Psychopath

Value
Very Common, Total: 25 Points
Description
A Psychopath has a clear and lucid understanding about the world, with the exception being his view on just how the world interacts with himself. Specifically, a Psychopath cannot tell the difference between right and wrong or good and bad, and thus acts in accordance with his own wants and desires. Since there are no rules (at least in the eyes of the Psychopathic character), he is free to act pretty much as he wants. This Complication precludes the character from having any moral compunction against violence or criminal behavior.
Obviously, this Complication is usually only appropriate for villains.
A character with this Complication is often witty and articulate. He can be an entertaining conversationalist, always ready with a clever comeback, and can tell unlikely but somehow convincing stories (stories that always seem to cast the character in a good light). The character is usually very effective in presenting himself well, and is often very likeable and charming. A Psychopath will often make an effort to appear as an expert in a subject (often sociology, psychiatry, medicine, literature, art, or law), but can be utterly unconcerned when people find out they aren't the expert they pretend to be. With this Complication, the character will often be Narcissistic, holding a grossly inflated view of their self-worth and importance. He sees himself as a superior being who sits at the center of the universe and is therefore utterly justified by living according to his own rules.
A Psychopathic character is seldom embarrassed about such "petty trivialities" as his own personal legal, financial, or personal problems. Rather, they see such things as temporary annoyances. Rather than treating his problems as important, he sees them as temporary setbacks, the results of bad luck, betrayals by unfaithful friends, or the result of an incompetent system. The character feels that his own abilities will enable him to become anything he wants to be. Surprisingly, given the right circumstances - opportunity, luck, and willing victims - his grandiosity can pay off spectacularly. (A Psychopathic entrepreneur, for example, "thinks big" and often succeeds because of it... but only while using someone else's money.)
A character with this Complication shows a stunning lack of concern for the effects their actions have on others. They are often quite forthright about this, openly admitting that they have no sense of guilt and simply are not sorry for the pain and destruction they cause others, because there just isn't a reason for them to be concerned about such things. Other people are viewed as little more than objects to be used for their own gratification. The weak and the vulnerable - whom the Psychopath mocks rather than pities - are frequent targets. This combines with a remarkable ability to rationalize their behavior and shrug off personal responsibility for actions that cause shock and disappointment to family, friends, associates, and others who have played by the rules. Usually they have handy excuses for their behavior, and in some cases will deny that what they did happened at all.
Because of this inability to appreciate the feelings of others, some Psychopaths are thus capable of behavior that normal people find utterly horrifying (such as carving up a victim with all the ease and concern one might show while carving up a Thanksgiving turkey). It should be noted, however, that most people with this Complication show their Psychopathy in less dramatic ways (such as parasitically draining other people of their possessions and money, aggressively doing and taking whatever they want, neglecting the physical and emotional welfare of their families, and so on) than going on killing sprees.
This Complication is similar to Sociopath, but has some important differences, and thus they should never be taken together by the same character.
See Also
Arrogant, Casual Killer, Callous, Cold and Uncaring, Criminal Conviction, Devil Hiding in Plain Sight, Holds "Mortals" in Contempt, Impulsive, Serial Killer, Sociopath, Thinks the Rules Don't Apply to Him, Villain With Good Publicity
Category:Complications
Category:Psychological Complications
Category:Psychological Complications O - P
Category:Compulsions
Category:Compulsive Crime Complications
Category:Complications Not Recommended for Player Characters