Symptoms of a Sociopath
By Simone Smith
Do you know someone who you suspect to be a sociopath? Or do you wonder if you yourself may be a sociopath?
For the record, sociopaths are individuals who have what is referred to as antisocial personality disorder (a disorder which also encompasses those who were previously referred to as psychopaths, as well as those with amoral, asocial, and antisocial personalities). If, therefore, you want to know what symptoms a sociopath may display, you shall have to review the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder.
There are several common symptoms of this disorder to refer to should you wish to indulge your curiosity.
The Gist
A sociopath, or someone suffering from antisocial personality disorder, typically disregards others' rights and wellbeing and engages in antisocial behavior without feelings of guilt.
Sociopaths are commonly known to have issues with lawbreaking, substance abuse, and relationships.
Curious to see whether you're a sociopath?
- The Sociopath Test: Find Out if You're a Sociopath
Has anyone ever called you a sociopath? Or do you sometimes wonder if you might be one? Perhaps you would like to investiate further by taking the convenient sociopath test I have put together to see if you likely are.
Symptoms of a Sociopath
Someone is generally said to suffer from antisocial personality disorder if one regularly disregards the rights of others and exhibits three or more of the following charactersitics:
- Lack of remorse after having wronged others (either through rationalization or indifference)
- Complete readiness to lie or manipulate others to get what one wants
- Recklessness and disregard for safety of others and/or oneself
- Trouble planning ahead in life or an impulsive nature
- General anxiety
- Aggressiveness, perhaps exhibited in the form of violence
- Run-ins with the law due to an inability to conform with social norms or common rules
In short, if you have issues assimilating with greater society and also have trouble developing relationships, following the law, behaving in a save manner, tolerating boredom, managing or anger, and/or controlling your impulses, you just might be a sociopath.
For the record, these symptoms do not count if they take place only during a Manic Episode or the course of Schizophrenia.
Under Age 18? Then it's too early to tell.
If these symptoms of a sociopath sound childish, well, they are. In fact, these characteristics are not considered to be symptoms of antisocial personality disorder unless they are exhibited from age 15 onward, and one is generally not considered to have this disorder if he or she is younger than 18 years of age.
Early signs of someone who may eventually be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder may be identified in childhood or adolescence. If a child or teen has trouble conforming to societal norms (or, in other words, has a "conduct disorder"), he or she may be well on the way to becoming a full grown sociopath.
What Makes a Sociopath Different from a Psychopath?
People often use the terms "sociopath" and "psychopath" interchangeably. To be fair, both terms have been funneled into the antisocial personality disorder state, and many professional psychologists have even used the terms interchangeably.
David T. Lykken, however, proposed that psychopaths are actually born with their temperamental differences, while sociopaths develop them over time. It's basically a nature versus nurture issue - psychopaths may have actual temperamental differences that drive them to behave as they do, whereas sociopaths adapt to antisocial behaviors as a result of poverty, neglect, delinquent friends, or extremely low or high intelligence.
This is why someone cannot really be classified as a sociopath until he or she is around 18 years of age. One must have time to develop one's sociopathy.
Seriously Curious? Consult a Professional
If you are seriously concerned that you or a friend or family member may have antisocial personality disorder, consult a professional. While I have done some research on common symptoms and shared them here, I am by no means an expert on this subject.
Share your thoughts!
Have you ever met a sociopath before?
See results without votingIs there treatment?
Is there a sociopath cure? Ha! As if.
You heard me right - there are currently no controlled studies out there which have found any effective treatment for antisocial personality disorder. If, therefore, you wanted to "cure" your sociopathic friend, despair. And if you yourself are a sociopath, rejoice! You are unstoppable.
What I recommend is adapting your sociopathy in such a way that it serves to better your situation rather than give you trouble. Generally, what is good for others can be good for you, so by working within the law and not hurting others, you will find that you can do much more with your time and effort. Heck, you might even make the world a better place, which you probably don't directly care about, but could still stand to benefit from.
To be honest, the one 'treatment' method that has helped those with antisocial personality disorder to date involves using contingency management programs or special reward systems to bring about behavioral change. Put your own contingency management program in place - and flourish!
Good luck to you, and have fun failing to conform to society! Being a lemming is overrated anyway.
Comments
You have a nice way of making a scary topic fun to read. I definitely know a sociopath but thankfully he is no longer a danger to me and the family. You did a great job explaining the difference between sociopath and psychopath. I have my Master's degree in Psychology and have seen this firsthand. YIKES, it's a scary thing to not care how you treat people.
Thanks for reading HattieMattieMae and Minnetonka Twin! And Minnetonka Twin, I envy your Mater's in Psychology - it is such a fascinating subject and I would love to study it someday. I'm also glad to hear that the sociopath you knew is no longer a threat in your life!
Yikes! I hope you don't know one (though its likely we all do).
Wow, how awful that there's no known cure. I have definitely met a few people whom I suspected of being sociopaths, including one ex-boyfriend (he wasn't my boyfriend for long!!!). Very scary people. Thanks for this informative hub!
I do not know a sociopath (at least not yet) but I think it is very hard tell him that he is a sociopath. Perhaps it is better to run away... far away...!
Hey Simone, that was a great read and some of the symptoms of a sociopath can be seen in some of the people who have frequented the forums... LOL! However, I appreciate your well written article and it was a learning experience, because I really didn't know the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath. Then again, I'm only a high school graduate and was never taught the difference. So, thank you for that. :) Thumbs up! :)
LiamBean -hahaa, thanks for the well-wishes, though I imagine I'd get along very well with a sociopath. I know that sounds crazy, LOL, but I think they can be rather adorable!
Gigi - yes, I was quite surprised to find that there is no common treatment. Want to hear something interesting? Some people have thought that marijuana might be a good cure! So... if you know a sociopath, bake him/her some pot brownies :D
fucsia - I'm glad you've not come across anyone of the sort, and I do imagine that running away is a good bet.
And Cagsil - oh, absolutely! HAHAA!!! And thanks for reading the article. Because the terms sociopath and psychopath are not used in a clinical sense anymore, it comes as no surprise that people of any education level would not be told about the difference between the two - they simply aren't current terms... though oddly people still brandish them about :D
Interesting article ... well written. How difficult it would be to have a family member w/either of these conditions. If these symptoms showed up in a potential friend, I agree w/fuscia ... run!
Indeed, Words from Jan! Though I feel that family plays the most important role in a soiopath's life - they're amongst the few people who can put positive reward systems in place that could help their sociopathic relative navigate through life without hurting others or themselves.
I think I'll stick to renos, Ha Ha, really good info here, I never knew sociopaths were against society, learned something new... Just like the common cold, no remmedy. Thanks for for sharing your expertise!
Yeah, I'm not sure that I agree with professional experts about the no remedy, especially when it comes to sociopaths, who did not always exhibit these negative behaviors. I think that many sociopaths act and feel the way they do as a reaction to something, and if given proper conditions and time, they could regain empathy and the ability to place nice with others. Also, keep in mind that having trouble conforming with society is just one of the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder- not ALL sociopaths/psychopaths have trouble conforming with society.
I'm unstoppable. Tee hee.
Revel in it, melodysnotes!!
I have to say I enjoyed the article, it was an interesting read and very informative.
Currently I'm on something of a journey of self-discovery as I have only realised what all the signs in my life have been pointing to.
Thank you for the clarity
I think my boyfriend is a Sociopath/Psychopath. He doesn't treat me very well at times and shows no remorse or guilt after, and refuses to accept blame for anything in life. I am starting to be afraid of him. He can be very cold and manipulative. He has never said the word sorry in the two and a half years we have been together. He refuses to accept critism but is ready to critise me. Lately I have been withdrawing from him and he is really angry, I told him its because of the way he treats me but instead of listening he refuses to take any repsonsibility and says there must be someone else! There isn't I just can't bear his rages over such petty things.He scares me now. :(
So glad you enjoyed the article, SociopathicTrickster! Enjoy the self-discovery process!
I'm sorry to hear about that, Sammy. Perhaps you should break up with that boyfriend? I mean, I'm no expert, but I'd cut that thing off.
Lemme tell u a horror story: most people of the black culture are sociopaths. This isn't a racist comment but a true statement. I'm a black female and willing to be truthful! Ive been forced to be a sociopath due to society. And u gotta admit, that is the real reason why society (as a whole) fears black people. The question is: What to do about it? I can admit I have sociopathic tendencies majority of the time but that's only because "we were taught to hate ourselves and love their wealth"-Kanye West I wanna fix the problem not keep it going! I promise u! The first step to fixing is admitting so if u know any black people (or if ur black) show this to them. And then be there for by giving them the number to some free therapy or expensive. But please make sure u have some encouraging words for them Cus black people don't like to go to therapy and our families are responsible for that. Spread the love and stop clutching ur purses or wallets when ur around blacks. If u truly understand a sociopath that's gonna make u stand out like a soar thumb. PleAse forgive me for this truthful message:) and please oh please don't be offended...society is getting worse and it's time to make it better. As Americans our focus has always been to give help abroad when we truly need the help in America! Pass it on!
Hi I really dnt understand hw u can identify wether someone was born with it or developed it @ a later stage,cause chances r u meet these people @ a later stage in life,n judging frm ur expert advice a pshycopath is born a pshycopath yet a sociopath develops da dissoder later in life @ least after 18 but hw do they knw dat, cause they r indeniel!!! N can therapy discover exacly when u had da dissoders
Yikes, that's a very scary and depressing sentiment, Chaunte. Perhaps that is the case for some, but certainly not all, people in black culture (I say this because I have yet to meet any sociopaths who also identify strongly with black culture). That said, I do hope that those who DO feel that way have the same goal as yourself- to CHANGE it!
mohau makhene, I imagine that they figure out the root of the disorder through a series of questions.
High functioning sociopath. :)
My exboyfriend is definitely a sociopath. He lies and always cheats.has multiple women he strings along. Found his phone he was texting 3 women, had me and his son's mother. he brags about ripping people,off and fooling people he literally cant keep still. when we lived together, he would wander from room to room. He was verbally cruel for no reason. Recently out of the blue he told me he thought of killing me and burying under his horses, but of course there are the texts. We were texting each other. only reason he did not do it i guess being a human being is not reason enough not kill me. He breed sharpeis and owns clasdale horses in alto loma. he is pure evil.
Yikes, I'm glad your ex-boyfriend is an EX-boyfriend! I hope you put an exceedingly large amount of distance between the two of you, perhaps get a restraining order, and don't communicate with him any more.
I think some are more subtle. Some have learned to pretend to care, then they dump you just after you give birth to their baby or while you are pregnant and disappear for five years. My ex-husband is very charming, knows exactly the right thing to say, and everyone likes him. But he actually an underground control freak, always blaming everyone else for things that go wrong and to justify the nasty things he does. I have thought until recently that he actually experiences guilt, until I saw it isn't guilt at all. He's just uncomfortable that anyone would think he isn't right all the time or that they see through the crap he goes on with. He's also a narcissist. Evil, in a very very charming and incredibly shallow personality. Runnnnnnnnn.....
Yikes, he sounds like bad news, Teri W! Good point about people with some serious antisocial personality disorders being able to hide.
Although the term "sociopath" is a bit outdated and politically incorrect, I definitely identify as one. I don't know exactly what the problem is, but part of my antisocial temperament is the unwillingness to seek professional help for something so personal. I want to believe that I'm "normal" in some sense, but as I grow older it is becoming more obvious to me that something isn't right. I am manipulative, an excellent liar, and constantly feel an undeserving sense of entitlement... I'll admit, I think I'm pretty special. If I could change the way I am, I probably wouldn't. I am highly intelligent which I sincerely believe is a significant factor in how my personality has developed. They say that no man is an island, but I feel like my own separate universe. I don't get along with other people well, but I find them intriguing and like to observe their behaviors. If need be, I can turn on the charm and superficial friendliness and people generally like me once they know me. But this is very draining and I usually avoid people for a time to recuperate after interacting socially.
I use and abuse people (oftentimes without them even realizing it) and most of my relationships are short lived and unsuccessful (in the sense that they didn't work out, not that I hadn't gained from them.... ) Although, people seem instinctively drawn to me - I am an attractive woman both physically and personality wise because I can adapt to others characters easily.
I've fantasized about harming other people but I don't believe I'd ever go through with it, because I still have a rational mind.. I am aggressive and have lashed out many times. I've often thought about nature vs nurture in my case but to me, both are contributing factors. I can see certain events in my life which helped mold me in this way, but I can also remember having some traits from a very young age.
I don't want to tell anyone these things for many reasons. I am not a monster or a crazy person.
Well, Samantha, I totally see why you would be hesitant to talk about this with anyone though- just from the comments I've gotten on this article, I can see that many people hold people with antisocial personality disorders in exceedingly low regard.
Here's hoping you find your way!
Something about this article screams unprofessional and questionable. We should all remember just because something is well written doesn't mean the messages it conveys are true or that it is factual.
As for black culture, I'm not sure rap/hip hop culture and black culture are the same thing. Although what stands out in black culture that seems sociopathic to me is the rate of homocide, which is often committed to defend one's honor. And isn't not valuing somebody's life enough to end it to protect one's "honor" blatantly sociopathic?
Well said, Stockton! Anyone who does not seriously question this article (written by Yours, Truly, who is by no means an expert) has serious issues.
Hmm... I had never thought about the concept of honor as a particularly sociopathic thing, but I can definitely see how it might be!
Regarding honor and my previous post, I want to clarify that "honor" in and of itself isn't something I think of as sociopathic. Rather, murdering somebody in defense of one's honor is sociopathic - an individual who values their "honor" over somebody's life.
As for sociopathy, I am still confused about it and wish I could recognize a person that is such. With the estimates of the proportion of sociopaths who exist among us, I surely come across them.
Honestly, though, I think "sociopath" and similar words are overused by everyday people. Actually, it might sociopathic for one to be so inconsiderate as to suggest somebody might be or call them a sociopath when they don't know what they're talking about. That is incredibly hurtful to the victim. And unfortunately on college campuses and similar environments, in light of modern mass shootings, many look at those who are shy, quite, or ackward with suspicion, which doesn't make those people feel anymore comfortable.
I have to be honest, I did not know that psychopaths can also be classified as sociopaths. I just know, as you have said, is that psychopaths are born. I have know one for years and it was no fun!
Understood, Stockton. And when it comes to sociopathy... well consideration of the entire "condition" is a bit off, since it's not even referred to as such anymore!
And Hendrika- though psychopaths and sociopaths have been grouped under the Antisocial Personality Disorder umbrella, they're still different.. though not VERY different, I suppose. I mean... heheheh... don't look at me! I'm not an expert! I just looked this stuff up.
I am in the process of writing a story about the birth and evolution of a narcissistic sociopath. I am basing the story on the sociopath I was in a relationship with and who nearly destroyed me with his projections and evil nature. (I am trying to take a humorous approach to the tale, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to ween myself from the anti depressants I was prescribed to heal from my life with him.) Just click on "Story of a Sociopath" in the left navigation of my blog: http://paularenee.wordpress.com
Thanks for this great page!
I'm unstoppable but wanna know if I was born with it or not!
Interesting, Paula!
And Roberto, I recommend seeing a professional to help you figure that out.
Do you consider a person without empathy to be a sociopathic individual?
I am married to a narcistic sociopath, it's now going on 23 years. I have left him and in the process of a divorce. I really didn't know what he was until I started to see a psychology, I was about to end my life. Now I know who I was really married too and had I not gone to get help for myself I still wouldn't have understood him and all him cruel ways. I don't think he can be helped so sad because people like that will never know how much pain they have caused. They just DON'T CARE. I hope I can one day get passed all the pain he's put me through...
Who needs a cure when nothing is broken? I am a high-functioning sociopath and I see nothing wrong with the way I am living.
Although, that may be due to the fact that I *am* one.
Oh well, I'm not overly concerned about it.
It is not something you are born with but raised to be. If the world didn't want sociopaths then maybe the world should stop producing them, *us*.
Terrible fact; but more than quite a few children are abused (in any form, it doesn't matter) and have to learn not to care to survive.
Here's an example: Your mother tells you that you are to get the toy you have always wanted. You have wanted this for years and years. She told you months before you are about to get it and then they day you are to go get it, she uses that money to buy drugs or alcohol. And if you whine, or cry, or piss and moan, she'll hit you.
So, after that, you learn not to be excited about things like that anymore.
Pretty soon, that lack of excitement filters into your everyday life and morphs into not caring. That turns into a lack of empathy and impulsiveness and effects everything and everyone around you.
So, no, Robert, you are not born with it. You earn it by simply living.
I think I am a sociopath. I'm not sure, but I've been told that I am "unresonably cold & vicious" am I a sociopath, or am I just looking for a way to jusitfy my behavior?
I think it would be a little ridiculous for me to say that I'm a sociopath, but lately I'm seriously considering it. I'm thinking maybe I should get checked out, but then a huge part of me is also saying that I really don't care enough to, because its the way I feel and I don't need a therapist to try to tell me that what I'm feeling is wrong. Sometimes I have strange urges to do really outlandish things, but I'd rather not do them as it could risk blemishing my outside image.
Listen, I am a fully funtioning sociopath, and I believe that you're ONLY focusing on the negitive aspects. Please write it from both sides if you're going to write about it at all.
HattieMattieMae 14 months ago
hmm, yes, and also the narcisstic personality! That one kind goes along with this one.