Misty vs. Shauna: Who’s More Like a Psychopath in Yellowjackets?

In Showtime's Yellowjackets, there’s no shortage of moral ambiguity. The adult survivors of that fateful plane crash are walking puzzles—traumatized, haunted, and at times disturbingly capable. But when it comes to the question of psychopathy, two characters consistently rise to the top: Misty Quigley and Shauna Shipman.

Misty and Shauna - Teenagers

So let’s get into it. Who’s more like a psychopath?

At first glance, Misty is the obvious choice. She's socially awkward, manipulative, and emotionally detached. She destroys the black box after the crash, imprisons people in her basement, and seems to take eerie satisfaction in being needed, no matter the cost. Her calculated demeanor and disturbing calm under pressure set off all the usual red flags.

But then there’s Shauna. Quiet, bookish, emotionally intelligent—until she’s not. Adult Shauna is a suburban mom with a dark edge. She lies, cheats, murders, and butchers a man with the kind of cool efficiency that doesn’t quite square with her otherwise “normal” persona. Unlike Misty, Shauna doesn't wear her menace on her sleeve. It simmers beneath the surface, making it all the more unsettling when it explodes.

Who fits the label better?

If we’re talking about traits commonly associated with psychopathy—lack of empathy, manipulativeness, shallow affect, and impulsive or calculated violence—Misty arguably displays more of these consistently. She’s emotionally disconnected from her actions, tends to see people as tools, and rarely expresses genuine remorse.

Shauna, on the other hand, is far more emotionally complex. She struggles with guilt, hides her darker impulses behind layers of repression, and acts more out of desperation or disillusionment than a cold master plan. She's also capable of intimacy, even if it’s laced with deceit.

That said, labeling either of them as a full-blown psychopath might be more TV shorthand than clinical diagnosis.

Misty and Shauna - Adults

What Is Psychopathy, Anyway?

Psychopathy in real life is more nuanced than pop culture depictions would have us believe. It's not simply about being creepy, violent, or emotionally detached. According to the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)—one of the most widely used diagnostic tools—psychopathy includes a combination of interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial traits. These might include:

  • Superficial charm

  • Grandiose sense of self-worth

  • Pathological lying

  • Manipulativeness

  • Lack of remorse or empathy

  • Impulsivity

  • Irresponsibility

  • Parasitic lifestyle

  • Criminal versatility

It’s important to note that not all psychopaths are serial killers or criminals. Some may function well in society, even excelling in high-risk fields like business or law. These so-called “successful psychopaths” might be ruthless but not necessarily violent.

Norman Bates - A well-known fictional psychopath

Nature, Nurture, and Evil?

What causes psychopathy?

Research suggests it’s a mix of genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Brain imaging studies show that individuals with high levels of psychopathy often have abnormalities in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex—areas linked to emotion regulation, impulse control, and moral reasoning.¹

But environment matters too. Childhood trauma, neglect, and abuse can exacerbate tendencies toward antisocial behavior. Some researchers distinguish between primary psychopathy (more innate, less anxious) and secondary psychopathy (more reactive, shaped by environmental stress).²

Meanwhile, religious and spiritual seekers often assert that evil can influence anyone. Accordingly, a dark force preys on the very biological, psychological, and social vulnerabilities that psychiatry emphasizes.³ If there's a crack in the wall, so to speak, the darkness will enter.

This complexity is what makes Yellowjackets so fascinating. Misty and Shauna aren’t just plot devices—they’re warped reflections of how trauma, isolation, suppressed desire, and perhaps evil influences can twist a personality over time.

Psychopath or Survivor?

If we’re forced to choose, Misty probably leans closer to the clinical profile of a psychopath. Her detachment, manipulative tendencies, and absence of moral hesitation tick a lot of boxes. But reducing her (or Shauna) to a diagnosis may miss the larger point. These women are products of extreme trauma and a world that keeps asking them to compartmentalize the unspeakable.

And maybe that’s what Yellowjackets is really getting at: not whether someone is a psychopath, but how much horror a human mind can absorb—and still carry on, smiling.

References

  1. Blair, R. J. R. (2007). The amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in morality and psychopathy. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(9), 387–392.

  2. Skeem, J. L., Johansson, P., Andershed, H., Kerr, M., & Louden, J. E. (2007). Two subtypes of psychopathic violent offenders that parallel primary and secondary variants. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 116(2), 395–409.

  3. Amorth, G. (1999). An Exorcist Tells His Story. Ignatius Press.

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