Q&A for How to Identify a Psychopath

Probably the greatest alert that you are dealing with a psychopath is a lack of empathy--the person's inability to put themselves into your shoes no matter what the situation or feelings involved.

Psychopaths have shallow emotions and come across as callous. They have a sense of grandiosity about their own importance. They tend to not accept responsibility for their own actions or failures. They also can be charming and manipulative.

There are 20 checklist items on the PCL-R which is a tool that assesses for psychopathic profiles. Interpreting that is complex. If you are interested to learn more, please search online for "PCL-R."

I think the first question might be: "Do you want to live like this?" Don't be under the impression that you will change him or her. Try to start by making a list of the pros and cons of being married to this person. Which list is longer? Is the con list intolerable? If you seriously think your spouse might be a psychopath, consult a therapist. You will need outside help to deal with the level of manipulation you are most likely experiencing. Best of luck.

Well first of all, if you readily admit you might be a psychopath, you are probably not. You may exhibit some of the characteristics. Remember psychopathy is a cluster of characteristics occurring concurrently. If you are concerned, by all means seek out a therapist. There are sophisticated tests that can sort all of this out, and the individual characteristics can be worked on. Best of luck.