Psychopath expert Erikson: Flee, don't fight manipulation

Thomas Erikson, author of the global bestseller Surrounded by Idiots, has turned his attention to a darker personality type. In his latest book, Surrounded by Psychopaths, he estimates that between 2% and 4% of the global population — some 250 million people — meet the clinical criteria for psychopathy Source: elmundoes. These individuals are not obvious villains; they blend in, often rising to positions of power.

How to spot one

Erikson highlights key red flags: a persistent feeling of unease around the person, a mismatch between their words and actions, and a lack of empathy or remorse. "If you feel bad, uncomfortable, out of place, I would tell you to trust that feeling," he advises Source: elmundoes. He also warns that psychopaths are "very impulsive, charming, and attractive" but fundamentally antisocial Source: elconfidencial.

• They lie compulsively and manipulate with refined techniques.
• They display grandiosity and a sense of superiority.
• They show no guilt or empathy, making them dangerous in close relationships.

Where they thrive

According to Erikson, psychopaths are overrepresented in certain professions. CEOs top the list, followed by lawyers and media professionals. "They like to be seen, and the best place is television or Hollywood," he notes Source: elconfidencial. Engineers, by contrast, are rarely psychopaths because they value correctness and rules. Erikson also recounts a chilling case of a Swedish surgeon who killed patients — and showed no emotion when caught.

Erikson recommends a simple but powerful defense: trust your intuition, compare words with actions, and if necessary, take notes to track inconsistencies. His ultimate advice? "The best advice I can give to deal with a psychopath is to flee" Source: elmundoes.