Do Functional Psychopaths Make Society Stronger?

Deborah Dobbs, MA

The concept of psychopathy often conjures images of extreme or sadistic violence and criminality, largely due to sensationalized representations in media and popular culture. However, as Bob Saenz and I explored in Dark Minds Shattered Lives, Episode One: Show Me Your Psychopath, there exists a less commonly discussed aspect of psychopathy: the notion of functional psychopaths—individuals who possess psychopathic traits yet contribute positively to society. Bob and I delved into a discussion of functional psychopaths, their potential advantages in certain vocations, and the implications of their presence in our daily lives.

I referred to Kevin Dutton's The Wisdom of Psychopaths in which he shares research that indicates that certain high-pressure roles, such as neurosurgeons and bomb disposal experts, benefit from individuals who can remain calm and collected in the face of life-threatening risks or danger. One study revealed the heart rates of the most decorated bomb disposal experts actually decreased during the most dangerous moments, suggesting a unique ability to thrive under stress. This capacity for emotional detachment can be advantageous in professions requiring quick decision-making and risk assessment, ultimately benefiting society by ensuring that critical tasks are performed effectively. Some professions may be better suited for individuals with psychopathic traits. Dutton reminds us that not all individuals with psychopathic traits are violent criminals. In fact, according to Dutton, many can lead productive lives without resorting to criminal behavior.

Some mental health experts might argue that criminal behavior is inseparable from psychopathy. In other words, someone who abides by societal norms and laws isn't actually a psychopath. Others will remind us psychopathy is a spectrum disorder, meaning that an individual can have psychopathic traits, such as those on Robert Hare's Psychopathy Checklist, without being a full fledged psychopath. You can read more about the experts' debate here.

We, as everyday people, can swim in semantics or simply focus on the traits, which include lying, manipulation, lack of remorse, impulsivity, and lack of empathy. No matter how well someone with those traits performs in a profession, I'm fairly certain the experts would agree the aforementioned qualities lack promise for cultivating a healthy interpersonal relationship. While functional psychopaths might indeed benefit our society overall, when you notice someone displaying psychopathic traits, proceed with caution.

To read some of the signs (from age 2 to adulthood), click here.

Dutton, K. The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us about Success. Toronto, ON: Anchor Canada. 2012

Abdalla-Filho E, Völlm B. Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder? Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;42:241-242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762

Hare RD. Without conscience: the disturbing world of the psychopaths among us. New York: Guilford; 1999.

https://psychopathyis.org/learn-the-signs/