Unlike most criminals, or people with psychological problems, psychopaths have specific characteristics known as ‘the masks of the psychopaths’, characteristics which allow the individual to come across as charming, intelligent, mentally stable and with a good understanding of situations while in fact that same person harbours rule-breaking and destructive tendencies including complete disregard for fellow beings. Behind the mask are major shortcomings, such as in the ability to control emotions or actions, and it is these that push the individual to take serious advantage of others.

Heinz Schuler and Dominik Schwarzinger are researchers in Psychology and Psychopathy. In this book they present what psychopathy actually is, how this anti-social personality disorder can develop and how the rest of us can recognise it when encountering people who actually have the ability to make life hell for others.