Tricks to Identifying a Psychopath

Gretchen Rubin
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(Photo: Getty Images)

I love finding — or inventing — ways to categorize people. I agree with philosopher Isaiah Berlin, who observed, “Every classification throws light on something.”

Have you ever wondered how exactly to tell if a person you meet is a little off compared to the average Joe? Here are some tips for spotting a psychopath that may be right in front of you.

I’ve devised several of these, and of the ones I’ve come up with myself, my favorites are the Abstainer/Moderator distinction and the four Rubin Tendencies.

Because of this interest, I was intrigued to come across the Psychopathic Personality Inventory, a personality test for traits associated with psychopathy. I think that we can all agree that one thing that does not contribute to a happy life is a relationship with a psychopath. But what traits are associated with psychopaths? The test seeks to measure:

  • Social influence — a tendency to seem charming, persuasive

  • Fearlessness — a tendency to embrace risk without fear or anxiety

  • Stress immunity — stays cool in difficult circumstances

  • Machiavellian egocentricity — a tendency to consider only personal needs

  • Rebellious nonconformity — a tendency to neglect of social conventions and regulations

  • Blame externalization — a tendency to assign blame for problems or obstacles to other people

  • Carefree lack of planning — limited willingness to make future plans

  • Cold-heartedness — no guilt or remorse

Related: Here’s One Possible Way to ID a Psychopath

People throw around the terms “sociopath” and “psychopath” quite frequently, but these are technical terms with very specific meanings. That said, if there’s someone in your life who seems to show many of the above traits, it might be useful to reflect on that.

Do you know anyone who fits these traits? To my great relief, I realize, I don’t.

Gretchen Rubin is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, Better Than Before, The Happiness Project, and Happier at Home. On her weekly podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, she discusses good habits and happiness with her sister Elizabeth Craft. She writes about happiness and habit-formation at gretchenrubin.com. Follow her on Twitter @gretchenrubin, or on Facebook, at facebook.com/GretchenRubin.

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