Just watched an incredible talk by Dr. Fiona Girkin about female psychopathy—and she put into words something I’ve believed for a long time.

According to Dr. Girkin, men and women perceive power differently. Male psychopaths tend to see power in terms of dominance, money, and status. Female psychopaths, on the other hand, often seek control through social influence—by managing people, access, and resources.

That difference might explain why male psychopaths are often drawn to the corporate world, where status and wealth are the main currencies of power, while some female psychopaths are drawn to “caring” professions that grant them authority and trust. And disturbingly, that lines up with the fact that several female serial killers have worked in hospitals, exploiting that trust to control—or even kill—their patients.

Obviously, that doesn’t mean caring professions are full of psychopaths. Far from it. But it does show how psychopathy can wear a very different mask depending on gender and environment—and that’s exactly what makes Girkin’s insights so fascinating.

@atomicpoet I've long understood that psychopaths choose their path based on what will allow them to get away with the crimes they wish to commit. If it were easier for women to gain power in the corporate world more women psychopaths would choose that route. I'm open to evidence that suggests a better model.