Cleckley's Mask of Sanity

The Mask of Sanity, by clinical psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley, describes a pattern seen in some individuals who appear psychologically well—polished, charming, and successful—but lack genuine emotional depth and empathy. These individuals can convincingly mask their true nature with normal behavior, yet they often exhibit traits like superficiality, impulsivity, and a disregard for others’ feelings. Cleckley’s work highlights how such individuals can appear "sane" outwardly but may engage in manipulative or dangerous behaviors internally, making their true nature difficult to detect.