or whether you might have fallen for a psychopath in the past, and, if you are in a relationship

with a psychopath, what you can do about that. Now, psychopaths do have certain characteristics,

certain tells, to use a poker analogy, that they display in relationships.

They tend to play on our pity a lot, okay? So they tend to excuse their misdemeanors

and bad behaviors through something that was beyond their control. They couldn't help doing

it because something had happened, and there's always an excuse for it. And although psychopaths

don't feel emotions like us, they are masters at pushing those emotional hot buttons that

elicit emotions in others, in us. Sympathy being one of the major, major motivators.

Psychopaths often play on our pity. They excuse their own behavior because they were somehow

hard done by.

Psychopaths also tend to be very narcissistic. They tend to think that the world centers

around them. They're not really attuned to your feelings. They don't really care about

your feelings. Really, ultimately, the world surrounds them.

Psychopaths are also very charming. They're very manipulative, especially when they're

in a crowd, especially when they're in company. But behind the scenes when they're alone with

you, they can be very, very controlling. Sometimes, but not always, aggressive, but psychologically

controlling as well.

So if you're worried about the fact that -- that you're in a relationship with a psychopath,

what can you do about that? What might be some certain things to look out for?

Well, first of all, the absolute first thing to do is to not go on face value, to not fall

for the smoke screen. A number one rule of thumb is to don't judge a person on what they

say, but judge a person on what they do. So that's the very first thing. Look at the evidence

of their behavior and try to judge it objectively, rather than subjectively. Not an easy thing

to do, I admit, if you're in a relationship with someone.

Secondly, if you suspect that your partner is a psychopath, why don't you get a second

opinion from one of your friends? Why don't you confide in your friends: I think my partner's

a psychopath or I think these are the certain characteristics? Give me an honest opinion.

What do you really think about my partner? And a second opinion - two heads are often

better than one in this kind of case.

Thirdly, a golden rule is don't cover for them. If they start getting into serious trouble

and they want you to somehow front up for them or be an alibi or somehow make excuses

or whatever, whatever. Don't get tangled up into covering up for them because as soon

as that starts happening, it's called the "foot in the door" technique; a very, very

common persuasive technique. Once you've done something for someone, you're more likely

to do other follow-up things for them. And before you know it, you're in up to your neck.

Okay?

And the fourth thing I would say is, buy my book because all the signs and all the tricks

of the trade are in there. And forewarned is definitely forearmed when you're dealing

with psychopaths.

However, if you've got those traits I've just mentioned to you and you are not naturally

violent, and you are also intelligent, then it's a different story altogether. Then, as

the famous Reuters headline once mentioned, you are more likely gonna make a killing in

the market than anywhere else.