3 Rare Things They Don’t Tell You About Psychopaths

What don’t they tell you about psychopaths?

Answered By Dr Elinor Greenberg

I grew up around psychopathic men. Three of the things people do not usually mention in the same breath as the term “psychopath” are the following:

Some psychopaths are a lot of fun.

My friends and family who qualify for that diagnosis are into doing interesting things and going to interesting places.

My late friend Bennett, who died young because psychopaths often lack good judgment about danger, always knew when interesting events were happening in NYC—from the Tibetan Harvest Festival to free concerts in the park.

For my psychopathic father, life was always an adventure to be enjoyed. He once decided that we should spend the Summer at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes and go to the Cannes Film Festival. As we did not have much money and my father was not in the film business, I do not know how he managed it.

But that summer (I was 13 years old) we lived at The Carlton and he “became” Sam Bronstein’s (a producer) representative to the Film Festival. We had tickets to every event. Did I mention that my father was a professional gambler and conman?

Related: Why Psychopaths Are Unable to Love Even Their Own Children

Some psychopaths are very generous.

I briefly dated this psychopathic guy who I met in a shoe store. In the store he pulled out this beautifully engraved antique silver card case. I admired it and he gave it to me. When I was surprised. he said “whoever wants it the most should have it.”

Some psychopaths do favors for their friends.

Yes, psychopaths can have friends. My father’s best friend was (as best as I could tell) a psychopath like my father. Most of his friends or cohorts fell into that category.

My father had a friend (I will call him Joe) who owed someone (I will call him Sam) money that he could not pay back when the loan was due. Sam called the loan and my father’s friend was going to lose his business.

My father wanted to help Joe so he asked his best friend, “Big Louie” to convince Sam to wait a bit longer for the money. After a very frightening and somewhat violent discussion with Louie, the problem disappeared.

Related: Are You Dating an Emotional Predator? – Signs of Narcissists, Sociopaths and Psychopaths

Punchline:

The three things that are rarely mentioned when people talk about psychopaths are:

(1)
Some psychopaths are a lot of fun and do interesting things.
(2) Some psychopaths can be very generous when they are in the right mood.
(3) Some psychopaths have friends and do favors for them.

Watch out this interesting videos to know why we need psychopaths



Elinor Greenberg, PhD. CGP

In private practice in NYC and the author of the book: Borderline. Narcissistic, and Schizoid Adaptations.


Written by Elinor Greenberg, Ph.D.
Originally appeared in Quora

Things They Don't Tell You About Psychopaths pin

— Share —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Narcissistic Deflection: 10 Sneaky Ways They Spin the Truth to Fool You

Narcissistic Deflection Ways They Spin the Truth to Fool You

Narcissistic deflection is a sneaky tactic narcissists use to dodge responsibility and turn the tables when they’re caught in a lie or confronted about their behavior. If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in a conversation where your issues get twisted or ignored, chances are you’re dealing with narcissistic deflection.

It’s a mind game that can leave you questioning everything. But don’t worry—once you know how to spot it, you can stop them from pulling the wool over your eyes.

Today, we are going to talk about deflection tactics used by narcissists, what is the meaning of deflection and why do narcissists deflect in the first place.

Let’s start with trying to understand the meaning of deflection.

Up Next

How to Respond to a Manipulative Apology: 7 Ways You Can Turn the Tables on Emotional Manipulation

Ways to Handle a Manipulative Apology

Manipulative apologies are tricky; they sound like remorse but actually aim to shift blame, guilt-trip, or control the situation. Learning how to respond to a manipulative apology is crucial to maintaining emotional balance and protecting your well-being.

Always remember that apology without change is manipulative, and the quicker you realize that, the better it will be for you and emotional well-being.

Let’s dive into what is a manipulative apology, how does a narcissist apologize and how to respond to a manipulative apology, so that you can handle these situations with confidence, and not get caught in an emotional trap.

Related:

Up Next

9 Malignant Narcissist Traits That Scream ‘Stay Away!’

Malignant Narcissist Traits That Scream Stay Away

Ever met someone who just seemed a little too… intense? Maybe they needed control, demanded admiration, or seemed to enjoy making others uncomfortable? These aren’t just common personality flaws – these are actually malignant narcissist traits.

Spotting these traits can help you steer clear of the emotional roller coaster that follows such people around. We’ll dive into exactly what is a malignant narcissist, the warning signs to watch out for, and how to deal with a malignant narcissist.

So, let’s get started shall we? We will begin with what is a malignant narcissist.

Related:

Up Next

How to Make a Narcissist Miserable: 9 Ways to Flip the Script

How to Make a Narcissist Miserable

So, you’re ready to learn how to make a narcissist miserable? Let’s be real – dealing with one can feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending soap opera, where they’re the star, and you’re the… well, supporting character.

But guess what? You don’t have to play along! Narcissists live off attention, praise, and control, so what if you start flipping the script?

The goal here isn’t revenge but taking back your power. Today we are going to talk about how to hurt a narcissist where it hurts, and what to say to a narcissist to make them feel bad.

Related: Tired of Ent

Up Next

Tired of Entitled People? 8 Clever Ways to Keep Your Cool

Ways to Keep Your Cool

Entitled people—they’re everywhere, and dealing with them can be downright draining. Whether it’s at work, among friends, or even family, you may find yourself constantly bumping into people who seem to think the world revolves around them.

But handling them without losing your cool? That’s the real trick. From understanding the entitlement mentality to recognizing the signs of an entitled person and learning how to deal with entitled people, this guide will help you navigate these tricky interactions without letting frustration take over.

Let’s dive in and uncover some clever, calming strategies for managing the entitled in your life.

First, let’s try to understand what it means to have a sense of entitlement.

Up Next

Why Is Narcissism On The Rise? The Shocking Connection to the Wetiko Mindset!

Why Is Narcissism On The Rise Wetiko

Why is narcissism on the rise? It seems like everywhere we look, we find more people focused on themselves, seeking constant admiration, and lacking empathy.

While many chalk it up to social media or a “me-first” culture, there’s an ancient concept that might hold deeper answers: the Wetiko mindset.

Rooted in Indigenous teachings, Wetiko represents a mindset of self-centeredness, greed, and disconnection, which eerily aligns with modern narcissism.

By exploring this concept, we can uncover why there’s a rise in narcissism and how we can address it. Read on to know more about this mindset and what it means.

Related:

Up Next

Weaponized Incompetence: 7 Ways Narcissists Manipulate You With This Stealthy Trick

Weaponized Incompetence Narcissists Manipulate You

“Weaponized incompetence” might sound like a complex term, but you’ve probably experienced it at some point. Imagine dealing with someone who magically “forgets” how to do something just to avoid doing it, leaving you with all the work.

This manipulative trick is often used by narcissists to get out of responsibilities while making you feel overly critical or even guilty. In relationships, whether personal or professional, it’s a stealthy tactic that can leave you exhausted and overwhelmed.

Today, we are going to talk about what is weaponized incompetence, the signs of weaponized incompetence and how to deal with weaponized incompetence. So, ready to know more about this?

Let’s start with what is weaponized incompetence.