Psychopaths are characterized as suffering from a mental disorder with chronic abnormal or violent social behaviors. To most people this means a murderer or serial killer. However it isn't that simple, psychopaths are some of the most high functioning members of society. For every 25 people 1 of them is a psychopath. This by no means says you are surrounded by violent criminals at all times but this mental disorder is fairly common and in many cases undetected. So how do you spot one?

Spotting a psychopath is not easy and just because a person displays certain characteristics does not mean they are a psychopath. They may even be a sociopath which is in many ways similar to psychopaths. The first step to spotting a psychopath is to know the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths. The difference between the two is harder to recognize unless you know the person well. Sociopaths develop the characteristics and psychopaths are born with a genetic predisposition. Knowing this both disorders are characterized by lack of emotion but psychopaths display a greater detachment from emotions. This is likely because psychopaths are genetically disordered where as sociopaths develop the characteristics. This makes psychopaths the more dangerous of the two.

Now that you know psychopaths are born you must learn the warning signs of an adolescent being a psychopath. Although everyone's brain is different and every situation gives way for a variety of symptoms there are three major clues referred to as the Macdonald traid that suggest that if at least two of the symptoms are present than you may have a budding psychopath on your hands.

1. Prolonged bed wetting (continuing after the age of 12)

2. Setting fires

3. Torturing animals

These children of corse grow up to be adults. These adults express certain characteristics and traits that can be recognized and employed by you to determine whether you are in the presence of a psychopath. Not all signs are present in every adult but if several are present their is cause for concern.

1. Lack of remorse or guilt

2. Overly charming

3. Proneness to bordom

4. Belief that they are the most important being

5. Varying criminal record

6. Proneness to compulsion

7. Manipulative personality

8. Lack of empathy

9. Irresponsibility

10. Promiscuous sexual behavior

Sadly there is no go to sign to show you whether someone is that 1 in 25. You will have to interact with this person frequently to be able to recognize if they have the disorder. And just because this person is 1 in 25 does not mean they are a serial killer. As stated before, psychopaths are the most high functioning mentally disorded people in society.