Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, impulsivity, and manipulation. These people, characterized by their lack of empathy, manipulation tactics and tendency toward antisocial behavior, can be true masters in the art of dissimulation. Detecting a psychopath can be difficult, but what happens when they are discovered? How do they react and act when their mask starts to crumble?
In this Psychology-Online article we will explain How a psychopath acts when he is discoveredthe most frequent behaviors that they tend to manifest when exposed and, finally, we will analyze whether confronting and telling a psychopath that you have been discovered is a good idea.
Denial
One of the most common reactions of a psychopath upon being discovered is deny any involvement in the behaviors suspicious. These people may try to convince the other person that they are wrong, or even crazy. On many occasions, the denial can be so firm that they can even convince others of their innocence.
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Handling
Psychopaths are experts at manipulation and when exposed they can resort to any measure to avoid the consequences of their actions. In this sense, they can offer fake apologies, promise to change or even try to make the other person feel guilty for accusing them.
Anger and aggression
Psychopaths may have difficulty controlling their anger and may resort to physical or verbal aggression when they feel threatened or challenged. Anger and aggression are common responses in individuals with psychopathic traits, as they seek to maintain control and power over others.
By displaying anger and aggression, psychopaths They try to intimidate and manipulate the other person. Physical or verbal violence can be used as a way to establish dominance over the victim and maintain their submission.
feign surprise
A psychopath may try to hide it and act surprised when discovered. They may pretend that they never thought someone would accuse them or that they never imagined the truth would be revealed, so It is common for a psychopath to feign surprise when confronted with his actions.
Psychopaths are often very clever manipulating and deceiving others to get what they want and can maintain a façade of normality and sincerity. By feigning surprise, they may try to evade punishment or negative consequences for their actions. Additionally, it can also be part of your strategy to gain forgiveness or compassion from the victim or those around them.
Threats
Psychopaths can threaten the person who has discovered them with retaliation if they continue to accuse them or try to expose them. These threats can range from legal action to more serious consequences, such as violence or physical harm.
Remoteness
Some psychopaths may choose to move away from the situation and the person who has discovered them. For example, they may disappear suddenly and without explanation, or simply refuse to have any type of interaction with the person who has confronted them. This withdrawal can be temporary or permanent, depending on the situation and the psychopath in question.
Defensive behavior
Defensive behavior may be a common characteristic in individuals with psychopathic traits when confronted about their behavior. When pointed out or questioned, psychopaths may react with aggressiveness, justifications or minimizations to avoid taking responsibility or facing the consequences of their actions.
Try to manipulate the situation
Individuals with psychopathic traits often have highly developed manipulative skills. When confronted about their behavior, they may attempt to turn the situation around and manipulate the victim to avoid facing the consequences of their actions.
Likewise, they often blame the victim themselves for the events, use love-bombing tactics to gain the other person’s trust again, minimize the seriousness of their behavior or exploit the victim’s emotions to manipulate them. In this article we explain to you.
Alleging mental or emotional problems
In some cases, the psychopath can try to justify your behavior alleging that he suffers from some mental or emotional illness, or that he has gone through difficult times that have led him to act in that way so as not to take responsibility for his own actions.
Show indifference
Emotional indifference is another common tactic used by some individuals with psychopathic traits when confronted. They can show a cold, distant and disinterested attitudeas if what they are being told is unimportant or does not affect them in any way in order to protect themselves and avoid the negative consequences of their actions.
Find allies
When discovered, psychopaths can look for allies to support your version of the facts or undermine the credibility of the victim. These allies can be people close to them, such as friends, family, who can be manipulated into siding with the psychopath and questioning the validity of the victim’s claims to protect their reputation and reinforce their power and control over you and the family. situation.
Is it good to confront and tell a psychopath that you’ve figured it out?
Confront and tell a psychopath that you have been discovered It can be a very risky and dangerous action.. Psychopaths tend to be manipulative, deceitful and often have a lack of empathy, meaning they can respond in unpredictable and potentially dangerous ways when confronted. However, each situation is unique and it is important to carefully evaluate the risk before deciding whether or not to confront the psychopath.
If you decide to confront the psychopath, it is important do it safely and with the right support. This may include seeking help from a mental health professional or seeking support from trusted friends and family. It is also important to be clear and concise in your communication and set clear boundaries about how you wish to be treated.
In some cases, confronting the psychopath can be helpful in setting boundaries and avoiding future interactions. However, while confronting a psychopath may provide temporary relief or a sense of justice, it may be more effective distance yourself from the individual and seek professional support or personal to process the experience and recover emotionally. If you want to know more information about this topic, we will tell you here.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Rivero, J., and Arias, V. (2009). Study of emotional factors that affect the development of psychopathic personality: state of the art on psychopathy and affect. https://repository.ucc.edu.co/handle/20.500.12494/40797