What goes on in the mind of a person who doesn't feel empathy? What's it like to live without feeling the pain, fear, or emotions of others?
According to Abigail Marsh, this is one of the main characteristics of psychopathy: a profound lack of empathy and emotional sensitivity towards other people.
Marsh explains that the term "psychopath" is a scientific and clinical term, while "sociopath" is often used in the media but does not have an official definition in psychology or psychiatry. In the scientific world, the word "psychopathy" is mainly used because it has a clear meaning and has been studied for decades.
Essentially, psychopathy is not just about criminality or violence. It is about how a person experiences the world emotionally. People with psychopathy may appear normal, likable, intelligent, and highly persuasive, but they often fail to form deep emotional connections with others.
According to Marsh, they can logically understand that someone is suffering, but they don't feel that suffering emotionally. It is this lack of empathy that makes them more prone to manipulating, deceiving, or exploiting people without feeling guilt or remorse.
It shows that many psychopaths easily lie, betray, manipulate, and use the emotions of others for personal gain. Some even learn to mimic emotions they don't actually feel, just to appear remorseful or sensitive.
One of the most popular concepts about psychopathy is that of “The Mask of Sanity,” an idea developed by psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley. This means that a person with psychopathy may appear perfectly normal on the surface: kind, charismatic, even charming. But behind this mask may be a lack of fear, love, remorse, and compassion for others.
The media often associates psychopathy only with serial killers, but Marsh says that's a misconception. Not all psychopaths are violent, and most don't become extreme criminals. However, people with high levels of psychopathy are more likely to exhibit manipulative, aggressive, or exploitative behaviors.
She cites the case of serial killer Gary Ridgway as an extreme example of a lack of empathy. According to her, the way he spoke about his victims clearly showed that he felt no value for their lives or suffering.
Another myth that Marsh debunks is the idea that psychopaths are "born bad." It is now known that psychopathy is shaped by a combination of genetic factors and life experiences. It is not just the result of trauma or just biological inheritance.
Also, psychopathy is not exclusively male. Women can be psychopaths too, but their aggression often manifests itself in more emotional and manipulative forms than physical ones.
Marsh says psychopathy is not incurable. Although treatment is difficult, various therapies and some medications can help people with the disorder control impulsivity, aggression, and the way they interact with others.
Finally, she emphasizes that it is very difficult to distinguish a person without empathy from a short conversation. The signs are seen more in repetitive behaviors: manipulation, lack of guilt, constant lying, using others for personal gain, and indifference to the pain they cause to those around them.
