What Do Psychopaths Fear?
I thought this would be an interesting topic for today, it has been a while since I last posted. It’s not uncommon to associate psychopathy with a lack of fear. Indeed, a key characteristic often attributed to psychopaths is their seeming imperviousness to fear and the anxiety that typically accompanies it. However, is this portrayal accurate? Do psychopaths truly experience no fear? And if they do, what exactly do they fear?
Before we delve into the subject matter, it’s important to understand what it is. Psychopathy is typically defined as a personality disorder characterized by enduring antisocial behavior, diminished empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. It’s worth noting that psychopathy is not a recognized disorder in the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals, but it’s often used as a term in research and popular culture.
Fearlessness and Psychopathy
Research has shown that individuals with psychopathic traits often demonstrate lower levels of fear and anxiety compared to the general population. This is thought to be due to differences in the amygdala, a part of the brain that plays a significant role in processing emotions, including fear. Studies have found that the amygdalae of individuals with psychopathic traits may not respond in the same way as those of…
