The Parasitical Nature of Psychopaths

Transcript from video

Psychopaths have a tendency to exploit others for personal gain and their behaviour often mimics that of a parasite in the sense that they live off the resources, emotions, and efforts of others without contributing anything.

There are two subtypes within the broader concept of psychopathy, Type 1, known as primary psychopathy and Type 2 known as secondary psychopathy. Some of the differences include with type 1 we generally see a lack of fear, lack of anxiety, being low in neuroticism. They can have better impulse control meaning they can be more calculated. Type 2 psychopaths can be more emotionally reactive, there is poor behavioural control, meaning they can act impulsively, make rash decisions. There are higher levels of neuroticism and they can struggle with long term goals.

But generally Psychopaths can be cold, calculating, and deceitful. They view others as objects, tools to be used. They don’t see people not as equals but rather as resources to be manipulated. They can also be opportunists, taking advantage of anything or anything for their own benefit. Dr. Robert Hare, a leading expert on psychopathy, describes psychopaths as "social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life." They can lie easily and convincingly. They can create elaborate stories to manipulate others into giving them what they want. Whether that’s money, power, or influence. They use deceit to gain status or extract resources.

Unlike what the movies portray, Psychopathy isn’t just limited to criminal behaviour. Many people with psychopathic traits succeed in organisations, politics, corporate environments, where they manipulate, take credit for other people’s work, and make decisions without regard for ethical standards.

 Dr. Paul Babiak, an industrial psychologist, reports many successful corporate executives display psychopathic traits. And these ‘corporate psychopaths’ can rise to power by parasitically using their charisma to take advantage of the efforts of their colleagues. Psychopaths see systems, relationships, social connections, whether personal or professional as a means to an end, something to take advantage of. They can be charismatic and likable, and this can help them gain the trust of others. They then exploit that trust. They create relationships with people who they see as useful, they latch onto individuals who can provide them with resources, draining their energy, time, or money.

Although they lack empathy, psychopaths can be really good at reading people. They can pick very quickly what people want, what they need. They can pick up on people’s vulnerabilities and can be very convincing. They often make good sales people. But typically they target those they can exploit. Psychopaths are skilled at identifying people who are emotionally vulnerable, lonely, or insecure. These individuals are more likely to overlook red flags, warning signs.

But once a psychopath has attached themselves to someone, they will take as much as they can without concern for the other person’s well-being. This could include borrowing money they never intend to repay, living off their resources, their hard work, or constantly demanding emotional support without ever giving anything in return.

In personal relationships, this can leave their victims emotionally exhausted and financially drained. In professional relationships it can leave entire organisations in chaos and the people demoralised.

As a parasite will move from one host to the next, psychopaths move from one victim to the next. Because people are only tools or resources that benefit them, they can just dump someone if they’re no longer useful. When exposed, if a relationship goes bad, or something or someone better comes along, like a parasite they can just leave someone and attach themselves to the new host, often leaving destruction in their wake.

As a parasite might depend on their host but don’t really care about them, they don’t care about the harm they cause, or the strain they put them under. They don’t care if their actions hurt others. In fact, the inability to feel guilt or remorse allows them to continue taking advantage of others without the burden of conscience. They can con people into doing things for them, giving them things with their charisma, superficial charm, overconfidence and by pretending it’s for the greater good.

Many psychopaths are opportunists, and because of their deceptive nature can be good at making it difficult for people to even realise they are being exploited until it’s too late. They can take over groups, organisations, form cults by exploiting other people’s weakness, garnering sympathy, creating conflict and outrage and destroying the credibility, reputation, even careers of any opposition. Looking at it from the outside their actions are cold, unethical, and sometimes even fly in the face of common sense but to those who have been love bombed, manipulated, conned, those who have experienced extreme high level gaslighting, the psychopath has the answers. It’s everyone else who is wrong.

So to summarize, like parasites, psychopaths take and exploit without giving back, and often leaving a trail of harm in their wake. They can be highly skilled at hiding their true nature and true intent. They gain power and resources through exploitation and deceit. Their lack of empathy and lack of conscience allows them to continue to use others for their own benefit without the fear of facing consequences, and just dump them and move on to someone else when their victim has been depleted.

And like a parasite that can avoid detection by the immune system, many people, groups, organisations and movements don’t realise what’s happening until it’s too late.

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