Conditions

Signs You Are Dating a Psychopath

By Dynne C. | Update Date: Nov 29, 2023 01:06 AM EST

Love is blind, but dating a psychopath may be a different story. When one has a psychopath for a partner, they are not necessarily blind because psychopaths are extremely charming by nature, so they're not easy to spot.

Psychopathy encompasses a set of interpersonal, affective, and behavioral traits that could result in persistent antisocial deviance and criminal behavior. This allows a person to mask themselves to get whatever they want. Dating a psychopath may begin to look like a fairytale, but as things unfold, it can be damaging to a person's mental health. Here are a few signs you might be dating a psychopath.

The psychopathic stare

Associate professor of psychology Dr. Stephen Benning says that the psychopathic stare, or "crazy eyes" as popularized by Hollywood, does not exactly have a clinical definition.

However, a study involving 82 males with interpersonal-affective psychopathic traits showed that they had reduced pupils when presented with negative images. Another study showed a similar response when presented with negative sounds, like screaming. Another study found that people with psychopathic traits spend more time interpreting emotions, such as pain and embarrassment. And yet, further research showed that incarcerated offenders with psychopathic traits made less eye contact than those without.

The victimized past

Paying attention to a person's story about their parents, childhood, old friends and past lovers can be a good indication of their personality. If they have been constantly the victim in their stories, then it may be a red flag. 

The love bombing

They may seem charming, and they have all these grand gestures. It almost feels like a movie. But then all these gestures and romantic actions stop as soon as they get what they want. Psychopaths are manipulative chameleons by nature, so they will do whatever it takes to get to their goal -- sex, money, or power.  

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