Psycopathy
It's unnerving to say the least, but real psychopaths are a far cry from the Norman Bates and Hannibal Lecters we know from fiction and they would much rather avoid being discovered. More often than not, there are one or two in... your social circles. It goes without saying that psychopathy is admired and encouraged in western culture to an extent the rest of us don't even realize.
Burrowing deep, the role of a psychopath is to stay hidden and if needed, pursue a set of goals. Their aim can be purely pleasure or strictly business but either way, they will most likely be extremely competitive. Although there's little academic literature on the foundations of psycopathy, it is believed that there are ways to spot them and maneuver yourself out of their manipulative sphere of influence. Listen to 'how' they speak...
Normal people don't need to fear psychopaths, they're just a little more abrasive and engaged in manipulating others rather than being direct and we don't know how to handle that. They usually look and behave just like us although they may be a little more intense. We merely need to learn how to protect ourselves from their influence and by doing just that, a large majority of their power will be taken.
Bonus points: If you think you've found a candidate for the successful and charming psychopath and you're brave, chances are you're not worth a manslaughter charge so push their buttons a little bit. Question their decisions, raise a counter argument, don't just go along. Thump on their psychological 'mask' with your finger a little. Let them know you're there. There's no need to be afraid, they're more like spiders than pit bulls.
