10 Signs Your Kid Might Be a Psychopath

…and how to avoid a true crime podcast based on them in the future! With the rise in popularity of various crime-related narratives — from books and podcasts to documentaries and made-for-TV movies — there’s also been an undeniable increase in the overall awareness of the signs of psychopathy, even among the youngest members of society. Although there’s currently no standard test that detects signs of psychopathy in kids, a growing number of experts in the field believe that it’s a neurological condition that can be flagged in little ones as young as four or five. That’s because — as shocking as it is to hear — neurological, unemotional traits (such as callousness) can be both genetic and/or environmental. The good news is that these signs can be detected and acted upon fairly early, with many psychologists suggesting parenting groups for kids between the ages of four and seven that teaches them how to socialize and curb certain instincts. We walk you through some of the biggest red flags to watch for.

Disclaimer: If you’re seriously concerned about your child’s mental health and well-being, consider consulting your family doctor.

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Psychopath vs. sociopath: What’s the difference?

Let's talk differences between a psychopath vs. sociopath. Simply put, a psychopath is often predisposed (thanks, genetics!) to selfish behaviours and a complete lack of remorse — all while still managing to develop healthy relationships and exuding a certain charm (albeit superficially).

By comparison, a sociopath is usually created by various environmental factors (an abusive childhood, for example) and tends to behave impulsively, erratically and is prone to violent outbursts.

While both sound equally terrifying, psychopaths are far more difficult to spot because, over time, they can learn to mimic the basic human emotions that they lack themselves. Interestingly, kids can't actually be called psychopaths as it's currently designated an "adult condition" only, although there are certainly ways to detect the signs in little ones. Instead, kids who display signs of psychopathy are considered to have "antisocial behaviours" until they reach adulthood.

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Lack of empathy

This one's a biggie. By definition, a psychopath is someone who exhibits zero empathy for others and demonstrates abnormal or downright violent tendencies without remorse. So it goes without saying that signs of this in your child is a major red flag. Psychopaths can fall into two categories when it comes to interacting in social settings: they can become withdrawn and secretive or disruptive with a history of bullying behaviour. Professor Stephen Scott from the Institute of Psychiatry clarified to The Business Insider that these types of kids aren't "just being a bit naughty, [but are actively showing] persistent aggression." They can come off as callous in their selfish actions towards others and are indifferent to the feelings of those they hurt, whether emotionally or physically.

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Extreme tantrums

Going hand-in-hand with lack of empathy are severe bouts of anger. Many psychopaths exhibit dramatic behavioural problems as kids, from committing petty theft to schoolyard fights (wherein they're often the aggressor). But explosive, rage-filled temper tantrums that are outside the norm of the average toddler meltdown is an alarming sign that there might be something else at play with your kid — especially if they go from full-blown anger to calculated charm in the span of minutes (or even seconds). Be cognizant of drastic mood swings and the severity, frequency and context in which which they occur.

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Highly manipulative

As parents, we're often guilty of getting conned by our little ones on occasion. Those tearful puppy eyes or quivering lips can sometimes make us cave to even their silliest and most outlandish demands. But for kids exhibiting signs of psychopathic proclivities, this escalates to a whole new level. Although kids in general can display selfish tendencies in order to get what they want, it becomes a callous game for those with severe antisocial behaviours. They can appear to smother you with love and shower you with affection in an over-the-top manner to get what they want. In adulthood, if left unchecked, this can escalate in intensity if they sense a romantic partner is pulling away from them. Psychopaths also have the innate ability to sense where your weaknesses lie and can pull you into their web by tapping into those insecurities — and yes, even as children. They're also quick to apologize even though they appear unfazed by punishment and show a lack of remorse for their bad behaviour.

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Chronic lying

Psychopaths are, at their core, chronic liars. They can't help it — it's an ingrained part of their highly-manipulative genetic makeup. They become so good at it, in fact, that they get used to the idea that they won't get caught in a lie. It's also part of why many psychopaths are able to maintain seemingly happy and healthy relationships — they know what they have to say in order to stay in people's good books. Spinning a web that suits their narrative becomes second nature to them, even at a young age. So be wary of tall tales and outlandish stories that fall outside the norm of the average imaginative child.

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Lack of guilt or remorse

Why would a psychopath, even a pint-sized one, feel any sort of remorse or guilt over an action they committed when almost everything they do is an attempt to control the narrative in any given situation? In their eyes, every action they undertake is the correct one. They are right, you are wrong. And, given their propensity for manipulating feelings and using people for their own ends, it's not surprising that they lack this basic human emotion. In fact, researchers have long held the belief that psychopaths are underdeveloped in the area of the brain that is responsible for emotion regulation and impulse control. If the kiddo in your life always seems apathetic about how poorly they treated a fellow classmate or sibling, this is a big red flag.

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Indifference to punishment

Rules and punishment prove to be no barrier for a psychopath. If you or a trained professional attempt to deter a psychopath, regardless of their age, with threats of punishment you just might find yourself shocked by how impervious they are to the very idea of it. In fact, they process punishment in an entirely different manner than others. As a result, they make bolder, riskier decisions and exhibit a total lack of fear that is 100% unnerving to witness. Psychopaths tend to believe they will be rewarded for all their actions and that they have a noble reason for doing what they do. Jesse Prinz, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at City University of New York, told The Daily Beast that, “when interviewed, criminal psychopaths sometimes sound indignant about their incarceration. They are surprised to be caught and think the punishment is undeserved...They think they have the right rule, and then suddenly there is a punishment, telling them they are wrong.” If little Suzy just shrugs her shoulders when facing disciplinarian action on a regular basis, it might be time to visit a professional.

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Superficially charming

Remember how all the characters in the TV series Dexter doted on the charming titular serial killer? That's because, thanks to his innate ability to mimic charm and common emotional responses, he had everyone fooled as to his true inner thoughts. Superficial charm is quite possibly one of the eeriest traits of a psychopath, and a common harbinger of the condition in adulthood. It's also one of the most difficult personality ticks to detect. Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer had it in abundance. But even as kids, psychopaths can be charming, conversational and ready to entertain you with a quick quip or clever comeback. As parents, we revel in our kids' blossoming personalities. As a result, however, it could be easy to miss when your kid isn't being authentic.

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Animal cruelty

This one falls under the controversial and oft-debated "Macdonald triad" theory (also known as the "homicidal triad") that is still sometimes taught in criminology and psychology classes today. In a nutshell, it's one of a set of three factors that could predict violent tendencies related to serial offenses in a child's later years. In 1963, John Macdonald of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, posited that if a kid exhibited signs of cruelty to small animals — think: kittens, puppies, birds — it was a major red flag that little Timmy could one day graduate to larger (human) victims. A total lack of respect for life, regardless of species, is a biggie.

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Suffers from enuresis

In addition to cruelty to animals, the second indicator in the Macdonald triad is a tendency to wet the bed. We're not talking about potty-training toddlers here, but those who frequently wet the bed well past the "acceptable" age. If this is your kid, there's no need to panic right away. Late bed-wetting is most often the result of another preexisting medical condition, but it can also be a sign of psychopathy. It's a tricky one for parents to diagnose, too — after all, most kids suffer from this in some form during their childhood. But it's still worth mentioning as experts claim it's a common experience among serial killers in their own youth.

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Starting fires

Finally, the Macdonald Triad closes out with an obsession with starting fires. Pyromania, or any type of propensity for damaging property, is a common habit among young psychopaths and one that is relatively easy to detect. (It's hard to miss a burning trashcan or a kid striking up matches.) The trait likely arises from the desire to exert control over a situation, especially if the child harbours feelings of frustration or anger at their parents or other authority figures. The flames are believed to ease the tumult in their minds and feed into their desire to oversee the destruction of something valuable.