MHM Magazine

Issue 61 | 2022 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 15 MHM The global hit Netflix documentary Tinder Swindler has sparked massive debate and interest around the lies and swindling of Simon Leviev, with many commenting that “the women should have known better”. However, psychiatrist Prof Renata Schoeman, Head of the MBA Health Care Leadership programme at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) says it’s not as straightforward as assuming the women were merely gullible. The exploitative tactics used by Leviev, real name Shimon Hayut, to identify vulnerable targets and his predatory drive for domination, financial extortion and deceit, indicates psychopathic behaviour. “It’s enormously difficult to catch a psychopath in the act. They are pathological liars and purposefully deceive people to conceal their modus operandi. They strategically plan their deceitful stories and use their superficial charm to get one addicted, leaving you doubting your valid suspicions and ending up as the victim.” Prof Schoeman points out that psychopaths are ruthless when pursuing something that they want, without any concern for those around them. “They are very status conscious and their behaviour involves extreme egocentricity, severe lack of empathy for the feelings of others and a willingness to engage in immoral behaviour for short-term gains, exploiting others while doing so.  “Many will claim that something similar could never happen to them, yet cases such as these are not as uncommon as we think. Psychopathic behaviour is also not only reserved for romantic encounters; psychopaths stalk office corridors too, with lasting mental health impacts on their victims. “The manipulation, deception, inflated self-opinion and back- stabbing of the corporate psychopath can cause work-related depression, anxiety disorders, burnout and physical illnesses; conditions which cost the South African economy more than R40- billion annually,” Prof Schoeman said. She said that Leviev’s deceit, manipulativeness, indifference to the consequences of his actions, superficial charm, lack of empathy and lack of remorse, are all classic signs of a psychopath. “Psychopaths tend to have a higher IQ and are more conscientious than those with a criminal record. They are By Linda Christensen Press Office University of Stellenbosch Business School; MBA in Healthcare Leadership HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE TINDER SWINDLER AND SIMILAR PSYCHOPATHS