1. You are a compulsive liar
Image Source: The Mirror
Do you often find yourself lying to the people around you on a daily basis, not being able to stop once you’ve started even though you know what you are doing is wrong? Well, this bad habit could be one of the key signs that you might be a psychopath.
2. You manipulate people around you
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Do you take pleasure in manipulating the people around you? You might not have even realised this is something you do so often, but it usually stems from the need to have control in all situations and could be a strong sign that you are a psychopath.
3. You don’t catch yawns
Image Source: Evening Standard
It is almost impossible to stop yourself catching someones yawn if they are in close proximity to you, which then starts a never-ending cycle of yawning. But if you are someone who is immune to catching yawns, it could be one of the signs you are a psychopath…
4. You struggle to stick to your responsibilities
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This is another classic sign you might be a psychopath…if you struggle to focus on realistic goals throughout the day and can’t face up to your responsibilities. You probably wouldn’t think this would be associated, but it is because bigger things are on your mind.
5. You intentionally disobey the law
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Are you someone who is always tempted to do something ‘wrong’ which goes against the law? It could be anything from shoplifting to speeding in your car, but if you can’t stop that fighting urge inside you it could be a sign of something more sinister…
6. You are impulsive
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There is a large scale of impulsivity, it could be anything from deciding to have a meal deal instead of your packed lunch…or it could be more extreme and involve walking out of work to go shopping instead. But either way, extreme impulsive behaviour can be a warning sign.
7. You eat dark chocolate
Image Source: Kingston University
It may seem pretty random, but apparently psychopaths are more likely to enjoy bitter flavours like dark chocolate and black coffee. It has been suggested that this relates to their reduced sense of smell, which is apparently another psychopathic trait.
8. You constantly seek thrills
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Are you that person who is constantly seeking the next thrill, never afraid to throw themselves into anything? Although we can only admire people who have no fear and will be the first ones to sign up for a skydive, it could also be an indication that you’re a psychopath.
9. You watch horror films to calm you down
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Now this one is pretty niche…there can’t be many people out there who watch horror movies to relax and calm down? Well, apparently this is more common than you think and if this applies to you, it could be a red flag that you are indeed a psychopath.
10. You are constantly bored
Image Source: Stuff.co.nz
We’re not talking the type of boredom we all experience every now and again after a dull day at work or a quiet evening with no plans, this is chronic boredom in every single aspect of your life…if this is something you can relate to, it could be a sign!
11. You stay awake all night
Image Source: The New Daily
Are you someone who spends most of the day half asleep in a groggy state, just to find yourself full of energy as soon as the evening arrives? Being a night owl is quite common as many people have difficulty sleeping, but if you combine it with some other habits it could be a bad sign!
12. You have a bad temper
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Do you easily fly off the handle, even over the smallest things that shouldn’t raise your anger that much? Well, having a bad temper that interferes with your daily functioning could be a sign of many things…including the possibility that you are a psychopath.
13. Your behaviour is unpredictable
Image Source: Men's Health
Being around someone with unpredictable behaviour can be very unnerving as you never know what their next move will be…if you are wondering if this applies to you, it is most likely you haven’t noticed how unpredictable you are and could be a warning sign.
14. You love Eminem
Image Source: The Sun
This one might seem random but a research study by New York University found that people with higher levels of psychopathy preferred music by artists such as Eminem over more chilled genres of music, suggesting there is a link between psychopathic traits and music taste.
15. You have an urge to steal things
Image Source: Young Entertainment Magazine
This has probably happened to all of us at least once in our lives…but it was probably when we were younger and more reckless, with no intention to act of those thoughts. But if you experience the constant urge to steal things on a daily basis, this could be a red flag for something more.
16. You only drink coffee all day
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Caffeine is part of most of our lives, particularly if you have a busy schedule and need an energy boost to get you through the day. Although not everyone who drinks a lot of caffeine is necessarily a psychopath, consuming an unhealthy amount of the stuff everyday could be a warning sign…
17. You’re still friends with your ex-partners
Image Source: Teen Vogue
We’re all aware that this is a pretty toxic trait regardless, but it turns out there can be a much darker reason why you're still friends with your ex…because psychopathic traits mean you hate to fail or lose so you do everything in your power to maintain the relationship.
18. You don’t really care what happens to other people
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This one is pretty ruthless…have you ever found yourself struggling to be empathetic when something bad happens to someone else, not really caring about the situation or giving it much further thought? Well, this is considered one of the main psychopathic traits.
19. You follow strict daily patterns
Image Source: BBC America
Do you find yourself following the same strict routines each day without fail? It could be having exactly 3 cups of coffee each day, eating dinner at a particular time or wearing matching underwear. Either way, you must stick to these rules or you won’t be happy…
20. You have a pet fish
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Although not all people who have a pet fish are necessarily psychopaths, research has shown that people who own fish are more likely to present with psychopathic personality traits compared to other pet owners. For example, people who own cats are least likely to be psychopaths.
21. You’re a creative soul
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Having psychopathic traits can actually make you a more creative person, as you are more likely to take big bold risks and think outside of the box. So if you are a uniquely talented artistic individual, it could be a sign you fit into this category!
22. You’re irresponsible and reckless
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We’ve all had phases in our lives of being irresponsible and doing reckless things we know we shouldn’t, but we usually grow out as we get older or it is a short-lived phase we get over. So it could be a worry if you are someone who thrives on reckless behaviour and dodging responsibility…
23. You ignore calls from your family
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This one might not seem like that big of a deal…but we’re not talking about missing an occasional call and making sure you return it at the next chance you get, this is consistently ignoring any contact your family makes on purpose and not being concerned about their welfare.
24. You are an internet troll
Image Source: Big Think
This one certainly would be worrying…if you are someone who trolls people through the internet it could be a sign you are a psychopath. It might be harassing people you know through fake accounts or generally spreading hate on the internet, but either way this is a concerning habit.
25. You tell elaborate stories
Image Source: Business Insider
Have you ever found yourself telling people an elaborate fake story that you are making up as you go along, not knowing how to stop now you are this far deep in the plot? Well, this could be a warning sign of something more serious than just being an attention seeker…
26. You speak slowly with a neutral tone
Image Source: Psychology Today
This one may come as a surprise, but it turns out that psychopaths are more likely to speak slowly and control their pace compared to the typical population. Research has also found they have a neutral tone to their voice and a limited use of emotion words in their vocabulary.
27. You invade peoples personal space
Image Source: Psychology Today
You might expect a psychopath to keep to themselves and avoid social situations, but actually it turns out this is not the case…people with limited boundaries who often invade people’s personal space without picking up on social cues are more likely to be psychopaths.
28. You have a reduced startle response
Image Source: Insider
Most people are reactive why they get a fright, which is when the human startle reflex kicks in to try and protect our body. This is an automatic response, so if you are someone who does not react to intense stimulation it may be a sign you are wired differently…
29. You often think about dying
Image Source: ZME Science
If you consider yourself to be quite a morbid person and frequently think about dying, whether that be yourself or other people, you may want to consider if there is something more going on as this can be an unhealthy thought process which is considered a psychopathic trait.
30. You studied Business at University
Image Source: Esquire
Research has shown that people who studied business in higher education are more likely to have the personality traits of a psychopath, including being a narcissist and manipulative. This is because people with these traits are more likely to be drawn to occupations which involve power and money.