psychopaths
People without conscience
Psychopaths are people with a personality disorder marked by shallow emotions, lack of empathy, manipulativeness, and disregard for others' wellbeing.
The clinical term is antisocial personality disorder, but psychopath persists in popular usage for those who seem incapable of genuine remorse or emotional connection: The documentary explored whether corporate executives are disproportionately psychopaths.
In casual speech, psychopath loosely describes anyone whose behavior seems dangerously unhinged or coldly calculating.
Acting without deliberation
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- antisocialAverse to socializing
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- violentInvolving physical force
predatory · thrill-seeking · irresponsible · parasitic · criminal · risk-taking · rule-breaking · recidivism
antisocial personality disorder
Persistent exploitation and remorselessness
- sociopathyPathological absence of conscience
- dark triadThree malevolent personality traits
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- grandiosityExaggerated sense of importance
diagnosis · forensic psychology · neuroimaging · amygdala · prefrontal cortex
Cruelly insensitive to others
- unemotionalLacking outward feeling
- remorselessLacking guilt or pity
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
heartless · pitiless · flat affect · detached · indifferent · merciless · ruthless · soulless
Attractive but insincere magnetism
- glibSuperficially articulate
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
- seductivePowerfully attractive, tempting
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
captivating · smooth-talking · persuasive · likeable · mask · facade · mimicry · charming
Sly, scheming cleverness
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- exploitativeUnfairly using others' vulnerabilities
gaslighting · conniving · duplicitous · guileful · coercive · insidious · predatory · artful
Recurring lone murderer
- true crimeGenre covering actual offenses
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- white-collarOffice work designation
impulsive
Acting without deliberation
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- antisocialAverse to socializing
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
violent · predatory · thrill-seeking · irresponsible · parasitic · criminal · risk-taking · rule-breaking · recidivism
antisocial personality disorder
Persistent exploitation and remorselessness
- sociopathyPathological absence of conscience
- dark triadThree malevolent personality traits
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
grandiosity · diagnosis · forensic psychology · neuroimaging · amygdala · prefrontal cortex
callous
Cruelly insensitive to others
- unemotionalLacking outward feeling
- remorselessLacking guilt or pity
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
cold-blooded · heartless · pitiless · flat affect · detached · indifferent · merciless · ruthless · soulless · hardened
superficial charm
Attractive but insincere magnetism
- glibSuperficially articulate
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
- seductivePowerfully attractive, tempting
engaging · captivating · smooth-talking · persuasive · likeable · mask · facade · mimicry · charming · suave
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- schemingCrafty and calculating
exploitative · gaslighting · conniving · duplicitous · guileful · coercive · insidious · predatory · artful · dissembling
serial killer
Recurring lone murderer
- true crimeGenre covering actual offenses
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
Hannibal Lecter · Patrick Bateman · white-collar · CEO · documentary
- patientspatient, inpatients, inpatient, outpatients, outpatient
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
psychopathsempaths
Those attuning to others' feelings
bleeding hearts · nurturers · caregivers · sensitives · neurotypicals
psychopathsaltruists
People motivated by others' welfare
saints · humanitarians · Good Samaritans · do-gooders · philanthropists
psychopathshealers
Those who treat ailments
protectors · nurturers · heroes · caregivers · martyrs