Types of sociopaths. Sociopaths

They do not show their emotions and do not respect others, lie and insult. Their criticism and praise are equally poisonous, and communication is like trying to hug a hedgehog - you will still hurt yourself. However, they often hold leadership positions, have many acquaintances and connections in the business community. The good news is that people who are called "bastards" behind their backs are scientifically called sociopaths. Bad news: they won't change. Never.

Who is a Sociopath?

A sociopath is a person whose personality pathology manifests itself only in the social sphere. But the definition is somehow too beautiful, it presents a sociopath almost as a victim of circumstances. In life, sociopaths are people with undeveloped emotional sphere and quite specific, which allows them to commit various crimes solely for entertainment. Moreover, sociopaths can be completely uneducated or highly intelligent.

What is Sociopathy?

Sociopathy is a dissocial personality disorder that manifests itself in disregard for social norms of behavior, lack of guilt and compassion, inability to form attachments, and build long-term strong relationships. May be a consequence genetic predisposition but most often is consequence of deep.

Sociopathy is often confused with energy vampirism, protest behavior, narcissism, lack of upbringing, disorders in the volitional sphere (gambling addiction, for example), a protective reaction in the form of sarcasm or. Although from each type of behavior in a sociopathic personality, separate traits appear. More often the worst.

The history of sociopathy research.

According to statistics, about 4% of people are sociopaths, most of them are men. Moreover, a kind of diagnosis can be made only after adulthood. There are very few sensible studies on sociopathy, and there are no documented cases of cure or behavior correction. More often these are side observations that allow you to create a collective portrait of dissocial disorder. After all, it is impossible to promote a seasoned sociopath for research.

Until the mid-19th century, the disorder was called " moral madness”Was later replaced by psychopathy and sociopathy. Today, personality disorder does not apply to clinical diseases, therefore, more interested in psychotherapists - researchers of personality psychology and behavioral. Criminologists are also interested in him, because sociopaths with a characteristic lack of guilt are considered potential criminals.

The most cited and famous works on the topic:

  • As a separate phenomenon, sociopathy from the point of view of jurisprudence was first described by an English psychiatrist James Pritchard (1786-1848). In his scientific works, Prichard developed the theory of moral insanity, which forces a person to commit crimes. The pathology itself was considered hereditary, but according to the researcher, social factors served as a kind of lever to crime: education, level of economic development, migration, and others.
  • The first Russian researcher of antisocial behavior was a psychiatrist professor Gannushkin P. B... (1875-1933). He studied people who do not care about the lack of social emotions: sympathy for others, a sense of duty, shame, guilt, indifference to censure. For this type of personality, the term was introduced: emotional dullness. Gannushkin P. B. considered this disorder as a consequence of mixing distorted biological and social points of view.
  • American psychoanalyst, Ph.D. Nancy McWilliams (born 1950) has written several books on antisocial behavior. According to the author, the main pleasure for people of the sociopathic type is the ability to "step over others." Therefore, they choose professions on the knock of risk and power, love of excitement and danger in their purest form: in politics, the army, cult religious, commerce, entertainment.
  • Popular psychiatrist, founder of transactional analysis Eric Berne (1910-1970) divided the single concept of sociopathy into 2 types: latent and active. Latent sociopaths are less likely to exhibit antisocial tendencies, but only because they obey voluntarily accepted rules. They have practically no facial expressions and gestures, and their face looks more like a mask. Active psychopaths skillfully mask the poverty of emotions with rich facial expressions, imitation of experiences.

How to recognize a sociopath?

A sociopath can only be recognized through long-term communication, since outwardly he does not differ from other people. It's all about. Sociopaths are skilled actors and manipulators. The inability to experience allows them to observe everything from the outside with cold calculation. Having connected knowledge and artistic abilities to observations, they know exactly what feeling must be “turned on” at the moment in order to tap the weak points of the interlocutor. But sometimes sociopaths forget about the game in order to show off their antisocial behavior. This is how they declassify themselves.

To recognize a sociopath at a distance, you should pay attention to 7 clear signs of an asocial personality:

  1. He is rude and insulting for no reason. Moreover, a word that is offensive to the interlocutor can slip through the conversation for no reason. After receiving a dazed reaction, the sociopath immediately presents it as a joke. He's not going to apologize. And if he apologizes, he will turn it into a farce.
  2. Each time he changes his communication style for no apparent reason. On one day he is able to talk good-naturedly with the interlocutor, on the other - to offend in the presence of colleagues or strangers, and on the third - turn on the charm at full capacity to ask for a service, as if nothing had happened.
  3. Is prone to emotional and physical abuse. Violence manifests itself at the verbal level: threats, constant criticism. Memories of previous incidents of physical abuse are accompanied by accusations against the victim. Threats are often translated into jokes, but the impression leaves the most unpleasant.
  4. Does not hide rigid distinctions in communication. In conversation, makes offensive statements about people of the opposite sex. In a relationship, he is infinitely and suspicious, the chosen one seeks to isolate from the environment, to subordinate him to his influence.
  5. Any failure is blamed on the environment. Lack of shame and remorse allows a sociopath to commit the most terrible things and calmly pass all sins onto others. Even for his own failures, he blames others. On duty phrase: “ You pissed me off (pissed off, pissed off)»He shifts responsibility to another person.
  6. He ascribes all the merits to himself. Any achievements are only his achievements. The sociopath loves to talk about them endlessly. Moreover, with subsequent mentions, the feats increase many times over, overgrowing with incredible, but quite plausible details.
  7. He lies constantly. Fine and intellect help him remember the smallest details and not get confused in the testimony. He often lies about his health condition to excuse failure, or to transfer his part of the work to other employees.

Several of these qualities can also be manifested in "ordinary" people. But for sociopaths, they come in a set and appear at full strength. By recognizing a sociopath as early as possible, you can minimize your risks and master the necessary communication scenarios in time.

How do you survive when dealing with a sociopath is inevitable?

For a long time, it was believed that the victim unconsciously provokes his persecutor, and then receives some benefits from violence. In this light, sociopaths are almost like “orderlies of the forest”, capable of improving society. In fact, a sociopath is a tyrant who can fall prey to anyone: old man, child, new work colleague, spouse. Some are honored only by a psychologically or physically strong partner. In order not to become a target of an aggressor, you should heed the advice of psychologists:

  • Don't be frank. Often we try to please a person and blur our secrets. Even worse are strangers. When dealing with a sociopath, “whatever you say can be used against you” works 100%. Any little thing that you even forget about will come out at the most inopportune moment.
  • Don't expect him to change with you... Some women like to put on the “savior's cap” and start re-educating the bad person. Or they entertain themselves with the illusion that he is not as bad with them as with the others. Yes, resisting the pressure and charm of a sociopath is difficult. But later, his essence will still manifest.
  • Do not talk about goodness and justice. It's useless. You will receive nothing but contempt. In communicating with a sociopath, you can restrainedly make it clear that you appreciated his ability to manipulate people, but this number will not work with you. If you do not react to provocations, it will not be interesting to play with you. The sociopath will quickly get bored and fall behind.
  • Keep communication to a minimum and warn others... If you find it difficult to resist the aggressor, you should simply keep communication to a minimum. At work - limit yourself to business conversations. And even better - by correspondence, so that later there will be proof of your innocence. Warn family members or close friends about communicating with an antisocial person. This will help them not to fall under the influence of a manipulator.

Sociopaths have a reputation for being unpleasant types. But professionally, they often have no equal. And they achieve success thanks to non-trivial character traits, which will be very useful to adopt for their own career growth.

What can you learn from a sociopath?

Sociopaths are ruthless and deaf to other people's feelings. Moreover, they are smart, cold-blooded, energetic, fearless. It is these qualities that often help them become top managers. If you cannot completely avoid communicating with asocial people, you should stop worrying about their "bastard" nature and try to adopt business qualities. And at the right time - turn on the "sociopathic regime" in order to become the master of the situation and build your own career.

  • Ability to turn off emotions... Experienced negotiators know that uncontrollable emotions are harbingers of failure. After all, they take a lot of energy, provoke fatigue, dull therefore the ability to conclude deals on favorable terms, to knock out discounts is possible only in a cold mind.
  • The ability to dig to... Sometimes we get a refusal, we shy away, hesitate to ask about its reasons. Sociopaths have no such doubts. They are able to bring a person to white heat, but at the same time clarify for themselves all the points of interest. Sometimes, for complete clarity, the question “why?” Repeated several times is sufficient.
  • Ability to say no... Often we cannot refuse a person, because we are afraid of offending him. Sociopaths never act to the detriment of their own interests. They know how to refuse, reject everything that they don't need. Sometimes it's worth observing other people's reactions to rejection to make sure that the consequences are not as devastating as we imagine them to be.

Conclusions:

  • In human terms, a sociopath is not just a bastard, but a certified bastard.
  • Sociopathy is not a clinical disorder, therefore compulsory treatment is not subject to.
  • Sociopathy and criminality are overlapping, but not equivalent concepts.
  • Recognizing a sociopath is difficult, but possible. And if you recognize it, you should warn your close friends and family about it.
  • People without conscience exist.
  • Any of us can become an object of interest for an asocial personality. You can resist attacks by showing calmness, coldness of mind and consistency of actions.
  • Sociopathic Mode will help you adopt some of your business skills and incorporate them into your own career.

Sociopaths are people from psychological disorder ... This term in psychology refers to people who do not obey the norms of society, rules, and put their goals above all else.

They are not interested in someone else's opinion, there is no sense of shame or guilt. Such people strive to achieve their goal at any cost. If this is contrary to social norms, aggression is used.

Recognizing a sociopath is hard enough unless you are a psychologist. After all, they often disguise themselves as a polite, good-natured, ordinary person with their own principles and character. But if you dig deeper, they can also harm others. Through deception, they can get what they need.

Extreme line sociopaths: murder, rape. This is manifested in the case when a person, being a sociopath, is an aggressive and impulsive person. But there are also people who do not cause harm, but at the same time ignore the norms of morality or force their wards, subordinates to follow instructions that oppose the law.

In this regard, distinguish active and passive sociopaths.

Active people can keep themselves in control for a long time, but as soon as the situation gets out of control, they become aggressors. They can harm innocent people and commit criminal acts.

Passive do not show dynamic actions, lead a normal life. At work, obey the instructions of the management. Thanks to politeness and lies, they make new acquaintances, find friends. But at the same time, they want to be authoritative personalities by any means.

There are no emotions. Sincere feelings, sympathy are not their strong point. They are in no way interested in the feelings of others, no matter what happens to them.

Sociopaths are mentally strong, so it's no surprise that they get very upset about criticism. Any negative attitude towards them is very painful.

The active ones can go to assault. But from the praise, they melt before our eyes. Sociopaths are interested in being admired, appreciated. Authority plays a role for them.

They not only do not take the opinion of others at the expense, moreover, they consider themselves right. And to prove this, sometimes they actually make an effort. They like to take risks, since everyday life does not suit them.

To get a share of adrenaline, they will go for the most adventurous actions. They are often irresponsible individuals who break the rules.

It should be noted that sociopaths there are many among us... They can be anyone: a friend, a neighbor, a work colleague, and even a second half. This is also noted by psychologists who have to deal with them daily in the process of work.

The increase in the number of such types of personalities is facilitated by film industry... The main characters in modern films are actually sociopaths. They are self-confident villains who can do anything.

Of course, living with them is very problematic. “Shameless” is an epithet that sociopaths often hear because they lack shame. This disorder is formed already from the moment of conception. And this pathology can be observed from an early age.

Children usually show in the form of inflated selfishness and corresponding actions may be present. For example, they can offend animals, steal valuables from their parents. And they will treat their peers rudely.

No conversations on the topic: “Doing this is bad, it’s not good, obey your mother ”- will not help. This is in the case when there is sociopathy at the genetic level. A psychotherapist will already help here. But, it happens that the child is naughty and aggressive due to the fact that there was no proper upbringing.

And the disorder has nothing to do with it. In this case, class teachers, the parents of the child himself, will help suppress negative manifestations of character. Therefore, it is very important not to confuse these types. Not all aggressive manifestations can be associated with genetic sociopathy.

If from an early age it is still possible to prevent this ailment, then in adulthood it becomes more difficult to do this. Even experienced psychologist sometimes it is difficult to reconfigure a person, and it becomes almost impossible to change.

And if you are “lucky” and such an individual is your boss, colleague, or life partner - the only way out: restrict communication (if at work), or to break off relations altogether (if it comes to personal life).

He will not show any feelings, as much as you would like it. Lying to get what you need will be constant. Moreover, it is impossible to notice a lie, since an adult can deeply get used to the role of an actor. Lies are recognized only after what happened, an unpleasant situation, when you have already been deceived. And he will love himself, not you.

Hello dear readers. Today we're going to talk about sociopaths. You will find out what are the reasons for the emergence of such personalities. Find out what signs of a sociopath might betray such a person. Find out how communication with such people should be.

general information

A sociopath is a person who is unable to adapt normally to society. Its main disadvantage is the lack of borders. A personality disorder of this nature does not harm its owner, there is no awareness that he is doing wrong. Most sociopaths are smart and resourceful enough.

Hitler is a good example of this personality. Leadership is characteristic of his politics - the basis of sociopathy. He did not have the correct values, was dismissive of people's lives, did not feel guilty, did not repent for his actions. Stalin, Caligula and Chikatilo are also considered sociopaths.

Sociopathy manifests itself in religious fanatics and ladies' men who use women as a way of their own satisfaction.

There are also examples of sociopaths in the cinema, namely Dexter, Hannibal Lector, Dr. House and Sherlock Holmes.

The fact that your baby has a sociopathy can be said if there are certain manifestations:

  • excessive rudeness;
  • violent behavior with surrounding children and animals;
  • isolation from communication with peers;
  • aggression that manifests itself for no apparent reason;
  • deviation from the norms and rules accepted in society.

Even if your toddler has some of the symptoms on this list, this does not mean that he is a sociopath. The final diagnosis should only be made by an experienced specialist. But if there are significant suspicions, it is mandatory to consult a psychologist. It is unacceptable to close your eyes and hope that the child will outgrow this state and everything will work out by itself.

How to behave around such a person

If it turns out that there is a sociopath in your environment, you need to understand how to properly communicate with him.

  1. When such an individual is a work colleague, try to keep your communication to a minimum, contact only when urgently needed.
  2. If your boss is a sociopath, then do not fall for his provocations, do not talk to him about personal topics, do not talk about problems in the family. Try not to show strong emotions and aggression.
  3. If your life partner is a sociopath, it won't be easy, you need to be patient. It is necessary to understand that sociopaths are rarely normal family men.

Often people unknowingly make a number of mistakes, consider the main ones.

  1. It is unacceptable to try to blame such a person even for what she really is to blame. Run into a scandal. Moreover, the victory will not be yours.
  2. You can't put pressure on a sociopath. He will perceive this as a direct call to action. You will lose this competition.
  3. When communicating with such an individual, you do not need to raise your voice to him, speak out about the wrong behavior.
  4. Don't try to convince a sociopath of good and evil by explaining what is good and what is bad. Such a person does not care, he will not understand you.

When the sociopath himself

  1. Try to find work from home. So you will not see your colleagues, communicate with them.
  2. Learn to control your anger and emotions.
  3. Do not go to crowded places. If absolutely necessary, wear headphones so you can isolate yourself.
  4. Surround yourself with people who have similar problems.

Now you know what sociopaths are. As you can see, such individuals can be quite dangerous to the environment. If there are such people among your acquaintances, keep communication with them to a minimum and do not come into conflict.

Anton Smekhov

Reading time: 5 minutes

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People are different, this is normal, some behave recklessly and stand out from the crowd. Do you know who a sociopath is? Knowing the definition and signs of sociopathy, you may be able to recognize that person in you.

Sociopathy is a personality disorder where a person ignores or violates people's rights and does not follow socially accepted rules. A sociopath is a person who is unable to adapt to society.

Sociopaths are popular with girls, screenwriters, and psychiatrists. Why? It's simple. Women love bad guys, screenwriters see them as ideal heroes for movies, and psychiatrists use them to defend dissertations.

The main problem of a true sociopath is the lack of boundaries. His behavior leaves much to be desired, he is not responsible for his actions. Personality disorder is not painful because he does not understand that he is doing wrong. Nearly everyone with sociopaths is smart and incredibly resourceful. They lie subtly and are fluent in the art of manipulation.

According to scientists, each person has two forms of existence from birth.

  1. A biological creature is an individual that, in comparison with the animals inhabiting the planet, has a developed intellect.
  2. Man is a rational creature living in a society. The creation and use of material and spiritual culture is carried out by joint efforts with the people around.

Traits of humanity have been anchored in the genome for many millennia. As a result, the body and nervous system a person after completion of formation is fully adapted to the process of socialization. We are talking about education, upbringing, the assimilation of moral norms.

The conception of a sociopath is accompanied by a genetic disorder, when hereditary memory is unable to form qualities in the brain social person... A sociopath is a person who, by virtue of genetic disease unable to complete the process of socialization and join the life of society.

Symptoms of sociopathy in adults and children

Dissocial personality disorder - mental disorderarising from improper upbringing, negative environmental impact and unfavorable living conditions. Pathology is not linked to age, and the most vulnerable are children. Sociopathy is manifested by ignoring social norms, aggressiveness, impulsive behavior and an inability to form attachments. These are not all symptoms of dissocial personality disorder.

12 signs of a sociopath

  1. Inappropriate behavior ... The sociopath ignores social norms and constantly transcends behavior. When making a decision, he does not think about the consequences of his actions.
  2. Deceit ... The sociopath is constantly lying, even when it can be done without it. Incredible stories seem very plausible, it is problematic to catch him in a lie.
  3. Criminal behavior ... To get out of a difficult situation, a sociopath will not hesitate to break the law. In his behavior, notes of cruelty, audacity and adventurism are clearly visible. Thief, con man, murderer is a good example of sociopaths.
  4. Lack of conscience ... The sociopath does not feel ashamed or guilty about the actions they have committed, even of a negative moral or physical nature.
  5. Manipulation ... The sociopath enjoys being the leader of a group of weak-willed people. Since such people are characterized by a passive life stance, it affects their thinking and actions.
  6. Indifference ... A sociopath will not build close relationships. It is not surprising, because he does not feel pity, respect, sympathy and love.
  7. High pride ... A sociopath loves praise, but hates and ignores criticism. He needs admiration and attention and strives for universal recognition.
  8. Unjustified risk ... The sociopath likes to take risks because he finds the life of the average person incredibly boring. In pursuit of thrills, he often takes action with sexual connotations.
  9. Aggression ... A sociopath tends to get into a fight even over trifles. He often gets into trouble. He realizes that, being a loner, he is unable to cope with the united people.
  10. Intimidation ... Constant demonstration of moral and physical superiority over humans and animals is another sign of dissocial disorder. The sociopath has ill-wishers.
  11. Failure to learn from mistakes ... The sociopath doesn't draw conclusions. Even after a serious mistake, he will not change the order of actions and behavior, and again will step on a well-known rake.
  12. Damage to someone else's property. The desire to destroy values \u200b\u200bthat belong to others is a serious challenge to society.

Video information

These symptoms are present to some extent in every person, but they are much more pronounced in people with dissocial personality disorder. If your friends have characteristic signs, only a professional psychologist can make a specific diagnosis.

Causes of sociopathy

According to statistics, signs of dissocial personality disorder are present in 15% of people undergoing treatment in psychiatric clinics. Symptoms of pathology are expressed in prison prisoners serving sentences for cruelty and aggression, among people with alcohol and drug addiction. Scientists have long been interested in the causes of sociopathy in adults and children, as the disease harms both patients and society.

  • It is believed that the disease is inherited, like the shape of the ears or the color of the eyes. Sociopathic children are prone to developing illness, regardless of parenting.
  • The development of sociopathy is facilitated by a combination of parenting characteristics, genetic predisposition, biological factors and the environment.
  • Scientists have not been able to establish the biological causes of the disease. But they noticed that the sociopath's brain functions differently. The patient has a poorly developed part of the brain responsible for recognizing, responding to threatening or sad facial expressions, learning from mistakes.
  • In addition to a genetic predisposition, a negative impact on the part of peers or a traumatic event that happened in life leads to the appearance of pathology.
  • The development of dissocial disorder can be facilitated by an imbalance of hormones, which, for example, in women occurs before menstruation. True, it will not be possible to explain the occurrence of the disease solely by such deviations.

It is impossible to say for sure what causes the disease. Scientists are constantly working in this direction.

Types of sociopaths

Previously, people with dissociation were called psychopaths, but later sociopathy became an independent pathology. The life of a sociopath is about meeting your own needs. He does not take into account the opinions of others, does not want and does not know how to interact with society.

Psychologists distinguish the following types of sociopaths:

  • Passive (Latent).He contacts people only when necessary. It is problematic to recognize, because he skillfully hides apathy. This can be done in the case when he demonstrates an immoral essence.
  • Active.Not hiding. At the sight of such a person, one gets the impression that he is a disgusting person, characterized by unprincipledness, arrogance, selfishness and immorality. This is not his fault, it is due to a mental disorder.

Sociopaths of different types differ in behavior, but their essence is the same.

Treating sociopaths and sociopathy

Wondering how sociopaths and sociopathy are treated? Is it possible to get rid of the disease with the help of psychiatrists? Exciting questions. Unfortunately, there is nothing to please on this topic.

There is no effective way in the world to deal with dissocial personality disorder. It is only possible to reduce the severity of symptoms. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on controlling thoughts that lead to illicit behavior, reduces the incidence of antisocial behavior.

The methods used to treat mental disorders are ineffective and sometimes harmful in the case of sociopathy. So, effective ways fighting depression or an eating disorder, worsen the symptoms of sociopathy.

Best results shows psychotherapy aimed at teaching the sociopath to behave in society, taking into account the laws, existing restrictions and moral norms.

There is no medical cure for the disease. Medications only stop accompanying symptoms... If the sociopathy is accompanied by a depressive state, doctors use antidepressants. Mood stabilizers are attributed to patients who are prone to aggression.

Are sociopathy and social phobia the same thing?

People often confuse sociopathy with social anxiety, believing that they are the same thing. In fact, these are different diseases. To be convinced of this, it is enough to consider the concepts of sociopath and social anxiety.

  • A sociopath is an aggressive person who does not recognize the moral standards accepted by society. The patient does not want and cannot adapt to society and often leads a dangerous life.
  • A sociophobe is a person who is afraid of the public. For him, speaking to an audience is worse than dying. He is afraid of people, afraid to build relationships, afraid to make contact. Excessive isolation and caution prevent the social phobia from establishing verbal communication.

The difference is phenomenal. The first case is a disregard for society and its rules, the second is the fear of everything and everyone. A sociopath, unlike a social phobia, is a potential threat to people.

Famous sociopaths

Let's talk about the famous sociopaths who left a noticeable mark on history. It turns out that there are many of them, we just do not know that they are included in the category of people with dissocial personality disorder.

In real life

Adolf Gitler - illustrative example sociopath. His political ideology was based on the principle of leaderism - the ideal basis for the development of sociopathy. Hitler did not have the usual system of values, and he treated people's lives with disdain. Feeling no guilt, anxiety or remorse, he broke through to power.

Other famous sociopaths are known in history - the tyrant Stalin, the serial killer Chikatilo, the Roman emperor Caligula.

  • religious fanatics who infringe on the rights of representatives of other religious denominations,
  • individuals who infect others with sexually transmitted diseases,
  • cruel ladies' men who collect adventures and abandon girls.

To the cinema

Modern cinema likes to label on-screen heroes as a "sociopath". Thanks to the efforts of the screenwriters, dissocial personality disorder has become a fashion trend. House Doctor, Sherlock Holmes, Dexter, Hannibal Lecter - an incomplete list of heroes, whose mental portrait fully matches the description of a sociopath.

What thoughts come to you when it comes to sociopaths? Most likely, you immediately draw in your imagination frightening pictures of how a bloodthirsty maniac cuts his next helpless victim with a rusty cleaver. In fact, sociopaths are no different from the average member of society. They are perfectly able to imitate the normality accepted in society.

It's not a secret for anyone that sociopathy is a mental disorder, and any deviation by the townsfolk is perceived a priori as a danger and threat. To some extent, such fears are justified, because close interaction with a sociopath threatens with psychological trauma that can completely destroy the victim's life. That is why it is very important to be able to recognize a sociopath and know how to properly behave with him.

It is customary to call a sociopath a person who does not feel the desire to live according to the rule established in society, thereby posing a real danger to him.

Some experts say that a sociopath is a person completely devoid of conscience. In scientific terms, sociopathy is a mental disorder in which a person ignores social norms and rules and does not know how to build healthy interpersonal relationships, perceiving any kind of relationship as a way to manipulate another person.

According to the type of severity, sociopaths can be divided into:

  • Latent the type is characteristic of people who may never show the presence of a disorder in their entire life. They are not characterized by any shocking actions, and if anyone suffers from their behavior, then only the closest people.
  • Active sociopaths tend to wear a mask of conventional normality as long as they feel the need to. They will never miss a chance to commit an unseemly act, not disdaining even breaking the law. The only thing that matters to them is the expected benefit and the realization of their own needs. This type can be attributed to serial maniacs and pursuers.

Among other things, behavioral features play an important role in the classification of sociopaths, also highlighting two main types:

  • Highly intelligent... In this case, we are talking about sociopaths who have high level intelligence, able to build and maintain a variety of social connections and have a tendency to manipulate. No one will ever suspect they are a dangerous person and until the last will doubt that they have a psychopathic disorder.
  • Imperious a sociopath is straightforward and unwilling to keep his most negative qualities in check. A striking example of domineering sociopaths can be considered mothers who suppress their children, husbands-aggressors and bosses-tyrants.

Reasons for the development of sociopathy

It is generally accepted that any disease or abnormality must have a cause. But when it comes to sociopathy, the opinions of experts differ significantly. The only point that none of them doubts is the innate factor. Distortions of consciousness in this case are possible only with a special structure of the brain, which is almost impossible to determine if you do not conduct a deep analysis of the personality.

Based on this, one can come to the conclusion that you cannot just become a sociopath, you can only be born. But again, in order for the disorder to manifest itself in its "full glory" there must be certain reasons, which are not possible to predict. The main thing is that all external factors should stimulate the development of the desire for destruction, as the main inherent in sociopaths. They do not know how to create, and they do not feel aspiration for this.

For a long time it was thought that it was the wrong family upbringing that gave impetus to the development of the disorder in sociopaths. However, this theory has no reliable evidence, because in many dysfunctional families with sociopathic parents, children grew up as normal people.

Characteristics, the difference between sociopath and social phobia

Frankly, identifying a sociopath among the general population is almost impossible, because almost any sociopath is fluent in the ability to adjust and pretend to be an ordinary person. Only by setting a clear goal and spending a lot of time on careful observation can you determine the presence of signs of sociopathy in a person. The most important thing is to pay special attention to the behavior and personal attitude of the sociopath towards others:

  • Lack of empathy... You may not even try to complain to a sociopath about your troubles and deprivations. You will be very lucky if he just ignores your news, but most likely - they will laugh at you cruelly or use this information for their own benefit.
  • Denying your guilt... If you think that a sociopath can be shamed for an unseemly deed, then you are fabulously naive. Sociopaths are unfamiliar with the feeling of shame and they sincerely consider all their actions to be the only acceptable and correct.
  • Lack of attachment... Sociopathy is characterized by the presence of problems in the awareness of moral norms and the perception of the surrounding reality. Such people do not know how to yearn or experience other vivid feelings in relation to other people. If you are looking to create seven with a sociopath, then rest assured that you will simply be allowed to love as long as it is convenient for the object of your passion.
  • Complete loss of conscience... A sociopath lives exclusively by his desires and needs. He does not think about the fact that his words and actions can hurt someone. By and large, he will feel great even if everyone around him writhes in agony, the main thing is that not himself.
  • Disregard for laws... What is the law for a sociopath? An empty sound, just an annoying obstacle on the way to the desired goal. And he used to overcome the obstacle. Nothing will stand in his way to achieve his cherished goal, not even the law. A sociopath can undoubtedly kill any person, even if he enters his inner circle and will not regret it.
  • Aggressive behavior is one of the characteristics of sociopaths. If you wanted a thrill, you can simply deprive him of what you want and then you will witness a grandiose outburst of anger on his part. But it is better not to risk it, because to meet their own needs, the sociopath is quite capable of "dancing on your bones."
  • Masterful ability to lie... Sociopaths, despite having a mental disorder, are highly resourceful and have no difficulty in communicating. If they want, they can charm and win over any company, while embellishing their stories so skillfully that no one will even suspect them of lying.
  • Unwillingness to learn from your mistakes... The sociopath believes that he is always right about everything. That is why he has no need to draw conclusions from his mistakes. But at the same time, he will not shift the blame on others, he just is not interested in it.
  • The desire to live away from others... You might think that this trait speaks of a sociopathic resemblance to a sociophobe, but you are wrong. The only difference is that if a sociophobe is afraid of society, then the sociopath despises him and experiences a feeling of aggression towards him.
  • Tendency to build love triangles... For a sociopath, self-affirmation at the expense of others and manipulation of weaker people is the norm and some form of entertainment. They like to meddle in other people's romantic relationships to watch someone else's drama unfold.

Don't confuse sociopaths with sociophobes and misanthropes. These are completely different psychotypes of individuals. Sociophobes simply feel uncomfortable in large companies and prefer the loneliness of an active life in society, while misanthropes do not like people at all and do not want to communicate with them. Both of these psychotypes can still be considered healthy individuals, in contrast to sociopaths.

How to behave when dealing with a sociopathic man

Some well-wishers may advise you to protect yourself from communicating with sociopaths, because what is the point of maintaining communication with someone who is not capable of creating interpersonal connections. But what can you do if you simply cannot throw out a person dear to you from your life, despite the presence of a mental disorder.

Of course, no one will blame you for not wanting to communicate with him, but can you live in peace with yourself, knowing that you have given up loved onebecause he turned out to be a sociopath?

In order to get the opportunity to "peacefully" coexist next to a sociopathic man, you should clearly adhere to the following rules:

  • Do not provoke him to aggression... Some women just dream of thrills. Apparently that is why they are not afraid to "pull the tiger by the mustache." Don't let your sociopath get emotional, because instead of a tight grip on your hair and a hot night full of hard sex, you get a chance to be turned to ash. A sociopath will unhesitatingly ruin your life as soon as it sees you as a threat to his comfort.
  • Do not indulge yourself with illusions... You may not even dream of re-educating a sociopath. Only in isolated cases and with the participation of a highly qualified specialist who has extensive experience working with mental disorders, one can hope for a slight correction. So don't dream of the impossible and get ready to live with a constant eye on the possible consequences.
  • Don't show your superiority... If you try to show a sociopath that you are at least somehow better than him, then you will no doubt stumble upon overt aggression. He will not tolerate a person next to him who surpasses him in mind or strength. But you can not run to the other end of the world, it is unlikely that something threatens you. Most likely, the sociopath will simply try to end all communication with you without getting into direct conflict.
  • Don't seek support from him... It's best not to go to a sociopath for support or advice. As soon as he senses your weakness and defenselessness, he may want to hurt you. Well, what can you do if sociopaths like to watch the agony of the weaker, and therefore worthless individuals.

It is up to you to communicate with a sociopath or not, but it is worth remembering that such a person will never be able to let you into his life and will not put your interests above his own.

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