INSIDE THE MIND OF...A FEMALE PSYCHOPATH!

Experts reveal what make these criminals tick

- Maisy Rae

Charming. Seductive. Manipulative. The classic traits of a psychopath.

But unlike their male counterparts, female killers have a calculated motive for murdering their victims, who are often intimate partners. And according to the experts, chances are you've crossed paths with more than one psychopath - one could even be your best friend.

Dr Xanthe Mallett, a forensic anthropologist and criminologist, says there can be immediate warning signs.

"You probably know or have known at least one - once you know these signs, it's easy to spot them," Xanthe, 46, tells Woman's Day. "These women are very controlling, manipulative - they're often very good at playing the victim.

"They're very good at picking their targets. It's usually a guy who is feeling a bit sorry for himself and needs a bit of an ego boost... it's amazing what these guys fall for and what they will do for these women."

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Often referred to as "black widows" - poisonous spiders who capture their prey in their webs before killing them female psychopaths often rely on their sex appeal to lure their victims in, only to then withhold it to manipulate them for their personal gain.

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro has assessed a number of black widows over the course of his 45-year career in the field, noting there are a few key differences between male and female psychopaths.