You just might know a psychopath

I’ve been doing some reading about psychopaths.

I’m not sure how that got started, but it might have been a referral in an article about working in President Donald Trump’s White House.

I think he’s a psychopath, but I think Bill Clinton is one, too.

Politicians and business leaders are more likely to be psychopaths than the rest of the population, and some who have studied psychopaths say some presidents are right in there.

Psychopaths don’t have to be criminals. They represent about 1 percent of the population as a whole. Many end up in prison, but some actually lead us, or boss us, at least.

Most psychopaths are not bent on evil, but all put their own interests and ambitions before all other pursuits, regardless of the cost to others.

Chances are, we have all worked with a few.

They even proliferate in journalism. Me? A psychopath?

The good news for me is if you wonder if you’re a psychopath, you probably aren’t one. On the other hand, if you are one, generally, you’re not going to spend a lot of time worrying about it.

Let’s say you’re Donald Trump and you say you’ll make America great again, but you always add in your mind, “like me.”

That’s how a psychopath sees it. Psychopaths think very highly of themselves and strive for positions that match that perception.

They like visible evidence, like elected posts and corporate offices.

For most, egos are bigger than abilities, but when ego and ability match, psychopaths attain high positions.

Psychopaths also don’t care if they’ve done something or someone wrong. If they get caught, it’s not wrong any more, or someone else did it. It’s best not to be in the room when they get caught. The blame might stick to you.

When you remind them of it a month later, psychopaths won’t even remember that it happened, let alone that it may have harmed you. They don’t feel remorse and don’t care how you feel.

The next time they need something from you, however, the first thing they’ll probably say is how sorry they are that your feelings got hurt. They are emotionally manipulative.

OK, let’s say you’re Bill Clinton and this attractive young intern and you lock eyes, because you have simultaneously found each other quite attractive.

Most of us who are responsible would tell ourselves, “No.”

To a psychopath, however, the game is on.

Immediate gratification draws psychopaths like scandal draws media.

So do high-risk adventures. Wheedling someone into joining you in immediate gratification in the Oval Office, the ultimate power seat, just a doorway away from public view would be a psychopath’s dream.

If you get caught, what happens? You may remember Clinton’s “that depends on what your definition of ‘is’ is.”

According to Forbes magazine, psychopaths are most common among chief executive offices, lawyers, media personalities, sales staff, surgeons, journalists (yeah, us), police officers, chefs, civil servants and even clergy.

I hope this column helps you recognize psychopaths when you meet them. They’re only fun for a little while. Then, watch out. Forewarned, I hope, is forearmed.

Steve Hansen writes about our life and times from his perspective of a retired Tucumcari journalist. Contact him at:

stevenmhansen

@plateautel.net