Hollywood's portrayal of psychopaths as violent killers is a significant misunderstanding that contributes to their dangerousness, according to Leanne ten Brinke, an associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Ten Brinke, author of “Poisonous People,” stated that while psychopathy can be a risk factor for violence, it is not a defining characteristic. Instead, psychopaths are more likely to weaponize charm, confidence, and social skills to mask deficits and present themselves as ideal partners, leaders, or candidates.
This manipulative approach, which includes lies and superficial charm, helps explain research indicating that individuals with psychopathic traits often fare well on dating apps. Psychopathy is one of the four traits comprising the “Dark Tetrad,” which also includes narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism. While each trait has unique characteristics, they share commonalities of callousness and manipulation.
Ten Brinke emphasizes that psychopathy manifests in consistent patterns of behavior across different situations and over time. While anyone can lie or act selfishly occasionally, individuals with psychopathic personalities do so persistently, without remorse, accountability, or an effort to change. She advises paying attention to patterns in behavior.
Assessing and diagnosing mental disorders should be left to trained professionals, but ten Brinke suggests looking for certain red flags. These include how individuals react when others' needs or well-being conflict with their own desires. They may resort to manipulation, deception, gaslighting, blame-shifting, and a relentless pursuit of “winning.” Additionally, individuals with psychopathic traits consistently disregard rules, whether they are laws, workplace policies, social norms, or relationship boundaries.
A key biological indicator of psychopathy, according to ten Brinke, is an unusual emotional calmness in distressing situations. While most people exhibit stress responses such as voice changes, sweating, or increased heart rate, individuals with psychopathic traits often do not show these physiological reactions to fear or punishment, making them harder to startle. Lack of pupil dilation when viewing disturbing images can also be a biological sign.
Ten Brinke also touched on promiscuity, suggesting it might represent an evolutionary “fast life strategy” focused on immediate rewards and short-term relationships, contrasting with the collaborative and long-term approach of most individuals. This strategy's effectiveness relies on its rarity, as widespread adoption would lead to increased cynicism and make deception more difficult.
Psychopathy exists on a spectrum, with only about 1% of the general population exhibiting clinical levels of these traits. However, individuals with elevated, subclinical levels can still cause significant harm. To identify potentially “poisonous” personalities, ten Brinke recommends a “transcript check,” focusing on the factual content of statements rather than the emotional impact of an interaction. Discrepancies or vagueness in a person's claims, even after a seemingly impressive interaction, can be telling. Ten Brinke also notes that groups are generally more effective at detecting deception than individuals, suggesting that seeking help from others can be valuable in navigating relationships with such individuals.