Psychopath watching you
Psychopaths are good at reading people. It’s how they play at being normal. How they get close to you quickly. How they know how to manipulate you. Read on to find out how they do it…
Well, a little bit anyway. You don’t think I’m just going to blurt out all my secrets to you, do you? For shame, sir or madam, for shame.
I’m a starer. Around town, on public transport, in cafรฉs; I’m a regular Emile Zola, without the writing talent of course. I can spend hours people-watching: either listening to conversations and absorbing new ways of talking, new titbits of emotional intelligenceย andย good stories to steal, or by turning my iPod up loud enough to drown out all conversation and focus purely on people’s expressions and body language. This second activity is particularly informative. You’d be surprised at how much you can learn just from the way people hold themselves, how the corner of their mouth is shaped, what their eyes are doing. With very focussed concentration, I can sweep an entire train carriage full of people and pick out the weak and vulnerable – and any probable psychopaths too. Ted Bundy infamously claimed to be able to scan a crowd and find a good victim from the way she walked,ย and I can totally buy that. I am not in the business of stalking the streets looking for people to rape and kill, but if I were I’d know who to go for.
So imagine how effective this high-powered observation is when concentrated on just one person: you. That is how your psychopath, if you have one, seems to know you better than you know yourself, while appearing to have the uncanny ability to read your mind. It’s not mind-reading, silly, I just know all of your thoughts! Wait…
Anyway, all this staring at people I seldom ever interact with sounds incredibly creepy and it probably is. Some people notice me staring and that just motivates me to stare more, just to unnerve. One day, if they ever come across someone who actually wants to murder them, they may sit up and take notice. For me, the staring pays off later when talking to people. Just looking into their face as they talk, and looking them up and down for any additional body language, pay dividends. But it’s not really a conscious process, it’s more an automatic response (whether learnt or instinct I couldn’t say) and I often only reflect on the results afterwards. As with any such skill, you often only notice its benefits when it’s gone; for example, I don’t like it when people wear sunglasses, because they hinder any attempt to look into the person’s eyes. And that’sย why you never meet any psychopaths at the beach.
With this knack for reading people, Iย often notice traits or underlying emotions a long time before such attributes become more prominent or โgeneral knowledgeโ within social circles. So for example, when I first moved into university halls of residence, my early impressions turned out more accurate than those of the people who became my friends (How do I know what their first impressions of others were? I asked them of course, stupid). When charming Will turned out to be a boorish twat and everyone was saying “He seemed such a nice guy”, and when quiet Greg was revealed to be psychologically unhinged (“What if he murders us in our sleep?”) I was the only one not surprised. In addition, I picked the two weakest members of the group to be the scapegoats and the butts of all the jokes, and the group accepted this like I knew they would.
As a preteen, I knew my uncle was aย lonelyย alcoholic just by looking at him (years before his โshockโ death). When he died and my motherย told me he’d had an addiction, I said “Of course he did, didn’t you know?” She replied thatย nobody had known and there was nothing anybody could have done to save his life to which I just laughed “You cannot be serious. I knew he was an alcoholic when I was 12. One of you must have thought of getting him help” Of course this upset her, and though she quickly chalked what I’d said up to grief it was nothing of the sort; I was genuinely incredulous that nobody else had seen what I had. Not wishing to appear weird, these days Iย pretend to be surprised when somebodyย reveals something like that about themselvesย e.g. they have got an anxiety disorder. โWell, no shit!โ Iย want to say, but I donโt.
The flip side to this is that when someone says something about themselves that I didn’t already know, it’s a novel surprise, one which I really appreciate. Think you can surprise me? Leave a comment below, that should do it.
Images courtesy of the Internet.
Human 11:16 on July 19, 2015 Permalink |
Thanks for yet another excellent article! What is your reaction or strategy when you spot a pathological peer?
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James 15:50 on July 19, 2015 Permalink |
You’re most welcome. I wouldn’t write if I didn’t think I was reaching anybody, so thank you for reading.
Regarding your question, I don’t want to say too much as I think that is an excellent idea for an article, but let’s just say that, going by the list set out in How a psychopath views you *, they come under the category of ‘threat’.
*https://nopsychos.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/how-a-psychopath-views-you/
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luverley 22:00 on July 19, 2015 Permalink |
I can spot them a mile away these days
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luverley 22:04 on July 19, 2015 Permalink |
Haha I commented even before reading the blog. Loved it as I totally relate.
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James 23:12 on July 19, 2015 Permalink |
What do you relate to, Lovely?
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luverley 00:01 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
Being a psychopath. Checking out people by their actions and everything you described. Learnt to. Had to over the years. Scan for psychos lol.
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James 05:58 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
But you’re not a psychopath, so how do you relate to that?
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luverley 06:24 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
Hahahahaha but i have the mind and the skill that i could very well choose to be if i wanted to take over the body and rule like i used to. We all use our people watching skills for different things in this body. Had to learn to watch body language from a very young age. Scout out the predators
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James 06:26 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
It sounds like being a psychopath might be beneficial to you. Your current state doesn’t seem to bring you any joy.
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luverley 06:32 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
Exactly.
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Terrie 11:57 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
James, Thanks for the eye opener.
What’s your opinion on dating sites and psycho’s?
T
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James 14:18 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
Hi, Terrie. My opinion is that psychopaths can and do use dating sites, but that anybody who uses such sites should be careful regardless of psychopathy. Hopefully you’d agree that psychopaths have just as much right as anyone else to use online dating, but with that must come greater vigilance and personal responsibility for your own safety.
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Amaterasu Solar 15:01 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
This and responses leaves Me pondering many things. I know well what it is like to be watched. It used to bother Me, but now I get a sort of amusement from it. Thank You again, James, for insight.
I ponder why reaching People is important to You.
I ponder a lack of joy relative to not being a psychopath. And I ponder the idea that One should ever consider Oneself NOT responsible for One’s own safety. The controlmind (government) will enslave Those who think They should not be so responsible. The most psychopathic get off on ruling a planet, wiping out Others because They can.
There’s a few more things but those stood out the most. Thanks again for Your words, James. [smile]
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James 15:18 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
Well hey there, Amy. Pleasure to hear from you again ๐
Responsibility, ha. Just like Winnie the Pooh, you can ponder to your heart’s content on the rest of those conjectures, but one of the main lessons I am trying to impart to my brilliant readers is one of personal responsibility. You can never be victimised by a psychopath – or anyone else for that matter – if you have your brain in gear and recognise that you and you alone are responsible for your well-being.
Please tell me what you mean, “a lack of joy relative to not being a psychopath.”
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Amaterasu Solar 16:42 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
That was in re Your discussion with luverley. I ponder the perspective seeing no joy without slipping into psychopath… Or perhaps I misread luverley’s reply?
You and I agree on the responsibility thing. It’s one reason I work for a society that is based on that, and not one that requires abdication of that to a system (all One accomplishes is making Oneself vulnerable). Such systems always promote psychopaths.
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James 17:46 on July 20, 2015 Permalink |
There’s not much ambiguity in “exactly” as a reply.
Feeling out of control for various reasons I won’t share makes Luverley wish for a state of much greater self-mastery and rational detachment from her misery.
Many psychopaths would prefer to have no ‘system’ at all, for reasons that should be clear. It’s these ones you really ought to worry about. Your attempts to rid society of psychopathy (as a behavioural pattern) by changing the society itself may be admirable but they’re doomed to failure.
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Amaterasu Solar 11:30 on July 21, 2015 Permalink |
I disagree, because I do NOT try to “rid society of psychopathy.” I remove the paths to power over Others in all ways except charisma – and that will take One only so far. By stripping the accounting for Our energy (money) from the way We do things, psychopaths have no way to pay toadies, to bribe, set up blackmail scenarios, and threaten (and kill) Others.
They are not eliminated. They (as do We all) just become personally responsible for any poor behavior They choose. No more corporations to hide behind. No more manipulation on any large scale.
Maybe not utopia (there will still be problems to solve) but surely a whole hell of a lot better, with the empathic majority allowing BEST solutions to emerge, not profit/power motivated choices imposed on Us.
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James 12:51 on July 21, 2015 Permalink |
But what you’re trying to do is take the psychopathy (which you equate with monetary and power systems) out of society. Sure, that doesn’t involve eliminating the psychopaths themselves but, as you claim here, it removes nearly all of the ways in which they hurt people.
What I’m contesting is that is not the case, you may have cut out the power elite, but you’re forgetting all those ordinary psychopaths out there (95% +) who will be affected by the revolution only as much as anyone else, and will continue living their lives as they see fit.
And that’s not even thinking of those who would absolutely take advantage of the (maybe just temporary, but still catastrophic) chaos that would ensue following the collapse of the state and the economy to do exactly as they please with no consequences for the very first time. I know I would. The society you have built protects you from us, and once you break that society you break the chains holding us back. Quoting Nelson Muntz (The Simpsons), because I sadly couldn’t find a clip, “The second you untie me, I’m gonna beat you to death, man.”
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Amaterasu Solar 23:47 on July 21, 2015 Permalink |
Not exactly. Money/power systems PROMOTE Them to power – they’re not equivalent. I am trying to take Them out of power, yes.
And no, I did not forget. I just know that defrauding and taking Others’ stuff will have FAR less motive – even for psychopaths. Why take Others’ stuff when You can get it for free? HOW would defraud work without money. Maybe in interpersonal issues, but I have never claimed to solve for interpersonal issues.
And there is no need for pandemonium (chaos has infolded structure that emerges). It may be that the psychopaths will collapse things before free energy is released, but not much I can do about that. If We have free energy and awareness of the goals, the whole transition could be painless and done within a decade.
I do expect, if the psychopaths bring things down before I succeed, that pandemonium will ensue and the psychopaths will choose poor behavior. I hope to avoid that.
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air conditioning services 15:00 on August 17, 2015 Permalink |
Well it’s all up to the parents, on where they take their children and such.
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Psychopath meet psychopath | No Psychos, No Druggies, No Stooges 09:34 on August 28, 2015 Permalink |
[…] am writing this in response to a comment from my favourite self-identified Human. If you want to suggest an article, you can! I’m […]
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prettyvacantx 18:36 on December 7, 2015 Permalink |
The whole aspect of such intense eye contact gives me shivers just reading about it
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James 09:40 on December 8, 2015 Permalink |
Good. I aim to creep you out, if nothing else.
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prettyvacantx 14:28 on December 8, 2015 Permalink |
You intrigue me more than anything else! But creepy and unsettling comes in a close second! ๐
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James 06:29 on December 9, 2015 Permalink |
How kind!
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@GeneticPsycho (Tina) 10:02 on December 9, 2015 Permalink |
James, were you being facetious, or do you like people to think you’re creepy? And this brings up a great conversation about how much do words “hurt” you?
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James 20:14 on December 9, 2015 Permalink |
I was indeed being facetious. In everyday situations I aim to be as uncreepy as possible.
Did prettyvacantx mean to hurt me with her words? If she did, it flew over my head, but I still don’t detect any malice even now. I think she’s above such things.
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prettyvacantx 17:03 on December 10, 2015 Permalink |
I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, I am sorry if it came across that way! I don’t have any malicious intentions, just genuine interest (and fact searching for an essay I’m writing!)
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James 07:29 on December 11, 2015 Permalink |
It didn’t come across that way to me. No apologies necessary. What essay are you writing, may I enquire?
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prettyvacantx 08:02 on December 11, 2015 Permalink |
A research paper on a topic of interest within the field of psychology & criminology. I decided to do it on psychopathy, with particular focus on behavior analysis and the minds of psychopaths ๐ None of this would count as an official source but it helps with context.
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James 12:48 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Sounds fascinating. If there’s any further way I can help, you only have to ask. What level of study are you at? I’m an undergraduate.
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prettyvacantx 13:26 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
It would be great to ask you questions! I’m still in college (or what you university in England, I believe?) so I haven’t gotten my degree yet unfortunately. What did you major in?
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James 17:04 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Undergraduate means I haven’t graduated yet either ๐ Yes I’m at university, studying Philosophy, perhaps not what you were expecting…
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prettyvacantx 17:37 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Not what I was expecting at all lol. Out of curiosity, what on earth drove you to choose Philosophy? ๐
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James 17:43 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Because it’s the coolest subject, of course.
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prettyvacantx 17:51 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Pfff I beg to differ. Psychology could make Philosophy its bitch. :))
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James 18:21 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Utter bollocks. Philosophy is the oldest academic discipline. There is philosophical study of every other discipline, including psychology, and I have to say that it doesn’t look good for you guys ๐
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prettyvacantx 19:00 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
What doesn’t look good for us?
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James 19:07 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Basically, your discipline is a load of horseshit, lol ๐
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prettyvacantx 19:10 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Lol. Absolutely not, how exactly is it horseshit?
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James 19:11 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Anyway, are you going to ask your questions, or just try to start an inter-subject war?
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prettyvacantx 19:13 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Well damn, I was going to ask questions but then you had to get me all riled up by calling psychology horseshit lol
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James 19:15 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
You started it.
If you’re that easily manipulated, maybe you’re in the wrong discipline.
Can we continue?
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prettyvacantx 19:20 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
You started it and I am not easily manipulated at all. Do you have any form of private messaging because commenting is strenuous :))
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James 19:25 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
“Pfff I beg to differ. Psychology could make Philosophy its bitch. :))”
You calling me a liar?
Oliver Butler (obutler2609@outlook.com) is who I pretend to be sometimes. You can message me there, if you wish.
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prettyvacantx 19:29 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
That was a joke, not an attack man! And okay, thank you “Oliver”. :))
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James 19:30 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
In future, you might want to not bother making jokes. They’re not your fortรฉ.
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prettyvacantx 19:36 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
In future you might not want to judge me on one offhand joke made on the internet. I can produce quality humor when I want to, Oliver.
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James 19:38 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
OK, look forward to laughing long and hard.
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prettyvacantx 19:41 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Don’t condescend me, Oliver.
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James 19:44 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Why not?
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James 19:45 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Prove to me you’re worth respecting, if not get off my blog.
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prettyvacantx 19:48 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
How am I supposed to do that then?
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prettyvacantx 19:53 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
I wasn’t even being disrespectful, I was just being sarcastic, stop getting in my head and getting me all confused.
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James 20:00 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Oh sorry ๐ฆ You can email me if you want, I’m heading to bed. I won’t be around tomorrow much, so don’t fret if I don’t reply immediately.
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prettyvacantx 20:09 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Okay, sweet dreams Oliver ๐
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James 20:10 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
Merci, bonne nuit, chรฉrie ๐
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prettyvacantx 14:10 on December 11, 2015 Permalink
what you call *
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prettyvacantx 08:58 on December 9, 2015 Permalink |
Not that you care, eh?
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James 20:15 on December 9, 2015 Permalink |
Nailed it ๐ You’re very smart.
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prettyvacantx 16:59 on December 10, 2015 Permalink |
Your sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed haha
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James 07:31 on December 11, 2015 Permalink |
See, I said you were smart.
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nowve666 13:24 on December 25, 2015 Permalink |
James, you are majoring in philosophy? I thought it was French. Philosophy is an awesome discipline. I especially love Epistemology. Psychology seems an attempt at group think to me. Years ago, everyone was diagnosed as Schizophrenic. Now Personality Disorders are the rave. In Philosophy you have different schools of thought and each has it’s adherents. In Psychology, everyone has to embrace the one “true” idea. That’s actually a weakness of science, not just Psychology. But the “hard sciences” have a much stronger ability to find an objective truth that is lacking in the “soft sciences.” Sam Vaknin suggested psychologists could do better if they looked at their discipline more as philosophy than science.
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James 18:22 on December 25, 2015 Permalink |
Sam Vaknin is full of shit. You’re right though, about everything.
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