SociopathsSociopaths

SociopathySociopathy is formally known as is formally known as Antisocial Personality DisorderAntisocial Personality Disorder. .

It is defined as It is defined as ""a mental health condition a mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others." rights of others."

The exact cause of sociopathy is not The exact cause of sociopathy is not known. known.

However, it is believed to result from However, it is believed to result from complex interaction of complex interaction of geneticgenetic and and environmentalenvironmental factors (e.g. child abuse, factors (e.g. child abuse, alcoholic parents).alcoholic parents).

Sociopathy is much more common in men Sociopathy is much more common in men as compared to women. as compared to women.

Though sociopaths comprise between Though sociopaths comprise between

1 to 4%1 to 4% of the population of the population (depending on (depending on different metrics), high-functioning different metrics), high-functioning sociopaths tend to rise to positions of sociopaths tend to rise to positions of power and authority. power and authority.

30-40% of the prison population are 30-40% of the prison population are

sociopaths.sociopaths.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR) lists these traits:Disorders (DSM IV-TR) lists these traits:

A) Pervasive pattern of disregard for and A) Pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by age 15 years, as indicated by three or morethree or more of of the following:the following:

Failure to conform to social normsFailure to conform to social norms with respect to  with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest .performing acts that are grounds for arrest .

Deception, as indicated by Deception, as indicated by repeatedly lyingrepeatedly lying, use , use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.pleasure.

ImpulsivenessImpulsiveness or failure to plan ahead. or failure to plan ahead.

Irritability and aggressivenessIrritability and aggressiveness, as indicated , as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.by repeated physical fights or assaults.

Reckless Reckless disregard for safetydisregard for safety of self or of self or others.others.

Consistent Consistent irresponsibilityirresponsibility, as indicated by , as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations. behavior or honor financial obligations.

Lack of remorseLack of remorse as indicated by being as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.mistreated, or stolen from another.

B) The individual is at least age 18 years.B) The individual is at least age 18 years.

C) There is evidence of conduct C) There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.disorder with onset before age 15 years.

D) The occurrence of antisocial behavior is D) The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode.of schizophrenia or a manic episode.

High Functioning SociopathsHigh Functioning Sociopaths

High functioning sociopath is term used to High functioning sociopath is term used to describe people with sociopath traits that also describe people with sociopath traits that also happen to have a very high intelligence quotient.happen to have a very high intelligence quotient.

They are likely to be highly successful in the field They are likely to be highly successful in the field they endeavor (politics, business, etc.). they endeavor (politics, business, etc.).

They plan very meticulously and the presence of They plan very meticulously and the presence of sociopathic traits like lack of empathy, lack of sociopathic traits like lack of empathy, lack of remorse, deceptiveness, shallow emotions, etc. remorse, deceptiveness, shallow emotions, etc. makes it very difficult for "normal" people to makes it very difficult for "normal" people to compete with them.compete with them.

How to Spot a SociopathHow to Spot a Sociopath

1. Sociopaths typically don't small talk about themselves 1. Sociopaths typically don't small talk about themselves as much as normal people do. They will direct the as much as normal people do. They will direct the conversation back to the new acquaintance as much as conversation back to the new acquaintance as much as they can. they can.

2. A sociopath will reveal "personal" details about himself 2. A sociopath will reveal "personal" details about himself strategically, i.e. for the purposes of misdirection or a strategically, i.e. for the purposes of misdirection or a false sense of intimacy/trust. Revelations of actual truths false sense of intimacy/trust. Revelations of actual truths are very rare and may be perceived as a small slip of the are very rare and may be perceived as a small slip of the mask.mask.

3. Sociopaths frequently hesitate before responding. It 3. Sociopaths frequently hesitate before responding. It will be unclear to you whether they are bored, annoyed, will be unclear to you whether they are bored, annoyed, lying, or all three.lying, or all three.

4. No strong reactions to illogical hotbed political/social topics (e.g. 4. No strong reactions to illogical hotbed political/social topics (e.g. Octomom or Catholic priest child molestation).Octomom or Catholic priest child molestation).

How to Spot a SociopathHow to Spot a Sociopath (cont.): (cont.):

5. Monotone voice.5. Monotone voice.

6. A tendency to take things too literally or 6. A tendency to take things too literally or otherwise not respond appropriately to small otherwise not respond appropriately to small emotional cues.emotional cues.

7. Cold indifference to one or more family 7. Cold indifference to one or more family members.members.

8. Seemingly a different person when 8. Seemingly a different person when "distracted.""distracted."

How to Spot a SociopathHow to Spot a Sociopath (cont.): (cont.):

9. Disconnect between what the sociopath says and 9. Disconnect between what the sociopath says and does, e.g. seems charitable but does not give money to does, e.g. seems charitable but does not give money to homeless or vice versa.homeless or vice versa.

10. Never shows signs of embarrassment. Easily wins 10. Never shows signs of embarrassment. Easily wins over large crowds with confidence. "Poise" in this case = over large crowds with confidence. "Poise" in this case = lack of nerves.lack of nerves.

11. Does not fit stereotypes for gender, race, ethnicity, 11. Does not fit stereotypes for gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, or career. Could seem religion, age, sexual orientation, or career. Could seem foreign, bisexual, older or younger, pious, wealthy or foreign, bisexual, older or younger, pious, wealthy or poor, but may also just seem unplaceable.poor, but may also just seem unplaceable.

12. Can flip flop between keeping a very low profile (the 12. Can flip flop between keeping a very low profile (the observer) to being the life of the party (the actor). observer) to being the life of the party (the actor).

ArticleArticle::

““Confessions of a Sociopath”Confessions of a Sociopath”

Audio Version on NPRAudio Version on NPR

VideoVideo::

““Inside the Mind of a Sociopath”Inside the Mind of a Sociopath”