Psychopathy is characterized by diagnostic features such as superficial charm, high
intelligence, poor judgment and failure to learn from experience, pathological egocentricity and incapacity for
love, lack of remorse or shame, impulsivity, grandiose sense of self-worth, pathological lying,
manipulative behavior, poor self-control, promiscuous sexual behavior, juvenile delinquency, and criminal versatility, among others. As a consequence of these criteria, the image of the psychopath is that of a cold, heartless, inhuman being. But do all
psychopaths show a complete lack of normal emotional capacities and empathy?
Like healthy people, many psychopaths love their parents, spouse, children, and pets in their own way, but they have difficulty in loving and trusting the rest of the world. Furthermore, psychopaths suffer emotionally as a consequence of separation, divorce, death of a beloved person, or dissatisfaction with their own deviant behavior