Female Psychopaths: More Common Than We Think?

When we think of psychopaths, our minds often conjure images of suited and booted men like Patrick Bateman from “American Psycho.”

But what is the male-to-female ratio in psychopathy testing? Recent research suggests that the prevalence of female psychopaths might be far greater than previously believed. Dr. Clive Boddy, an expert from Anglia Ruskin University, challenges the notion that psychopathy is primarily a male phenomenon.

He spoke at the Cambridge Festival earlier this year and presented findings on the significant presence of female psychopaths in our society. The findings will make you rethink everything you know about psychopathy! It will surely explain why we are seeing more female psychopaths in movies and TV.

Why Have We Missed Them?

There are two main reasons why female psychopathy has flown under the radar for so long. Firstly, there’s a bias in our perception. We tend to associate psychopathic traits – like manipulation and lack of empathy – with masculinity. So, when women exhibit these behaviors, they might be overlooked.

Secondly, female psychopaths often operate differently than their male counterparts. They’re less likely to resort to violence and more likely to use social manipulation. They might use charm, gossip, or emotional manipulation to achieve their goals. This can make them even harder to identify.

Unveiling the Female Psychopath

Psychopaths, regardless of gender, share common traits such as a lack of empathy and guilt, manipulative behavior, and a thirst for power and control. However, Dr. Boddy highlights that female psychopaths often express their tendencies in more covert ways.

This is making them harder to detect compared to their male counterparts. Rather than resorting to physical violence, female psychopaths may employ tactics of verbal aggression, manipulation through seduction, and spreading rumors for personal gain.

He stated, “Also, female psychopaths tend to use words, rather than violence, to achieve their aims, differing from how male psychopaths tend to operate. If female psychopathy expresses differently, then measures designed to capture and identify male, criminal, psychopaths may be inadequate at identifying female non-criminal, psychopaths.”

Challenges in Identification

One major hurdle in identifying female psychopaths lies in the assessment tools used, such as the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP). This questionnaire tends to be biased towards male characteristics and behaviors. Dr. Boddy suggests that because female psychopathy manifests differently, current diagnostic measures may overlook their presence. It is potentially leading to underestimations of their prevalence.

“People generally attribute psychopathic characteristics to males rather than to females. So even when females display some of the key traits associated with psychopathy – such as being insincere, deceitful, antagonistic, unempathetic and lacking in emotional depth – because these are seen as male characteristics they may not be labelled as such, even when they should be.”

Dr. Boddy also described another element that could be counter-productive when dealing with female psychopaths and their identification. According to him, “The secondary element, and the measures for it, were largely based on studies of criminals who were in jail at the time and psychopathic – so the feeling is, among researchers these days, that those measures are just not suited to identifying female psychopathy.”

Previous research often suggested that there were ten times as many male psychopaths as female psychopaths. However, a new study by Dr. Boddy, using the initial part of the LSRP (likely a psychological assessment tool), presents a much different picture, indicating a nearly equal number of male and female psychopaths. In his own words, he said, “It’s almost one to one.”

Dr. Boddy estimates that while only 1% of men meet the full criteria for psychopathy, a far greater proportion exhibit some psychopathic traits. His research suggests that about 23% of men display enough of these traits to be concerning, even if they don’t fully meet the diagnostic criteria for psychopathy.

Among women in professional roles, Boddy’s surveys reveal that between 12% and 13% exhibit problematic traits associated with psychopathy.

Understanding these traits is crucial as individuals with psychopathic tendencies can significantly disrupt workplace dynamics. They may mistreat colleagues, make poor leaders, and contribute to negative public perceptions of large corporations.

What Are the Signs of a Female Psychopath?

While female psychopaths may express themselves differently, they still share some core traits with male psychopaths, such as:

• Lack of empathy and remorse: They can be callous and indifferent to the suffering of others.
• Manipulation: They are skilled at using people to get what they want.
• Grandiosity: They may have an inflated sense of self-importance.
• Lying and deceit: They have no qualms about being dishonest.
• Superficial charm: They can be very charismatic, but this charm is often shallow.

However, they might also exhibit signs of:

• Indirect aggression: They may use gossip, social exclusion, or emotional manipulation to hurt others.
• Need for approval: Despite a lack of empathy, they may crave validation from others.
• Anxiety and low self-esteem: These can be underlying factors in their manipulative behavior.

Moreover, according to Dr. Boddy, several key signs of psychopathy in women diverge from traditional male markers. Unlike their male counterparts, who often display physical violence, female psychopaths are more likely to exhibit:

1. Expressing Violence Verbally: Female psychopaths may use shouting, swearing, or screaming as a form of aggression.
2. Emotional Aggression: This includes using emotional manipulation and relational aggression to control and harm others.
3. Spreading Lies and Rumors: Manipulative deceit is a common tactic, aimed at gaining social or financial advantage.
4. Deceit and Manipulation: Females may employ flirtation, seduction, and cunning to achieve their objectives.
5. Seduction: Sexual allure and manipulation are often employed to exert power and influence.

The Role of Nonverbal Cues

A groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of New Mexico has unveiled a unique nonverbal trait among female psychopaths. The study found that women with high psychopathy scores often exhibit minimal head movement during interviews. This subtle but significant marker may help differentiate psychopathic behavior from other traits and assist in more accurate diagnoses.

Implications for Society

The under-recognition of female psychopathy carries significant implications for various aspects of society. Inaccurate assessments could result in flawed risk management decisions, particularly in cases involving partners and children. Moreover, assumptions about female leaders’ integrity and ethical conduct may need to be reevaluated. Female psychopaths can occupy positions of power in corporate settings, potentially posing risks to organizational dynamics and integrity.

As Dr. Clive Boddy continues to delve into the realm of psychopathy, his research challenges preconceived notions about the gender distribution of this complex personality disorder. By shedding light on the nuanced behaviors of female psychopaths, he underscores the importance of refining diagnostic tools. In this way, he is also raising awareness about this often-overlooked phenomenon.

As we strive to understand and address psychopathy in all its forms, acknowledging the presence of female psychopaths is a crucial step toward fostering safer and more transparent environments in both personal and professional spheres.

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