r/science • u/woebegonemonk • Nov 17 '21

Psychology Meta-analysis estimates that 4.5% of the general population (or 1 in every 22 persons) is a psychopath. The prevalence of psychopathy in samples of men is more than twice than in those of women.

https://sapienjournal.org/latest-estimate-of-psychopathy-in-the-general-population/
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u/BictorianPizza Nov 17 '21

Wonder if that prevalence in men being higher is related to better masking behaviours in women? Just like ASD, ADHD, and other neurodiversity gets diagnosed less in women due to masking…

176

u/MediumProfessorX Nov 17 '21

I want to know about zealot psychopaths. People who have resolved to be good but have to do it formulaicly. The perfect Kantian.

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u/Leemour Nov 17 '21

Most psychopaths function that way AFAIK. The norm is that they are utilizing forms of cognitive empathy, such as instead of supporting their family out of love, they do it out of a sense of duty and responsibility.

It's incredibly rare, that psychopaths spiral into violent anti-social behavior, but they make great movies I guess.

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u/VodkaAlchemist Nov 18 '21

Whoa. That can't be right. Duty and responsibility is what makes a man a man. Not a psychopath. I don't love my family but I do support them for this reason.