Only a Psychopath Wouldn't Read This All the Way Through
Only a Psychopath Wouldn't Read This All the Way Through
Are you curious to know if you are one?
“Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while, I was a suspect.” — Steven Wright
I’m sure you have seen that video where they say that only a psychopath can draw certain things. I know I have been trying to see if I can do it too! It’s fun and games until you realize that maybe, just maybe, you ARE a psycho.
I think most of us are in some ways, aren’t we? What is so scary about discovering that you are one? What is it about psychopaths that’s so frightening? and perhaps being one?
I’m not sure, but it has something to do with the unpredictability of their actions. They seem like they could kill you at any moment and not think twice about it.
Or it’s because they are so darn good at lying. They can convince you of anything and make you believe whatever they want you to. That’s a pretty scary thought.
Most of us have done things that we aren’t proud of. Or, at some point in our lives, we wish for the demise of someone. But that doesn’t make us psychopaths. So what does?
I’m not sure, but it has something to do with psychopaths not caring. They don’t feel empathy or remorse the way we do. And that is pretty terrifying.
Discovering by accident that you are one.
Dr. James Fallon looked at brain scans of serial killers one afternoon in October 2005. He searched through thousands of PET scans as part of a UC Irvine research project to discover structural patterns in the brain linked to psychopathic tendencies.
While looking at the brain of a murderer, Fallon had an “oh my god” moment. He realized that his brain looked just like the killers.
He was shocked. And then he started to worry that he was a psychopath too.
It’s not something you ever want to find out about yourself. That you are capable of things that you never thought possible. Things that terrify even yourself.
But knowing is better than not knowing. At least then, you can be on your guard and try to do something about it before it’s too late. Wouldn’t you rather see if you were a psychopath so that you could do something about it? I know I would.
Dr. Fallon wrote “The Psychopath Inside” to warn people about the dangers of not knowing. He wants us to be more aware of the psychopaths among us. And he also wants to show that we all have a little bit of psychopath in us.
Wouldn’t you rather know if you were a psychopath so that you could do something about it? I know I would.
So if you’re wondering whether you might be a psychopath, I’m sorry to say that there is no objective test. But the next time you watch that video, see how you react. If you get excited or intrigued by the challenge instead of scared, perhaps you should be worried…
Do you think you might be a psychopath? I’m not sure, but if you are reading this, then there’s a chance you could be one. Only a psychopath would read this all the way through. :)