A Killer? A Murderer Or More? What Goes On In A Psychopath's Mind?

About a month ago, the news about Shraddha Walkar's murder by her boyfriend, Aftab Amin Poonawala, brought shivers down our spine. The case was not just about a murder but about the way it questioned humanity. Aftab chopped his live-in girlfriend's body into several pieces and threw them out in different locations.

The way the man continued to live a normal life after such a devious deed made us wonder what exactly can go into the mind of a person like that. How can one sleep at night after personally crossing every line of morality there is? Poonawala allegedly looked at Walkar¡¯s head in the fridge every day and used dating apps after the killing.

Difference between sociopathy and psychopathy

While many believed that the man had mental health issues, others believe that his actions led to him becoming a sociopath. Dr. Rishi Gautam, assistant professor of psychiatry at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC, USA, gave us insights about what it is that goes on in the mind of a sociopath or psychopath. He started off by talking about how a sociopath is different from a psychopath.

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"Sociopathy and Psychopathy are often used interchangeably because there is considerable overlap in how they manifest. They are slightly different though and this often becomes confusing. Sociopathy or Anti-Social Personality Disorder is a personality pathology, the most defining characteristic of which is a profound lack of conscience or a moral compass. This leads them into patterns of conduct which are deceitful, dishonest and misuse other's trust in them," he said.

About a psychopath, he said, "People with psychopathic tendencies on the other hand are inherently violent, thrive in inflicting pain on others and have difficulties forming meaningful relationships."

Dr. Gautam also mentioned that a person's behaviour as an adult is definitely related to how they were in their childhood. How the environment they were born in and grew up in. "These are a result of genetic, biological and environmental factors. For example, research shows that formative experiences in childhood have a significant impact on a person's sense of self, or how they perceive the world and their place in it. Exposure to trauma or abuse increases the risk of developing such conditions."

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Sociopaths are often very charming, charismatic, attractive, and good at developing relationships with people. These are usually shallow and fragile, but have the ability to leave the other person quite hurt or traumatized.

Dr. Gautam also mentioned that while it may be difficult to know a specific person's state of mind without evaluating them in a formal setting, there are some commonly evident signs, or "red flags," of sociopathic behaviour.

Failure to conform to social norms and laws

Why do some criminals keep getting caught for the same activities and continue to do them? Well, some people just repeatedly engage in illegal activities and can't help following social norms and laws. These people either probably get the thrill of doing it or are probably addicted to these acts and can't really leave it even when they want to.

They are deceitful

These people tend to continuously lie. In fact, these people lie so much that it becomes a habit for them. They can't help but lie, even for the smallest things that don't matter. Other than that, these people use aliases and like to showcase their true selves to people. They also like to con people for their own gain or just so that they can get a rush out of it.

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Exhibiting impulsivity or failing to plan ahead

These people can be termed "risk-takers" and may take impulsive decisions (which is quite common with murderers). However, due to their impulsivity, these people don't tend to plan ahead for the outcomes, which is what gets them caught. They get wrapped up in the moment.

They are irritable and restless

These people tend to get irritated and aggressive very easily, and they end up repeatedly getting into fights or physically assaulting others. This can also lead to a greater impact when they can seriously harm a person in the heat of the moment or when they can't control their anger.

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They are irresponsible

These people are consistently failing to fulfil their work commitments and don't tend to honour their financial obligations. Due to this habit, they are mostly left in debt or out of jobs.

They show no remorse

When these people harm someone intentionally or even unintentionally, they tend not to feel any guilt or remorse for their acts. As a result, they continue to engage in illegal or objectionable behavior. They tend to not only mistreat other people but also lack sympathy for them.

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What can one do when a sociopath is identified?

As per Dr. Rishi Gautam, these traits are generally part of a person's personality and not something they get later in life. This is something that is hardwired in their brains. "Unfortunately, these conditions or personality traits are very difficult to treat or modify. These are "hard-wired" into the brain of the person, and they have limited to zero insight into the effects these have on people around them. Confining them to correctional settings or incarceration is often the only recourse once they are found in violation of the law."

There are other ways you can be wary of these people; you should keep your distance from them. The best way to approach this problem is to "follow your gut." If you sense these patterns in anyone you associate with, you should be concerned. Attempt to distance yourself and maintain safety. Avoid confrontations as they might be dangerous. Boundary setting or healthy limit setting around engagement with them is what is recommended for friends and family members of people with such tendencies. If you have been directly affected or traumatised as a result of any of these actions, seek some counselling or treatment for yourself. Group therapy, where people share similar experiences, is very helpful."

People around these kinds of people should take note and make sure to take care of them when in contact.