We know only too well that by far the majority of psychopaths are men. Or at least we think we know that. Could it be that the criteria used to identify psychopaths are biased towards men? After all Hare began his work in male prison.
Think about it. While behaving and being the way the PCL-R without doubt earns one the label psychopath, this is simply a list of symptoms. It says nothing about the underlying dynamics. If psychopathy is life centered on the principle of power (as opposed to love) and if it is therefore characterised by what Liane Leedom nicely calls ‘warped empathy‘, then wouldn’t you expect there to be more or less the same number of woman as men psychopaths? And wouldn’t you expect them to come across differently?
I am beginning to wonder whether there may be two broad types of psychopathy – a ‘male’-type and a ‘female’-type. I place these in quotes because, when I think about it, men with might be thought of as ‘female’ psychopathy come to mind and we all know about women with ‘male’ psychopathy. And yet, at the risk of being un-PC, I want to maintain these descriptors for now so that the difference I think I see doesn’t disappear.
A ‘female’ psychopath would not necessarily commit crimianl/antisocial acts like her male counterpart, but she woud be as power-driven, as toxically narcissistic as a ‘male’ psychopath. The control, the manipulation, the dishonesty, the selfishness, the callousness – all these would be present, but we might not recognise them for what they are because of 1. media portrayal and 2. medical diagnosis of psychopaths. The difference would come in the gendered style of their behaviour.
In my clinical work I have come across this phenomenon. For example, a woman I now consider to be of the ‘female’-type of psychopath didn’t come close to committing a crime and yet the way she mothered her daughter, my patient, came close to destroying the child’s mind. This seems to me to be a perversion of motherhood eqivalent to the perversion of fatherhood we read about on this website.
Do readers have any comments? I’m particularly interested in any examples you might have of how ‘female’ psychopathy – if such a thing does exist – manifests itself?
skylar
Alex,
yep, that’s my mommy!
the only victims are her kids. But she prays for them every night! sicko.
Alex
lol my spath read every night dont think she ever comprehended what she was reading or doing
Alex
i meant she read the bible every night, preached about soul ties, never talked about the one she had around my neck though
darwinsmom
Alex, when I started to read about spaths at first on the internet I too found “type” descriptions… and yet all I could think was: yup my ex fits that type, oh and that type, oh and that type… Conclusion: he fit them all, and so I came to disbelieve the supposed different types, except for distinction between corporate or dumb criminal, I don’t think there is much distinction to be made, at least not for my ex-spath.
Alex
i agree when you read they all kind of blend together, had an experience with mine tonight my heart just keeps getting ripped out, no remorse
Crawford Glissadevil
Hey Alex,
I feel your pain. My Ex is a female sociopath, whom occationaly attracts young and beautiful sociopaths, they seek her out as master mentor. My Ex is the most charming, sincere woman you may ever meet. And when she smiles, you wouldn’t have a clue, that behind those loving, kind eyes, radiating good vibrations, and waves of hypnotic connection, yes behind those amazing eyes lurks a creature formulating plans for you, calculating (how much your worth to her), and how fun it’s going to be, to ferret out what you care about, so she can destroy it, without incurring any damage to herself. If you want to talk or write me Alex, we can trade notes. I am new to this site. I feel I have much to offer anyone, who may be confused about female sociopaths, and perhaps is suffering under the heavy abuse. Abuse, which is often hard to describe, or put your finger. Again the abuse, that a master female sociopath deals out is invisable to everyone else, thus leaving the victim feeling abandoned and alone. I will not share any of my Ex wife’s tactical methods, because I am sure a forum like this is infested with sociopathic vermin, who just laugh and laugh, as they gleefully take notes, perfecting their ersatz personas, social manuvers, and emotional weapondry. People, please be careful what you write on this site. Do not indirecty arm sociopathic sadists with new techniques, on how to devestate, and detroy lives of present and future victims. Remember what some long haired hippy like guy said 2,000 years ago…”Do not throw your pearls before swine.” I say, “Don’ t empower vicious swine with knowledge, while your incoming pearls give away your direction, and alert squealing pigs to your position, thus making it easy for even pigs to blindside you with an extremely snug pearl necklace style. Emotional Coroners report: Death by stupidity via Pearl Necklace Strangulation.
one/joy_step_at_a_time
‘crawford gliss’ – isn’t that an organ tune? Wurlitzer, to be precise. The spath of my aquiant loved the organ. ‘A devil’ – unusual name.
Ox Drover
LOL ROTFLMAO Shoke, snort, spit, bray….oh, my! Busted.
one/joy_step_at_a_time
don’t you make me talk to you, old woman! 🙂
strongawoman
Tra la la, tum te tum, my dogs got a boil right on her bum
😆