
Imagine walking into a room and locking eyes with someone who, at first glance, seems utterly charming. But something is unsettling about their gaze. Tolu, a university student from Lagos, experienced this quandary firsthand when he met Chijioke, a character as charming as he was perplexing. It wasn’t just the charisma, but the eyes – something about them didn’t sit right. Today, we unravel the mystery behind what some call “psychopath’s eyes” through Tolu’s lens.
Psychopathy vs. ASPD
Before diving deeper, let’s clear the mist surrounding Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Both may involve breaking societal norms, but psychopathy has additional layers – grandiosity, superficial charm, and cunning manipulation. These distinctions are not academic jargon but are essential to proper diagnosis and targeted treatment.
Haunting Eyes?
From Bollywood to Hollywood and Nollywood, cinema often portrays psychopaths with cold, unfeeling eyes. But science tells a more complex tale. Research points out that while the average person’s pupils respond to emotional stimuli, this isn’t the case for psychopaths. Could this absence of normal pupil dilation be what bothered Tolu when he locked eyes with Chijioke? Perhaps. But remember, though compelling, eyes are not a definitive marker of psychopathy.
The Mystery Behind Shades: A Case Study
Consider Kelechi, once an inmate at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison. Always seen in dark shades, he attracted the attention of a prison doctor who noted that these shades could serve a dual purpose: fashion and a shield. “The eyes can reveal decreased emotional engagement, and these shades may be a barrier,” the doctor commented. This observation mirrors findings that people with psychopathic tendencies often avoid eye contact, perhaps as a subconscious act to hide their emotional void.
The Eyes Don’t Stand Alone: Other Non-Verbal Cues
Let’s step back from the eyes for a moment. Chijioke’s personality traits, as experienced by Tolu, reached beyond the unsettling gaze. It wasn’t just the eyes but how Chijioke seemed to exert control over their interactions, echoing the symptoms that Chinwe, a young woman from Abuja, encountered in her relationship with Emeka. Psychopathy, as Chinwe discovered, manifests in more than just eye contact; it seeps into other non-verbal cues – voice, stance, and even the manipulation of personal space. “He dictated every facet of our lives,” she recalls. His behaviour wasn’t confined to eerie eye contact but stretched into other realms of non-verbal communication. Eyes may be windows to the soul, but they’re not the only ones. While there may be something different about the eyes of those with psychopathic tendencies, it’s just a piece of the giant puzzle.
Identifying the Signs: A Word of Caution
It’s important to reiterate that identifying psychopathy is not as simple as noticing a chilling stare. Several signs can point to this personality disorder, from superficial charm to impulsive behaviour. However, a conclusive diagnosis should only come from a trained mental health professional.
Here are some red flags to note:
- Superficial Charm: They are often charming and persuasive, engaging people and making them feel special.
- Lack of Empathy: They show an emotional detachment and a lack of concern for the feelings or suffering of others.
- Manipulative Behavior: They excel in influencing others for their benefit, often at the expense of those they manipulate.
- Impulsivity: A tendency to act without thinking of the consequences.
- Pathological Lying: Persistent deception to serve their ends, even when the lies are easily disprovable.
- Shallow Emotions: While they may feign emotion to manipulate people, their emotional responses are typically shallow and short-lived.
- Lack of Remorse: No guilt or shame, no matter what harm their actions may cause others.
- Narcissistic: A grandiose sense of self-worth that far exceeds their actual value.
- Risk-Taking: They often engage in risky behaviour for the thrill without considering potential consequences.
In Nigeria, a land rich in diversity yet fraught with complexity, the subject of psychopathy becomes doubly intricate. To understand it all, we must go beyond what our eyes show us. It’s essential to observe a spectrum of non-verbal cues and consider them as part of a more complex psychological landscape.
So, the next time you lock eyes with someone who appears charming but sends a shiver down your spine, remember Tolu and Chijioke. Our eyes may be windows to the soul, but sometimes, they offer us a partial view of the complexities that reside within.