Yes a person can defend themselves against sociopathic character assassination by not allowing the behavior to be concealed. Exposure of the behavior of a sociopath forces them to acknowledge their incorrect behavior if they are confronted in the proper manner.
From my limited understanding, not really. Sociopathic behavior can be identified at an early age. If the child does not "outgrow" these behaviors by 15-16yrs of age, then they can be labeled as having an antisocial personality problem or a sociopath.
One example of a politician who has been described as exhibiting sociopathic traits is Adolf Hitler. His extreme violence, manipulation, and disregard for the lives of others are characteristic of sociopathic behavior.
sociopathic even psychopathic. I might even go so far as to say dissociative syndrome.
Behavior in childhood can sometimes be indicative of radical or sociopathic behavior in adulthood, and these behavior patterns often result in unethical or immoral acts. This kind of behavioral prediction is not foolproof, and people can often resist such behavioral patterns.
Ask the psychiatrist treating the child. If the child hasn't seen a psychiatrist then take him/her to a really good child psychiatrist; don't diagnose or label a child as a sociopath on the basis of what you read on this and other sites. With children, it's easy to mistake bad behaviour for sociopathic behaviour.
Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber was created in 2005.
Sociopaths have no conscience, and thus do not worry about things like that. You are not a sociopath. That said, there are a number of emotional disorders that have some sociopathic characteristics, and if you are bothered by your feelings or behavior you would do well to speak with a professional about it. Your local mental health society can direct you.
Sociopathic
it began when they were 12 yrs old
As soon as they are born.
Based on my readings on the sociology of deviance, whether you describe someone who exhibits chronic disregard for others' rights/feelings, lack of empathy, total self-centeredness, etc. as "psychopathic" or "sociopathic" depends on whether you trace the cause of the behavior to intrapsychic or biological defects (psychopathic) or trace it to the social structure of a given society (sociopathic). Given that this kind of behavior is common in some types of societies and comparatively rare in others, I believe a strong case can be made for a social etiology.