Psychopaths are typically portrayed as men in blockbuster hits – whether it’s Patrick Bateman in American Psycho or The Joker in The Dark Knight.
But a new study has shed light on female psychopaths, and the key traits they possess.
Researchers from Université Libre de Bruxelles surveyed 492 people to understand whether there is a link between emotional functioning and dark personality traits. Their analysis revealed that higher levels of alexithymia and anhedonia were associated with psychopathy – but only in women.
Alexithymia – also called emotional blindness – is characterised by not being able to understand one’s own emotions.
Anhedonia, meanwhile, describes a near–complete absence of enjoyment, motivation, and interest.
‘These associations are not uniform across sex: they are clearly present in females but absent in males,’ the researchers said.
‘These differences may be explained by biological (hormonal and neuroendocrine) factors, sociocultural influences related to sex roles, and differing modes of emotional regulation.’
The Dark Triad is a psychological concept referring to three personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.
Narcissism involves an inflated sense of self–importance, grandiosity, and a strong need for admiration.
Machiavellianism is the tendency toward manipulation, deception, and a focus on self–interest.
And psychopathy is linked with impulsivity, a lack of empathy, and a disregard for the feelings and rights of others.
Previous studies have identified links between the Dark Triad and several traits – including not liking animals, humiliating others, and being single. However, until now, the link between the Dark Triad traits and emotional dysfunction has remained unclear.
The study comes shortly after a study revealed that female psychopaths are more common than we think, because studies have ‘long failed to identify them.’
Dr Clive Boddy, an experts at Anglia Ruskin University, explained that the signs of psychopathy in women are different to men:
‘Psychopaths are driven by a need to have power over and control other people via whatever resources they have available to them,’
‘For male psychopaths this may veer towards physical domination through violence, bullying and threats.
‘For female psychopaths this may veer towards manipulation through seduction, relational aggression, and spreading rumours and lies about people aimed at gaining personal advantage and preferment over those people.’
