When you meet someone and start dating, one of the most fun parts of it all is learning about this new person. Their hopes and dreams, their likes and dislikes. For while, even their idiosyncrasies seem endearing.
He’s a bit of a pack rat? How cute. She’s a shopaholic? What a doll. His feet are super smelly? How funny.
What isn’t funny, though, is if you start to suspect your date has problems way more serious than clutter, overspending, or stinky extremities. No, it definitely isn’t funny if you suspect your date could be a psychopath.
But how can you tell? Many psychopaths are notorious for fitting into regular society. In a line-up, you couldn’t really tell one from anyone else. Because those who aren’t in jail or in a mental institution have mastered the art of mimicking everyday behavior and seem to be sailing along through life just fine.
Here are 5 clues that your date is a psychopath:
1. Chameleon-like Qualities
Remember the movie Runaway Bride? Julia Robert’s character had been engaged to many different types of men. Over the course of the movie, it is revealed that she conforms herself to their likes and dislikes. This guy is a sports nut? Suddenly she is, too. This new guy loves grunge rock? Her personality has changed to liking that now. In the movie, her character wasn’t necessarily a psychopath (low self esteem more likely), but if your date has chameleon-like qualities, keep an eye on them.
2. They Love Any Attention, Good or Bad
Psychopaths really just want one thing—attention. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad, they want it. So if they feel they aren’t getting enough attention, they’ll cause some sort of drama so people will text them, reply to their Facebook status, etc. They could even cheat on you, just because it will stir up trouble and make things interesting.
3. Their Version of Reality Is Off
Psychopaths live in their own world. After a date, you may have one outlook on how things went, but their version may be completely different. If it happens that while they are explaining their version of things, and you are confused, then that could be a sign. Don’t let this person cause you to doubt what really happened. Stand your ground and don’t let them twist things.
4. They Toy with Your Emotions
These types of people are fairly hollow when it comes to emotions, but they understand how emotions work and use them to their advantage. If you start pulling away, they may try to make you feel bad for them in an effort to win you back. If you constantly feel you are being pulled around emotionally, watch out.
5. Nothing is Ever Their Fault
Deep down, psychopaths know they are the ones causing the issues. But on the surface they are all innocence. It’s as if they are a spy, or live a double life, and don’t want anyone finding out. As soon as you start to suspect something, their demeanor changes in order to get on your side. Don’t fall for it. It’s just an act.
In short, a psychopath is someone without a conscience. They will lie and cheat and not feel bad about it. Is that someone worth dating? Some of these signs by themselves may actually have perfectly good explanations, but if your date exhibits more than one of these, tread carefully.
