By They may seem cold and arrogant, but psychopaths fear, among other things, being exposed and having their inferiority revealed in some competition. Knowing their weaknesses would offer you certain advantages.
You may find the terms “vulnerability” and “psychopathy” incompatible. In fact, you may find it hard to believe that people with antisocial personality disorder (APD) experience suffering and even feelings of loneliness. However, as surprising as it may seem, someone with a psychopathic profile also deals with ups and downs and has weaknesses.
An individual with this adverse pattern of behavior underestimates others and will always assume that everyone is inferior to him. He needs you to reinforce his image, to nourish his self-esteem. And if he doesn’t succeed, his arrogance and airs of superiority crumble. Social isolation is like his kryptonite; he can’t stand being rejected or left in the background. These are all small strategies that you can use to your advantage to protect yourself.
Vulnerabilities of a psychopath
Cold, vengeful, manipulative, deceitful, insensitive. This is how Robert D. Hare , one of the leading experts in criminal psychology, describes psychopaths in his famous book Without a Conscience (2003). Although we cannot always identify their characteristics at first glance, most of us assume that these people lack vulnerabilities. But the reality is very different.
No matter how integrated, determined or threatening they may seem to you, the truth is that in the personality and psychological universe of a psychopath there are grey areas, weak areas that you will be interested in knowing. We describe them below.
1. Low self-esteem
The profile of a psychopath is distinguished by diagnostic characteristics that encompass a broad spectrum of symptoms. Most of them are oriented towards the exploitation of others and the instrumentalization of others to obtain a benefit. However, in many cases, their arrogance or desire for superiority act as a façade to hide more than one weakness.
One of them has to do with self-esteem. A publication from the FWU Journal of Social Sciences describes that, in these cases, we find subjects who show a negative self-assessment. That is, they are not satisfied with themselves, they find it difficult to share their emotions and they depend on others for validation and reinforcement.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?Challenge their self-image indirectly. Don’t be the fuel that feeds their ego. You can take advantage of their low self-esteem to make them doubt themselves or reconsider their decisions. But you must do it in a very subtle way to avoid them reacting aggressively.
2. Need for control
Psychopaths have an insatiable need for power and control. This may not seem like a weakness at first , but rather a threat. However, it will help you to know that the obsession with dominance in all circumstances is another way of reinforcing their self-image. If you refuse to play their game, you will gradually defuse their interest in manipulating you.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?Apply the “
gray rock technique .” This involves stopping responding to the psychopath’s demands or behavior. Adopt a neutral attitude, without avoiding them, but without obeying their requests. It is about being firm as a rock and insensitive to their actions or requests.
3. They underestimate others
One of the weak points of a psychopath is that they see others as figures that they can exploit at will. They do not empathize, they do not connect with the emotional and intellectual realities of others and, therefore, they can underestimate you. Always think that this is an advantage, because they will never expect that you, with your skills and resistance, can overcome them.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?Always trust in your potential, do not allow your strengths and virtues to be extinguished. Let yourself be underestimated, so that at a given moment you can act in your own benefit, setting firm limits without fear and with determination.
4. Fear of loneliness
A study published by the University of Waikato in New Zealand talks about the idea of rethinking psychopathy as a health problem and not so much as a factor of criminality. What we often see behind these profiles are chaotic family lives and an evident fear of loneliness. Isolation leaves them without reinforcements for their ego and self-image, and this terrifies them.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?For every harmful or threatening behavior, make them see the psychosocial consequences of their actions: people will distrust them and abandon them, leaving them completely alone. To the extent possible, be the voice of conscience that these individuals lack.
5. Need for stimulation
People with psychopathic profiles get bored very easily. They need to experience high peaks of dopamine to feel good. What’s more, as forensic psychologist J. Reid Meloy explained in his book The Psychopathic Mind (1998), they are persistent seekers of intense emotions and this leads them to very impulsive and dangerous behaviour.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?Avoid being a source of stimulation for him, and whenever possible, become that dull, dull, boring figure who is incapable of providing him with the slightest entertainment. This will make him lose interest in you progressively.
6. Obsession with social privileges
Narcissistic psychopaths are those who most need to be the focus of attention in every social scenario. They are those presences who yearn to climb positions of power in every company. Whether in the public or private sphere, these profiles seek success and relevance. This is how they feed their identity, how they illuminate their self-esteem and self-image.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?If you’re wondering how to scare a psychopath, the best thing you can do is plant seeds of doubt about the solidity of his status. Don’t be dazzled, don’t reaffirm what he does well, question him indirectly so that he has to work harder to achieve his goals.
7. Lack of self-awareness
The integrated psychopath is unable to reflect on the impact of his behaviour. He lacks self-awareness, so that, little by little, he ends up becoming a social outcast due to the harmfulness of his treatment and attitude. He is unaware that his personality not only causes others to want to stay away from him, but that they also harm themselves.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?Try to make them understand that, with their behavior, they will end up alone. To do this, communicate with these profiles in a logical way and with concrete examples, so that they understand that their actions have consequences. Do not appeal to emotions, because they do not understand them.
8. Low tolerance for frustration
A notable disadvantage of the different types of psychopaths is their lack of emotional regulation. They are neither patient nor reflective, their minds are impulsive and they only seek instant reinforcements. This causes them to have very little tolerance for frustration and leads to tantrums and behaviors typical of 3- or 5-year-old children.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?If you lose your cool in front of a psychopathic person, they will have the advantage over you. Always be that presence that knows how to regulate themselves emotionally and maintain their serenity at all costs. In this way, you will emerge with greater psychological control than someone who gets frustrated at the moment over insignificant things.
9. Shallow focus
If there is one thing we know about men and women with antisocial personality disorder , it is that they have low self-esteem. In addition to this, they are also very poor at inferring the beliefs and intentions of others.
Added to this is their tendency to focus on appearances, on very superficial details, to the point of ignoring deeper and more complex aspects of situations. This is a small advantage for you.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?If you need to divert their attention to gain time or even to escape at a given moment, you can distract them so that they focus their attention on superficial stimuli while hiding your true intentions.
10. Minimal problem-solving ability
A psychopath is driven by instrumental purposes, that is, he always yearns to achieve some benefit. To achieve this goal, he does not hesitate to take very high risks, which causes him to end up trapped in numerous problems. However, he lacks the skills to resolve these crossroads. They are chaotic people who almost exclusively use aggressive resources, which makes the situation even worse.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?The strategy we propose in this dimension is aimed at your self-protection. A psychopath’s inability to solve problems often puts others at risk. Therefore, avoid collaborating or helping a person with this profile when they have any difficulty. There is always a risk of being harmed.
11. Fear of being exposed
The man or woman with this pattern carefully constructs a public image of determination and dominance. The idea that his or her weaknesses and ineffectiveness will be exposed to everyone is a source of anxiety, because their reputation and sense of control are thus undermined. Thus, although they often succeed in maintaining this immaculate appearance, their efforts may be in vain.
How to use this weakness to your advantage?Document any inappropriate or erroneous behavior by the psychopath and keep it for backup. Avoid confronting them directly, but keep this information confidential in case you need to defend yourself at some point.
Be cautious when interacting with a psychopath
Knowing a psychopath’s weak points is like having an ace up your sleeve. It gives you an advantage, yes. It even offers you a greater sense of control over these individuals. However, remember that you are dealing with one of the most adverse and dark personality profiles. Confronting them directly or trying to manipulate them can make them more hostile.
Be cautious, especially if you are in a work environment and have to deal with him/her on a daily basis. Keep your distance whenever you can, do not reveal personal information or show your vulnerabilities. Seek support from professionals or authorities if you need it and use the information we have given you as self-protection and never as a form of attack.