenting other characters,” and “I’ve sent people to shock websites for amusement.” The findings revealed a troubling pattern.
Trolls exhibit multiple traits associated with the ominously titled “Dark Tetrad,” which encompasses four negative personality characteristics: sadism, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Individuals with these traits derive pleasure from causing harm, are highly manipulative, and feel no guilt for their actions. Researchers have also identified a correlation between these traits and the amount of time spent trolling online, perpetuating a harmful cycle of psychopathic behavior.
4. The Benevolent Psychopath
Neuroscientist James Fallon comes from a family with a dark history, including seven alleged murderers, such as the notorious Lizzie Borden. Intrigued by this unsettling lineage, Fallon conducted PET scans of his relatives’ brains, focusing on the orbital cortex, which governs ethical behavior and moral decision-making. While most relatives’ scans appeared normal, one stood out for its lack of activity in the orbital cortex—his own.
Convinced there was an error, Fallon conducted additional DNA tests. Instead of easing his concerns, the results confirmed that he not only possessed the brain of a psychopath but also the genetic profile of one. The tests identified a specific variant of the MOA-A gene, often referred to as the “warrior gene” due to its association with aggressive behavior.
Fallon describes himself as a “prosocial psychopath,” meaning he adheres to societal norms while exhibiting psychopathic traits. He engages in charitable acts, holds leadership roles in his community, and claims to derive satisfaction from helping others—though not entirely altruistically. As Fallon explains, “I get a thrill from what I can do for the world rather than being genuinely good-hearted.” He acknowledges his manipulative tendencies and extreme competitiveness, even refusing to let his grandchildren win simple games. Additionally, he struggles with empathy, admitting he feels no more connection to his granddaughter than to strangers on the street.
Raised in a nurturing and stable environment by caring parents, Fallon believes his upbringing played a crucial role in shaping him into a scientist rather than someone like Ed Kemper.
3. Psychopaths Exhibit Distinct Speech Patterns
Although psychopaths often appear sharp and quick-witted, a study by Cornell University researchers revealed that they frequently reveal themselves through their speech. Led by Jeffrey Hancock, the team interviewed 52 convicted murderers, including 14 psychopaths, asking them to discuss their crimes. A computer program was then used to analyze their language patterns.
The analysis uncovered distinct quirks in the speech of psychopaths. For instance, due to their emotional detachment, they often described their crimes in the past tense more than non-psychopathic criminals. In an attempt to blend in, they overused filler words like “uh” and “um.” Their sentences were heavily structured around cause-and-effect relationships, frequently using subordinating conjunctions such as “because” and “so that.” Most revealingly, while other inmates spoke about family and faith, psychopaths focused on basic necessities like food, money, and survival.
2. Presidents Share Striking Similarities With Psychopaths
Psychologists at Emory University conducted a study evaluating every U.S. president from George Washington to George W. Bush to identify the most psychopathic traits. (Obama was excluded as his second term was ongoing.) Using the book *Personality, Character, and Leadership in the White House*, they assessed each president’s personality, focusing on crisis management, congressional relations, and diplomacy. They also examined darker aspects, such as power abuse and extramarital affairs.
Although no president fully matched the profile of a psychopath, many exhibited a significant psychopathic trait known as Fearless Dominance (FD), especially when compared to the average person. Fearless Dominance is characterized by a lack of fear, a refusal to retreat from perilous situations, and a natural ability to charm others—a crucial skill in politics.
The study concluded that Teddy Roosevelt scored the highest in Fearless Dominance. Known for his “speak softly and carry a big stick” approach, Roosevelt displayed a psychopath-like indifference to danger. John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt followed closely, with Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush also ranking in the top 10. (The researchers noted that Winston Churchill, though not a U.S. president, also scored high in Fearless Dominance.)
While it may be unsettling to think that presidents share traits with psychopaths, Fearless Dominance can be advantageous for leadership. Presidents with FD tended to remain calm under pressure, showed less anxiety, and exuded confidence during crises. As Emory University researcher Scot Lilienfeld observed, psychopaths and heroes might be “branches of the same tree.”
1. Psychopaths Struggle With Their Sense of Smell
In September 2013, researchers Jason Castro and Chakra Chennubholta set out to classify every known human odor. They identified 10 distinct smell categories, including “fruity,” “chemical,” “popcorn,” and “decayed.” While most individuals can easily recognize the sharp tang of blue cheese or the earthy aroma of freshly cut grass, psychopaths face a different challenge.
As noted earlier, psychopaths exhibit reduced activity in their orbital cortices. This impairment not only hinders their ability to plan ahead and control impulses but also diminishes their capacity to detect scents. This was validated by a study conducted at Macquarie University in Sydney, where 79 non-criminal psychopaths underwent a smell test. Participants were tasked with identifying the odors from 16 “Sniffin’ Sticks,” pen-like devices infused with scents such as coffee, orange, and leather.
As predicted, the psychopaths struggled to accurately identify the smells. In fact, the higher their scores on a standard psychopathy assessment, the worse they performed in recognizing the scents. Beyond offering intriguing insights into brain function, this finding could revolutionize diagnostics. Psychopaths are notoriously deceptive and often manipulate psychiatric evaluations, but a smell test presents a far more challenging hurdle to overcome.
