Are You Dating a Psychopath? Experts Say These Subtle Signs May Help You Determine

We all have an idea of what a psychopath is – and we make it a point to never go near, more so date, one. There have been many films and series revolving around these types of characters, like Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) in the hit Netflix show ‘You.’

However, the colloquial use of the word ‘psychopath’ is not really accurate. In the medical field, therapist Kelly Scott said that the nearest thing that represents this stereotype is the condition called antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) – a person suffering from this tends to not care about the well-being of others.

Fizkes/Shutterstock | People with ASPD can actually be charming

On the surface, people with ASPD don’t seem like they would become toxic partners because they can be good at being charming and faking empathy. There are signs that a person you’re dating may be suffering from this disorder or a psychopath for short:

Charming

This is the hard part: determining if a person is just extraordinarily charming or he/she has a deeper issue. The expert explained that people suffering from ASPD often are great at hiding their evil side, so much so that they may become inexplicably thoughtful.

They can also appear to be attentive to your feelings and needs. The bad news is that you may only get to know their real skin once you are with them. Admittedly, there are subtle signs that will raise a red flag, which is most often observed in the littlest of things or when they deal with other people.

Fizkes/Shutterstock | The relationship can get abusive

No Remorse Despite Harming Others

The therapist said that those with ASPD are likely to join organized crime or deceive others because they don’t feel anything about hurting people. They usually don’t have regard for morality, and they don’t mind harming their peers even to the point of incorporating violence just to get what they want.

For Personal Gain

Psychopaths won’t stop at anything just for their personal gain, even if it meant stepping on their loved ones like family members. If you’re dating someone with ASPD without your knowledge, you may observe that they can exploit and manipulate others.

In a relationship, people with ASPD tend to lie, steal, and even control their partners. They can also be abusive as a culmination.

No Empathy Whatsoever

Fizkes/Shutterstock | Because they lack empathy, people with ASPD can get physical

The media always shows us that psychopaths are killers, and although the expert said that their lack of empathy can indeed manifest in violence, it doesn’t apply to all people with ASPD. There are not-so-obvious signs that are not physical in nature.

As such, if you notice your partner using others to meet their needs, which is detrimental to those people, it is a red flag.