Has anyone here had any encounters with a psychopath?

[Paraiyar]

I'm asking because I've just been on a forum about it where people share their experiences with them. I have a male neighbour who I'm fairly convinced would tick most of the boxes on Hare's checklist. There was a woman at one of my old jobs who was two faced and manipulative as they come. I also know a guy who whilst already having a child with one girl, convinced his fiance to try for a baby and then left her as soon as she got pregnant. He is also a compulsive liar.

Not saying all these people are necessarily psychopaths but I think they'd not be far off if they aren't.

 

[Solivagant]

Yep. Plenty.

 

[Paraiyar]

Yep. Plenty.

Feel free to elaborate if you're okay with doing so.

 

[user 115627]

My former boss had a high chance of being one. My instructor and I went through the list once and he had about 18 of 21 possible signs going for him. Extremely charming person, but very shallow, constant lying, massive lack of empathy, unstable relationships and exaggerated self-worth...these were the obvious ones.

I think I really felt it when the Head of HR had just told me they weren't going to keep me in the company after all - 4 weeks before my apprenticeship was over. He entered the office one day later when I was alone, keeping the department rolling. All he did was throwing some task at me as if I was going to be there forever, asking if I was alone and out he went. Never heard a single word along the lines of "Sorry to see you leave". True story. Wouldn't have believed it coming from him anyway. I had formed my opinion long time ago, so this was exactly how I expected him to behave.

 

[Serenia]

I have known someone who was violent, manipulative to the point of gaslighting and plenty other behaviours and showed no remorse what so ever.

 

[BadGuy]

I had a coworker that would smile to your face all the while twisting a knife in your back any chance he got
He was constantly complaining to management about everyone else to the point it put him under greater scrutiny ...management started questioning how he had so much spare time
He eventually took his own life after multiple attempts prior to employment there

 

[user 108508]

Yes, I have. :/

 

[AmytheTemperamental]

Yes. As well, I have had points where I feel like I am one.

 

[Paraiyar]

Yes. As well, I have had points where I feel like I am one.

I think we all feel we could be sometimes.

 

[Niantiel]

Psychopathy and Sociopathy are different and easily confused.

I can handle psychotics.
I can't handle sociopathics.

 

[Solivagant]

Psychopathy and Sociopathy are different and easily confused.

I can handle psychotics.
I can't handle sociopathics.

Psychosis and psychopathy are also different. Being psychotic is not the same as being a psychopath.

 

[Niantiel]

^ That's also true.

Although, it is again one of the more trippy things about the English language (pun not entirely intended)

 

[TheSkaFish]

I'm not sure. I hope not. There is one person I'm really not sure about.

 

[Sci-Fi]

Seems like the term psychopath is being used loosely here. I had a boss who displayed traits of being a psychopath, in fact the only thing he lacked to being a true psychopath was he didn't have any violent tendencies. Other than that he was pretty much as close to a psychopath as I ever want to get again. Though I did work with a guy who you could class as a sociopath, that guy was nuts. Thank god I was never a victim of his madness but I sure heard stories of some of his lesser moments. I was so glad when I inadvertently got him fired.

 

[lonelyfairy]

One person... I'm not a doctor so I have no rights to say that was she really a psychopath or not but definitely very close to it. One of the most coldest, manipulative, narcissistic, meanest people who I have ever met.

 

[Solivagant]

Feel free to elaborate if you're okay with doing so.

I really can't. It would take enormous mental/emotional effort and a couple books' worth of stories (a bunch of short stories and one really long one) to elaborate, and nobody would believe me anyway. I don't go there anymore.

 

[edgecrusher]

I shared a room with one for a while. Years ago I had to move back in with my parents and I had to share a room with my mom's boyfriend's son. I had to deal with him doing heroin and having people stay there for periods of time that also did things like that with me in the room. He had no real regard for life or any sense of remorse. I was so glad to get out of there. Now he's in jail for 20 years for being a part of a murder.