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Sociopathy (Psychopathy)
A mental disorder characterized by Antisocial Personality Disorder, lack of empathy and the concern for self.
535 Questions
What is affectionless psychopathy?
Affectionless psychopathy is a psychological condition characterized by a lack of emotional attachment and empathy towards others, often resulting in antisocial behavior. Individuals with this condition may struggle to form meaningful relationships and exhibit shallow emotions, making it difficult for them to understand or respond to the feelings of others. It is often associated with early childhood experiences, particularly neglect or emotional deprivation. The term is primarily used in the context of attachment theory and developmental psychology.
What do you do if your brother is a sociopath?
If you believe your brother is a sociopath, it's important to approach the situation with care. Set clear boundaries to protect yourself and communicate openly about your concerns if it's safe to do so. Encourage him to seek professional help, as a mental health professional can provide the necessary support and guidance. Prioritize your own well-being and consider seeking support for yourself, whether through counseling or support groups.
Does a sociopath destroy families?
Yes, a sociopath can significantly disrupt and damage family dynamics. Their manipulative behavior, lack of empathy, and tendency to exploit others can lead to emotional turmoil and conflict within the family. This often results in broken relationships, trust issues, and lasting psychological effects on family members. Ultimately, their actions can create an environment of instability and pain that is difficult to heal.
Can a sociopath be capable of intense physical cruelity?
Yes, a sociopath can be capable of intense physical cruelty. Sociopathy, characterized by a lack of empathy and disregard for social norms, can lead individuals to engage in harmful behaviors without feeling remorse. Their ability to manipulate and exploit others can manifest in violent or abusive actions, as they may not fully grasp the emotional impact of their behavior on others. However, not all sociopaths exhibit physical cruelty; it varies based on individual circumstances and choices.
A "sciopath" is not a widely recognized term in psychology or psychiatry. It may be a misspelling or a confusion with "sociopath," which refers to a person with antisocial personality disorder, characterized by a lack of empathy, impulsive behavior, and disregard for societal norms. If "sciopath" is meant to refer to something specific, please provide more context for clarification.
What is a principled sociopath?
A principled sociopath is an individual who exhibits sociopathic traits—such as a lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and disregard for societal norms—yet adheres to a personal code of ethics or principles. Unlike typical sociopaths, who may act solely for self-interest, principled sociopaths may engage in behaviors they believe serve a greater purpose or align with their values. This can lead to morally ambiguous actions justified by their own rationale, making them complex and often difficult to categorize. Their behavior challenges traditional notions of morality, as they may prioritize their principles over conventional ethical standards.
How can you protect your 6yr old grandaughter from her sociopath mother who is also your daughter?
Well, honey, it sounds like you've got a real doozy on your hands. You need to document everything, gather evidence, and get in touch with a lawyer ASAP. Your granddaughter's safety is the top priority here, so don't mess around - take action and protect that little one like a mama bear on a mission.
What are some disadvantages of a person who has moral values?
One potential disadvantage of having strong moral values is the potential for rigidity in decision-making, as individuals may struggle to adapt to changing circumstances or new information that challenges their beliefs. Additionally, individuals with strong moral values may face criticism or conflict when their values clash with societal norms or the values of others. Finally, there is a risk of moral superiority or self-righteousness, which can lead to judgmental attitudes towards those who do not share the same values.
Indeed, insane people can encounter feelings, yet they might have a dulled profound reaction when their consideration is on something different. They can feel feelings like satisfaction, euphoria, shock, and revulsion, however they might struggle with perceiving dread or misery. They may likewise have a shortfall in dread reactions when they need to zero in on something different
What are a sociopath weakness?
A sociopath's weaknesses can include a lack of empathy and emotional intelligence, leading to difficulties in forming genuine connections with others. They may struggle with maintaining long-term relationships due to their manipulative and deceitful behavior. Additionally, their impulsivity and disregard for societal norms can result in legal and personal consequences.
Can sociopathy skip a generation?
Yes. Like any other mutation in chromosomes; this gene may be recessive to you and remain dormant throughout your lifetime. Unfortunately this is innate, so that would make you, or whomsoever is in question, a carrier of the gene. Thus Sociopathy will rear it's ugly head in either your offspring; or if you are really lucky, skip and appear in your offspring's offspring. The only way to attempt to minimize your chances of producing more Sociopaths is to choose a mate with no Sociopathy and or Psychopathy in his or her family history.
What gene mutation causes sociopaths?
There is no specific gene mutation known to cause sociopathy. Sociopathy, also known as antisocial personality disorder, is believed to result from a complex interaction of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Genetic variations in certain genes may play a role in predisposing individuals to sociopathic traits, but no single gene mutation has been identified as the sole cause of sociopathy.
Do psychopaths cry real tears for anyone?
Psychopaths may cry real tears for themselves, to manipulate others, or as a learned behavior, but they typically lack genuine empathy or emotional connection to others, so their tears may not reflect true empathy or genuine emotions.
I believe the direct answer to this question is: you don't "spot" a sociopath.
I was married to a sociopath for 12 years. Some sociopaths, such as my ex-wife, are true masters at manipulation. They are the most charming people you meet. My ex was also very attractive, and used seduction as one of her tools.
A few times during our marriage, she went to a therapist. She had them all fooled, except for one ... the only time she agreed to obtain couples marriage counseling. During the fourth session, our therapist asked my ex-wife if she would agree to a psychological evaluation. She said, "Sure" as I was ready to agree, too.
But the therapist never even looked at me, and just continued her discussion with my ex. I was shocked. I remember wondering what the therapist saw to make her ask only my ex, and not me. The testing occurred over three long afternoon sessions with a clinical psychologist (PhD), but due to privacy laws, I was not allowed to see the results.
When we divorced about 8 years later, I found a copy of it, almost 20 pages long, and it was frightening. But even with a clinical psychologist, manipulating him was no different than anyone else ... that's the life she lived. He did diagnose a multitude of disorders, stating she was capable of dangerous revengeful acts. I already knew her violent capabilities.
But it's impossible to tell if he was able to identify everything. Since the test results do not actually list the questions and her answers, I cannot tell how many she answered with direct lies.
But the report did include at least one event that she shared with him, where she stated she recently came close to death due to dehydration, something that garnered her sympathy ... yet it was a completely fabricated lie. An event that never took place.
Interestingly, though, I had gotten food poisoning about a year earlier, and I was taken to the hospital due to dehydration.
If you are able to identify a sociopath, don't let anyoneknow, since it will get back to the sociopath. If you work with the person, get another job ... or just move out of state.
We do live in a Country-of-Liars. com - which is where I have been documenting my first-hand experience of being married to a sociopath.
I think really the best way to answer would be as follows:
What do you define a sociopath to be? Generally narccisism would fit in the the psychopath/sociopath spectrum. Violence could be of all anti-social types of violence, but I would say that society is turning very narccasistic now a-days (a broken society). It could be anything from a psychiatrist who just writes off their patients and drugs them up, to a politician who want's tougher prison sentences.
I would say that most people things that other people think like themselves (ego transfer). So someone who thinks people need to be taught right and wrong, probably doesn't have an in-built sense of morality so can't comprehend how another person may.
I also know people who I would call borderline who feel 'pain'/anger from others pleasure in some circumstances, over other people who may just feel like joining in but possibly think the other person doing something 'silly' but pleasurable really shouldn't be doing it for reason other than being angry.
They do seem to have some kind of in-site into their anti-social nature.
I'd say someone complaining I'd parked in their parking spot by having a go at me would be a good clue (that's anti-social) as opposed to someone being nice about it or coming to an agreement (even after a possible affray).
I've had the callous sociopath treatment and it's not nice what so ever and it's not too hard to get away with or convert others with today's broken society. Very dilibrate, very measures, very controlled.
It's also unclear about if ever they would apologise compared to manipulate to a psychopath who would not know there was anything to apologise about, could possibly copy other people but not know when to do it.
I do also know some-one who would fit the psychopath field much more, and that I would say is much closer to insanity. Very much like being able to drive a car but having no idea what the engine is doing.
A sense of disrepair and helplessness because to them it's obvious something isn't right and they have no idea that it's them, or if they do what it can be about them.
My (hopefully ex) shrink may also fit the psychopath over sociopath due to having very blunt expression or very false charm and no in-site into any possible wrong doing or trouble it may cause her even though breaking things like the Nuremberg code and practising brainwashing techniques.
Avoid yes men, avoid people who are too charming, avoid those who want to tell others what to do (manipulation) or lie (you can use Chinese whispers and see where the gossip is coming from and who repeats the truth and who manipulates it)
The difference between autistic spectrum would be that autistic spectrum people would have many of the empathy 'issues' and those kind of in-site issues, as well as odd sensory perception and possibly violent outbursts if not in control etc.... but they would express guilt or remorse and I would expect would apologise and generally try to be nice and resolve or mitigate agains future problems and make effort to carry that through.
A sociopath may apologise or play dumb and offer correction or excuse, but not follow through for instance as a way to control you and make you feel sorry for their impoverished abilities.
If you have to be taught right from wrong you think instinctively/emotionally over natural reasoning, and to learn you would have to manipulate the right or wrong you've been told (lie).
My psychopath 'friend' also things with 'feeling' but one of more manual sensory feeling so he reasons using objects and more physical things, but get's distressed with people trying to reason or explain things and can't cope. He does try to get revenge in the only way he knows how though, but seems to be after the fact not before.
He also wants to get help with his social issues, or other peoples social issues with him as he doesn't realise that he's the one making people distressed and it takes two to tango as they say. Also has no fear of prison, doesn't feel pain, seems to act things out, will just change from one things to the next with a false personality change over it that's fairly obvious. So he may blank you for a hour or so, then suddenly come over and be your best mate.
This idea is known as the drive-reduction theory of motivation. It posits that when an organism experiences a physiological need (such as hunger or thirst), it creates a state of tension that motivates the organism to engage in behaviors that will reduce or satisfy the need (eating or drinking). Once the need is satisfied, the tension is reduced, leading to a state of homeostasis.
How do you recover your self esteem and body image?
One day at a time.
An exercise that helped me immensely:
Take a piece of paper, or type it ... with the words: I DESERVE TO BE HAPPY
Make several copies, in fact.
Place these on each mirror in your home.
Everyday, as many times as you look in the mirror, say those words (preferably out loud) to yourself, while looking into your own eyes.
Believe it.
And add these wonderful mantra's to your mind talk (the things you say to yourself when you're thinking):
I deserve to be happy.
God [the Universe] doesn't make mistakes.
I am intelligent, strong and great exactly as I am.
If someone doesn't like me, it is their loss.
I am a great friend!
I am a great person.
I was younger yesterday, I did the best I knew how!
There are also wonderful books, even on CD, to read or listen to:
One of my favorites:
"Ask And It Is Given" by Jerry & Esther Hicks
http://www.Abraham-Hicks.com
Also, guided meditation CDs that have changed my life:
Flowdreaming
http://www.flowdreaming.com
Why would someone attempt to hurt your feelings for trying to help them?
It's a defense mechanism some people use. Some people just want to be left alone, help is not always wanted.
Another view:
Sometimes the person is not trying to hurt your feelings, but is reacting to something that hurt his or her feelings.
A bit more:
Emotions are such a complex thing that it's quite easy to misunderstand the other person, and to misinterpret the words and/or actions of the other person.
First, you need to stop and ask yourself if you really believe this person was trying to hurt your feelings. It's been my experience that if a person really does want to hurt another's feelings, it's a success, not an attempt. So by the question itself, it implies the "attempt" was not successful, therefore, maybe there was no attempt even made. So again, go back and ask yourself if you really believe that person was indeed attempting to hurt your feelings.
And you should also ask yourself if the person you feel attempted to hurt your feelings believes you were honestly trying to help them, or if there was more involved. It's also been my experience that people don't usually attempt to hurt the feelings of someone who was sincerely trying to help them.
The best way to resolve this in your mind is to go back over all the events from start to finish, then, being completely honest with yourself, give serious thought to each event or incident as it occurred. That should then give you the answer you seek.
Do all narcissists have a disorder?
Not everyone who displays narcissistic traits has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). It's important to distinguish between occasional self-centered behavior and a diagnosable mental health condition. A diagnosis of NPD involves a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy that causes distress or impairment in functioning.
How do you make people fear and respect you?
If you're asking how to become a sociopath, its too late, you can't. Not unless you're still about five.
If you want a layman's answer to that question... have no fear, take no s***, look after your own, and "look after" those who cross you. Become a moral nihilist. Don't give a f***. About anything. The latter usually ends with you just being yourself, so -
If you don't have it, don't try. You either have it or you don't. Ask yourself what you do have, and play to your strengths.
PRIMARY PSYCHOPATHS do not respond to punishment, apprehension, stress, or disapproval. They seem to be able to inhibit their antisocial impulses most of the time, not because of conscience, but because it suits their purpose at the time. Words do not seem to have the same meaning for them as they do for us. In fact, it's unclear if they even grasp the meaning of their own words, a condition that Cleckley called "semantic aphasia." They don't follow any life plan, and it seems as if they are incapable of experiencing any genuine emotion.
SECONDARY PSYCHOPATHS are risk-takers, but are also more likely to be stress-reactive, worriers, and guilt-prone. They expose themselves to more stress than the average person, but they are as vulnerable to stress as the average person. (This suggests that they are not "fully psychopathic." This may be due to distinctive genetic variations.)
They are daring, adventurous, unconventional people who began playing by their own rules early in life. They are strongly driven by a desire to escape or avoid pain, but are unable to resist temptation. As their anxiety increases toward some forbidden object, so does their attraction to it. They live their lives by the lure of temptation. Both primary and secondary psychopaths can be subdivided into:
Primary psychopathy was defined by those following this theory as the root disorder in patients diagnosed with it, whereas secondary psychopathy was defined as an aspect of another psychiatric disorder or social circumstances.
Factor 1Aggressive narcissism
- Glibness/superficial charm
- Grandiose sense of self-worth
- Pathological lying
- Cunning/manipulative
- Lack of remorse or guilt
- Emotionally shallow
- Callous/lack of empathy
- Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
- Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
- Parasitic lifestyle
- Poor behavioral control
- Promiscuous sexual behavior
- Lack of realistic, long-term goals
- Impulsiveness
- Irresponsibility
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Early behavioral problems
- Revocation of conditional release
Primary psychopaths are considered to have mostly Factor 1 traits from the PCL-R (arrogance, callousness, manipulativeness, lying) whereas secondary psychopaths have a majority of Factor 2 traits (impulsivity, boredom proneness, irresponsibility, lack of long-term goals).
Sexual exclusivity is the state in which one person is available only to certain persons, or even just one person. For instance, in Christian marriages the couple are sexual exclusive to one another: they cannot have sexual relations with anyone else.
Yes, hate groups still exist in various forms and continue to spread messages of bigotry and discrimination. These groups often target marginalized communities based on factors like race, religion, or sexual orientation, and can promote violence and hatred. Efforts are being made by communities, organizations, and governments to combat and address the harm caused by these hate groups.
Most psychopaths do not kill people. Psychopathy is antisocial personality disorder, characterized by a lack of empathy, guilt and inhibition.
Know it sounds mean but is there any way to mess up a narcissist?
I am in the middle of trying to end a relationship with a narcissist - I have children so it was very important for me that they know who I am. I realised that he there was something wrong with him after just two dates with him - I told him I was not interested in a relationship with him and he literally 'squared up' to me and said in an extremely aggressive and threatening way that 'he was looking forward to a bit of romance' .....I knew right then that he did not care about my feelings or who I was and I immediately felt 'not separate' from him. I tried to get away from him numerous times but he continually dumped on me how this would affect him and basically would never understand my point of view. I ended up being broken down into marrying him but all the time I purposely kept my feelings and emotions to myself - my anger and resentment. I made vain attempts to try to talk about the relationship but he would become extremely defensive and give 30 different reasons why I was imagining things and why I was mad. I was in 'cope' mode for twenty years. But at the same time I met someone else 'normal' and had a relationship for a year but when it came to deciding what to do I needed to cut loose from my marriage and resolve the problems before engaging in a relationship elsewhere. I legally separated from my narcistic 'ex' but he STILL didn't let go - and then me met another girl - this was the first time in 20 years that I felt 'free' it was a physical sensation of a huge pole being taken from my head and years of anguish and anger and grief came flooding out. I immediately got back on to him and 'showed' myself to him and gave him a choice to come back but all the time wanting to get all the skeletons out and to take back my life - for the next six months and because he didn't have 'control' over me any more - his raging anger came flooding out and his mask slipped in front of my family - EVERYBODY saw exactly what he was like - for 20 years he USED me as a conduit to filter his insecurity and 'nothingness' and now EVERYBODY saw what he was like. When I separated from him I ensured that I manipulated all the money and have bought my house outright and HE lives in rented accommodation. I have the opportunity to build 'normal' relationships with my children and they are seeing now exactly who the 'mental' person is because for years he told them that I was mentally sick and NOW they can see exactly who the sick one is.
I do not understand why I my life I have had to live through this hell and try to escape with some sort of self respect and self esteem. I HATED playing him at his own game but it was the only way I felt that I could survive and expose him and get my life back. I feel that I have reliquished my power and my trust in men and in relationships because of this and I am really a shell of a person compared to what I was before he crossed my path. I felt that 'reducing' him was my only way to survive and to try to breath again but the process to myself and my health was terrible.
I am not sure whether I would advise anyone to try to mess a narcisist up because at the end of the day they do not have the capacity to feel and to empathise - this would have been the ONLY release for me for him to care and to understand and be respectful - but i KNOW that I will NEVER get this from him - I need to learn to give it back to myself and it is a very difficult thing to do after so many years of being smothered and abused.....
