Can a psychopath be saved? (5 reasons)
This blog post aims to answer the question, “Can a psychopath be saved?” and explore the various aspects of a psychopath and their personality to help understand the answer.
Can a psychopath be saved?
No, usually, real psychopaths cannot be saved because of the following 5 reasons –
- Psychopathy is a personality disorder.
- Psychopathy is a continuum.
- A real psychopath will never believe there’s anything wrong with them.
- Psychopaths are manipulative.
- Psychopaths do not fear punishment or societal stigmatisation.
These 5 reasons why psychopaths cannot be saved will be discussed in further detail below after taking a deeper look at who a psychopath is.
Who is a psychopath?
A “psychopath” is someone who is ruthless, unemotional, and morally twisted. The word is commonly used in professional and legal settings, despite the fact that it is not a recognised mental health condition.
While psychopathy is not a diagnosis in and of itself, it shares many of the characteristics of antisocial personality disorder, a broader mental health disease characterised by people who regularly act out and defy regulations. Psychopaths, on the other hand, make up a small fraction of those who suffer from antisocial personality disorder.
Common Traits of Psychopaths.
Psychopathic conduct differs widely from one person to the next. Some are serial killers and sex criminals. Others, on the other hand, may be effective leaders. It is entirely dependent on their characteristics.
It’s critical to distinguish between psychopaths and persons who exhibit psychopathic characteristics. It’s possible to have multiple psychopathic characteristics without really becoming a psychopath.
People with psychopathic characteristics don’t always act psychopathically. Psychopaths are defined as those who have psychopathic features and also engage in antisocial conduct.
Psychopathic traits include –
- Antisocial behaviour
- Narcissism
- Superficial charm
- Impulsivity
- Callous, unemotional traits
- Lack of guilt
- Lack of empathy
According to one study, around 29% of the general population possesses one or more psychopathic traits. Only 0.6 per cent of the population, however, meets the definition of a psychopath.
Signs of a Psychopath.
Psychopathic characteristics can appear in childhood and worsen with time. Some of the most prevalent indications of a psychopath are listed below.
Superficial Charm.
On the surface, psychopaths appear to be likeable. They’re typically skilled conversationalists who tell stories that make them appear attractive. They might also be witty and charming.
Need for Stimulation.
Psychopaths thrive on the thrill of the chase. They want a steady flow of activity in their life and usually desire to live in the “fast lane.” Their demand for excitement frequently entails breaching rules.
They may relish the excitement of getting away with something, or they may relish the possibility of being “caught” at any time. As a result, they may find it difficult to stay interested in tedious or repeated jobs, and they may be irritable with routines.
Pathological Lying.
Psychopaths lie to make themselves appear nice and stay out of danger. They also lie to cover up their earlier deceptions.
They occasionally have trouble keeping their stories straight since they forget what they’ve stated. When confronted, they simply alter their tale or modify the facts to suit the scenario.
Grandiose Sense of Self-Worth.
Psychopaths have a distorted self-perception. They consider themselves to be powerful and entitled. They frequently feel justified in following their own set of rules, believing that the laws do not apply to them.
Manipulative.
Psychopaths are masters at persuading others to do what they desire. They may take advantage of a person’s remorse while lying to get someone else to complete their task for them.
Lack of Remorse.
Psychopaths are unconcerned about how their actions affect others. They may forget about an offence or believe that others are overreacting when their feelings are wounded.
Finally, they have no remorse for inflicting misery on others. In fact, they frequently explain their actions and place blame on others.
Shallow Affect.
Psychopaths aren’t known for displaying many emotions, at least not authentic ones. They may look cold and emotionless for long periods of time. When it serves them well, though, they may present a theatrical exhibition of emotions. These tend to be short-lived and shallow.
They may, for example, display fury to scare someone or display melancholy to influence someone. However, they do not actually feel these feelings.
Lack of Empathy.
Psychopaths have a hard time comprehending why someone else could be fearful, unhappy, or nervous. They are unable to read people, thus it makes no sense to them. Even if it’s a close friend or family member, they’re entirely unconcerned about others who are suffering.
Parasitic Lifestyle.
Psychopaths may have sob tales about their inability to earn money, or they may frequently claim to have been abused by others.
Then they take advantage of others’ generosity by becoming financially reliant on them. They take advantage of individuals to obtain everything they can, regardless of how they may feel.
Poor Behavioral Controls.
Psychopaths frequently struggle to obey rules, regulations, and policies. Even if they want to obey the rules, they rarely do so for very long.
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior.
Psychopaths are more prone to cheat on their relationships since they don’t care about the people around them. They could have unprotected intercourse with random strangers. They might also use sex to acquire what they desire. For them, sex is not an emotional or loving act.
Early Behavioral Problems.
The majority of psychopaths have behavioural issues from a young age. Cheating, skipping school, vandalising property, abusing narcotics, or becoming aggressive are all possibilities. Their misdeeds tend to worsen with time and are more significant than those of their peers.
Lack of Realistic, Long-Term Goals.
A psychopath’s ambition might be to become wealthy or famous. However, they frequently lack the knowledge necessary to make these things happen. Instead, they insist that they will obtain what they want without having to put out any effort.
Impulsivity.
Psychopaths react to situations based on how they feel. They don’t take the time to consider the dangers and advantages of their decisions. Instead, they desire instant pleasure.
As a result, individuals may quit a job, terminate a relationship, relocate to a new location, or purchase a new automobile on the spur of the moment.
Irresponsibility.
Promises have no meaning for psychopaths. They aren’t trustworthy, whether they vow to return a debt or sign a contract. They may neglect to pay child support, go heavily into debt, or forget about their responsibilities and commitments.
Psychopaths refuse to take responsibility for their own issues. They believe that their problems are always the fault of others. They typically play the victim, and they like telling stories about how others have used them.
Many Marital Relationships.
Psychopaths may marry because it is advantageous to them. They could desire to spend a partner’s money or share their debt with someone else, for example. However, their behaviour frequently leads to divorce as their spouses come to see them from a more realistic perspective.
Criminal Versatility.
Psychopaths typically see rules as recommendations and laws as impediments to their progress. Their illicit activities might be quite diverse.
Criminal offences such as driving infractions, financial violations, and acts of violence are only a few instances of the wide range of crimes that may be committed.
Of course, not all of them end up in prison. Some people may run shady enterprises or participate in unethical behaviour that does not result in an arrest.
Revocation of Conditional Release.
When psychopaths are released from jail, they usually do not follow the terms of conditional release. They may believe that they will not be caught again. Alternatively, they may find methods to justify their actions. They could even blame others for “being caught.”
What are these 5 reasons why psychopaths cannot be saved?
Psychopathy is a personality disorder.
Psychopathy is not a mental condition, but rather a personality disorder. Psychopaths will never be able to change since there is no “treatment” for them. Psychopaths can be treated with reward-based treatment if they are in prison. However, rather than being a cure, this is only a way of control.
Psychopathy is a continuum.
Psychopathy, like many other personality qualities, is a continuum. True psychopaths are thought to make up about 1-2 per cent of men and 0.3-0.7 per cent of women in the general population, while the rest of us fall somewhere in the middle.
People with psychopathic characteristics including ruthlessness, charm, impulsivity, and persuasiveness usually get along nicely in the life. Even full-fledged psychopaths can be incredibly successful; they’ll simply never be like everyone else.
A real psychopath will never believe there’s anything wrong with them.
A lack of empathy distinguishes a real psychopath from the rest of the population. They will never be able to empathise with another person’s sentiments or care that they are thriving while others are suffering. In fact, a psychopath may take pleasure in feeling superior while wreaking havoc on others.
For a psychopath, lacking empathy isn’t an issue, and they’ll never believe there’s anything wrong with them. A real psychopath, thus, can never be saved.
Psychopaths are manipulative.
Psychopaths are notorious for their ability to pass themselves off as someone they are not. They may, for example, influence and deceive their therapists even if they were forced to attend treatment.
Psychopaths do not fear punishment or societal stigmatisation.
Psychopaths do not fear punishment or societal stigmatisation, according to a report by Nigel Blackwood, a forensic psychiatrist at King’s College London. They don’t feel compelled to conform to social conventions, therefore societal expectations have no influence on their actions.
This is why, even if they are convicted of crimes, they appear to be unaffected by the punishment. As a result, Blackwood adds, rehabilitating an adult psychopath in jail is extremely difficult.
The best way to manage psychopaths who are jailed is to use reward-based treatment, such as providing them with their favourite cuisine or video games if they comply. Even if they remain quiet, this is only a method of control, not a treatment.
Not all psychopaths become criminals, and many will go through life undetected. Regardless of whether they cause difficulty or not, their personality is unlikely to alter.
Conclusion –
This blog post aimed to answer the question, “Can a psychopath be saved?” and reviewed the various aspects of a psychopath and their personality to help determine if a psychopath can be saved. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you may have.
References –
Dodgson, L. Psychopaths cannot be cured – here’s why. (2018, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/psychopaths-cannot-be-cured-heres-why/articleshow/63125731.cms#:~:text=People%20who%20experience%20psychopathic%20traits,the%20same%20as%20everyone%20else
Kiehl, K.Can Psychopaths Be Cured? (2014). Retrieved from https://modlab.yale.edu/news/can-psychopaths-be-cured
How does God regard psychopaths and sociopaths, etc, since they are apparently without conscience? Can they be judged alongside people with a normal conscience? LookingForGod.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lookingforgod.com/questions-and-answers/category/98/question/1355/
Can a sociopath/psychopath be a Christian? Quora. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Can-a-sociopath-psychopath-be-a-Christian
Carpenter, S. Jennifer Kahn Asks: Can a Child Psychopath Be Saved? (2012, August 2). Retrieved from https://www.theopennotebook.com/2012/08/02/jennifer-kahn-psychopathy/
Rauser, R. Can psychopaths be saved? (2012, January 30). Retrieved from https://randalrauser.com/2012/01/can-psychopaths-be-saved/
Dutton, K. How psychopaths can save your life. (2015, September 20). Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/20/how-psychopaths-can-save-your-life
Dein, K. Psychopathy: Evil or Disease? (2012). Retrieved from https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/spirituality-special-interest-group-publications-kalpana-dein-psychopathy-evil-or-disease.pdf?sfvrsn=858fd4ef_2
Can psychopaths be saved? Epistle Of Dude. (2019, June 4). Retrieved from https://epistleofdude.wordpress.com/2019/06/04/can-psychopaths-be-saved/
