Are you involved with a sociopath?

Answer 1

Are you involved with a psychopath (extreme sociopath)?

You may not know because they can be very charming and friendly and can appear to be altruistic, until you get close and inevitably they do something threatening or immoral and then you must set limits that disappoint them.

Sometimes very startling is the fact that sociopaths can cry. Yes, tears are seen even in some men, though of course still more common in children and women.

And what is it that gives the psychopaths the ability to evoke compassion -- which they then abuse -- in people by weeping copious tears?
It is the near-constant state of frustration and dissatisfaction felt by a true psychopath is the source of not only their rages but those eerie, on-and-off-like-a-faucet tears. (Yes, tearsare seen even in some men, though of course still more common in children and women.)

Another comment, from the diagnosed "primary psychopath" who wrote much but not all of the text that follows [EXCEPT the input from the other two sociopaths]:

The last time I tried that tears bit, I got "stuck" crying and couldn't stop for most of THREE DAYS!!! Now I avoid it at all costs.

Don’t assume that anyone is a psychopath based only on the person’s apparent attitude and behavior. It is far more complex than that, including factors in the pattern of the person's life and many other characteristics.

Please don’t go around assuming or calling someone a psychopath just because he/she may have some of the warning signs.

For information on what the warning signs are, look up other questions with answers on sociopaths, psychopaths, and antisocial personality disorder herein.

Get a professional opinion from a qualified mental health professional if you think you are involved with a psychopath. And then ask what to do, not only for the psychopath but for yourself, because being involved with a psychopath is risky.

And what then? Only time will tell.

And some people have said that the only way to persuade a sociopath or psychopath to seek help is by threatening him/her with DEATH!!

One way -- or another...

And the main reason sociopaths don't usually seek help from their fellow human beings is that they can't trust, rather than that they like being as they are. Plus, they can often sense exactly what sort of a response any call for help on their part is most likely to elicit from professionals and lay folk alike.

Sociopaths are not breezing along in paradise. It isn't all a game. It's a truly miserable existence. And it can be made better. It may not be "curable" yet, but it most certainly isn't as hopeless as so many people say. There is therefore nothing to be gained and much to be lost when therapists and lay folk try to ostracize sociopaths from the human race entirely! Sensationalism and superstition will only prevent progress.


This was written on another question on the same essential topic as this one, by a self-confessed sociopath who was officially diagnosed (other than me!) --

• Sociopaths, though born that way, are people too. To avoid an entire group of people is absurd. That's like saying, "Since these people have dark skin, everyone should completely avert themselves from them." I am a moderate sociopath, and though part of me doesn't want to change, another does. Many times it is really entertaining to see how stupid people can be, especially when they're so gullible as to believe every word that mellifluously flows from my lips. Yes, I am parasitic, but even so, there are some people I would like to stop hurting. I can't find any websites that can provide a way to help my sociopathy. Maybe people like you should stop your self-victimisation and start trying to actually help people like me! I knew I was a sociopath before the age of ten but have only recently had it officially diagnosed. I am eighteen years old now, and I have been lying and destroying others' sanity for a long time. So, please post some helpful tidbits that might help sociopaths resist the sweet urges we get when we encounter weak human beings. When you cut us, do we not bleed? When you kill us, do we not die? Do you honestly think that you're being lied to and manipulated when we sincerely ask for help. Listen to yourselves! This is the internet; ergo, you're safe from our fortified mental grasp.

The essay that follows was written in another answer by another self-admitted sociopath, who actually might not be a sociopath. Still another person added the brief comment to that effect after her tragic essay.

• umm... i kindof am one... just so y'all know, it's not so much fun being one either. i read that sentance up there, "Incapable of real human attachment to another." i don't even know what that is, i see it, i approximate it... it's like being outside a door looking through a dirty window and watching re-runs of people i've seen in love or with children or with friends, and scratching, sometimes banging at the glass to get in and... nothing. i'm fond of people in every sense of the word, their little quirks and habits, the way they see life, except if they went away it wouldn't bother me much other than finding someone else to be fond of. i don't have friends, i only date military men because they're ok with only having a girlfriend for a couple months and i tell them in advance i won't wait for them... i don't know what else to do to limit the damage i inflict on others just as a result of them knowing me, short of moving to the mountains... but i still move between 2-5 times a year :( it's kindof hard walking around knowing i'll never have what i see making other people so happy and running when i can tell someone is getting close just because i don't want to hurt them more later down the road... i'd like it alot to settle down, i WANT to be able to feel more with people, but it's hard to miss what you never had. i want what i THINK it would feel like... it'd be easy to give in and let someone stay because i'm so lonely... but hey, i've written enough, just know i try to be a responsible little sociopath, i won't ever get married or have kids, i practice safe sex, i won't stay in one city for long... everything you all take for granted i will never let myself have just because i WANT to take it for granted. being like this won't go away so hopefully i can limit the amount of hate thrown my way by limiting my interaction with people, i don't know what else to do. and you all might not belive this, but i am sorry, hopefully i can speak for the other people who have damaged your lives.

Comment: The above testimony is clearly notindicative of a sociopath because she seems to make efforts to keep from harming others, even if it doesn't benefit herself.

One might hope that this poor, unhappy woman doesfind help.

Answer 2

My family member has to be in control of everything they are a liar all the time and I really thing they believe what they say. They live out of the US and like they way they feel where they live. They have money over there and like the way they are treated because of that. They can not hold any type of relationship with a spouseand constantly trying to get all other family members not liking each other.

this family member has always showed off their money.

Always offered to pay for a lot of different things when we all get together. Now this person says we all took advantage of them. We never asked this person to pay for anything it was their own freewill.

Now they are ready to write off the whole family because they thing we all owe him money for everything they have done for my family (which is their family to)

This person has turned crazy. Saying hurtful thing to lots of family member.

Answer 3

Sociopaths can ask themselves if they are one. The fact it they do recognize they are different from others and would like to know if they can put a name on it.

The biggest defining characteristic of one is not feeling guilt. Sociopaths don't connect with the needs of others or their feelings, a sociopath does not feel guilt.

Ask yourself that question. Dont get it confused with fear or embarrassment, did you ever feel like what you did was wrong and regret doing it simply for that reason because it was harmful/hurtful/bad for someone else.

So, have you felt guilt?

Other characteristics are extreme arrogance, high intelligence, manipulative, lack of morales and conscience(derives from lack of connection to others), easily angered by small things, sadistic nature, taking aliases.

Sincerely,

A sociopath.