General considerations about the sociopath

We know the sociopath mainly through representations in movies, television and literature. Usually, the villains of these products are described as sociopaths or psychopaths. It is common, even, that both terms - psychopathy and sociopathy - are confused.

Both, after all, are part of the pathology called antisocial personality disorder. However, there are differences between them, and psychopaths tend to perform more extreme actions than sociopaths. Sociopaths make up less than 4% of the global population and the traits of this disorder usually appear in adolescence.

It is important to understand, however, that people can develop only some of the traits that are part of the disorder, and that it is up to a mental health professional to diagnose and guide treatment.

Sociopathy, characteristics and the sociopath

We will learn about several factors and characteristics of sociopathy in order to better understand this complex disorder, as follows.

What is a sociopath

Sociopath is what we call a person diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Sociopaths can be described as people who cannot develop in themselves the feeling of empathy, that is, they do not care about the feelings of others.

Thus, sociopaths show disregard for what happens to other people, do not care about the consequences of their actions and have great difficulty in dealing with boundaries and in understanding the rights of others.

Their difficulty in conforming to rules and even laws make them extremely difficult to live with. They are potential liars, impulsive and unable to feel guilt.

What causes sociopathy

There is no absolute consensus or a deterministic identification of the causes of sociopathy. However, it is believed that it originates from a confluence of factors. Among them are genetic predispositions, that is, it can be hereditary.

Some experts point out that the disorder develops in adolescence, but tends to become more pronounced during adulthood.

It is frequent that sociopathy is identified in relation to other disorders in the patient, such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

DSM-5 regarding sociopathy

The acronym DSM-5 stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. It is developed by the American Psychiatric Association and serves to assist professionals in the field to diagnose psychological disorders.

According to this manual, both sociopathy and psychopathy are grouped into the same type of disorder, the antisocial personality disorder.

The manual highlights, among the characteristics of the sociopath, the contempt for the rights of others and the power of manipulation, as well as the absence of empathy and the tendency to aggressiveness. The DSM-5 points out that the disorder is relatively rare, affecting less than 4% of the world population.

The difference between sociopathy and psychopathy

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, with regard to the relationship between sociopathy and psychopathy, there is no exact difference in terms of the kind of disorder.

Therefore, both are part of the same pathology, the antisocial personality disorder. What exist are differences in the degree of symptoms, i.e., psychopaths tend to act in a more calculated way than sociopaths, not being stimulated by impulses.

They lack empathy, whereas sociopaths may feel it towards people close to them. Also, psychopaths tend to act more coldly, crossing any boundaries to satiate their desire for power.

The characteristics of sociopathy in DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - DSM-5 lists several characteristics attributed to antisocial personality disorder. Among them are: the absence of empathy or reduced capacity for empathy, the absence of guilt, the inclination to lie, and manipulation.

Other characteristics that sociopaths present are: recidivism of errors, difficulty in adapting to social norms, impatience, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, extreme valorization of one's own pleasure and disregard for dangerous situations.

In addition, sociopaths often demonstrate excessive arrogance and are egocentric. Furthermore, it is common for sociopaths to have great argumentative power.

How to deal with a sociopath

Dealing with a sociopath is extremely delicate. First of all, understand that there is no cure for this disorder. Therefore, you must start from the notion that sociopaths will not become aware of the harm they are capable of doing. Trust your instincts, cherish your own mental health and do not allow yourself to be manipulated.

Sociopaths involve people with lies, flattery and intrigue. Don't be seduced by someone who inspires mistrust and displays traits of sociopathy. Finally, avoid cohabitation, if you are not a close relative, and never try to change a sociopath. Remember that they do not feel hurt or empathy.

The life perspective of a sociopath

There is no cure for antisocial personality disorder, but there are therapeutic approaches, that is, the possibility of finding some behavioral stabilization by means of follow-up with psychologists. These therapies are advisable for life.

They consist of helping the patient replace destructive behaviors and tendencies with attitudes that are considered positive. However, APT patients will not develop feelings such as empathy and will not learn to value social rules.

They may become functional, however they are not cured of their psychic traits. Studies indicate that sociopaths have low life estimates, however, often due to incurring crime.

How to identify a sociopath

Knowing some specific behavioral traits helps in identifying a sociopath. Check out what are the most prominent traits.

They lie compulsively and make up stories easily

Sociopaths, like psychopaths, are compulsive liars, so they develop a great capacity for making up stories. People with antisocial personality disorder lack self-judgment and self-criticism, and are driven by an extreme desire for power and manipulation and a desire for attention.

This makes them have no difficulty in lying, either to people close to them or to strangers. Often their lies are well developed, and they play roles as if they were actors.

They often lie to get something they want, but in addition to elaborate lies, they also lie routinely about the smallest, most trivial things.

They are skilled manipulators

Manipulation is a personality trait of sociopaths that should never be underestimated. Because they are unable to feel guilt or weigh their own actions, sociopaths do not care about consequences and act with the sole intention of benefiting themselves.

They develop their power of manipulation skilfully, and often approach people in a friendly and helpful way in order to prepare the ground for exercising control over them at a later date. They also play roles which they think suit what the other person expects or would like, often managing to establish intimacy, which makes it take time to unmask them.

The false charm and magnetic charm of sociopaths

Sociopaths are known for being able to forge personalities. They usually behave initially according to what they believe the other person admires, but their good deeds are not genuine and it is common for them to be part of a strategy of involvement.

Thus, sociopaths derive pleasure from manipulation, especially when they can mask their real intentions. At a first stage of contact, they tend to appear charming, and are described as magnetic and charming people.

The artificiality of this behavior, however, is usually unmasked when the seduced person starts to perceive characteristics that "escape", such as impulsiveness, aggressiveness, arrogance and selfishness.

They do not hesitate to be cruel with their words

One of the characteristics that the sociopath has the most difficulty hiding is his impulsiveness.

Their lack of remorse, appreciation of others' feelings and understanding of boundaries and rules, coupled with extreme arrogance often makes them verbally offensive and cruel.

The sociopath tries to camouflage his cruelty by using his power of manipulation, but this camouflage can be frustrated by his impulsiveness, an instinct difficult to control. Thus, when thwarted, sociopaths tend to exhibit their cruel behavior, which can be manifested by verbal attacks, slander and desire to hurt the other morally.

They lack empathy

Sociopaths' capacity for empathy is considered extremely low or even null. Some feelings such as guilt, sadness, fear, and even love tend to be difficult for them to assimilate.

Thus, they are unable to value a range of feelings expressed by other people.

Extremely self-centered, they focus on getting what they want. Satisfying their own desire is, for those with antisocial personality disorder, something that is ahead of any feelings of others and consequences.

Some, however, manage to develop, albeit with less intensity, affective bonds and some degree of distinction between right and wrong.

They feel no remorse

Remorse is a feeling practically inaccessible to sociopaths, and it is very rare for them to show any genuine guilt for their actions and words. However, depending on circumstances involving the possibility of obtaining something they desire, they are capable of faking this feeling.

When faced with situations in which they are confronted for having caused some harm, they usually do not assume responsibility and often blame the victim.

In addition, they show disregard for the suffering of others, and find it very difficult to accept punishment for their actions, minimizing them even when they are caught in the act. They may even commit serious crimes and not understand why they are considered by society in such a way.

Hardly ever apologetic

The inability to feel guilt and the immense likelihood of not exercising any degree of empathy makes sociopaths incredibly sure of their actions. These characteristics are usually coupled with other personality traits, such as arrogance, mythomania, and the desire for control and manipulation.

Thus, sociopaths seek to control a situation by attempting to have the victim blamed or the people present exempt them from blame.

Even when they can't manipulate those involved, they are very resistant to apologizing, especially because they don't want to put themselves in positions of weakness and have an aversion to being questioned and punished.

They are not afraid

The absence of fear is another striking trait of those who fit the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. Thus, it is common for sociopaths and psychopaths to perform destructive actions without showing any fear of the consequences.

Likewise, their aggressive and impulsive instinct often leads them to criminality, and the absence of fear makes them specifically cruel and dangerous. They are people inclined to cross legal and moral boundaries, with the potential for violence.

In addition to not developing feelings such as empathy or respect for others, and not feeling remorse, they are unaware of the sense of danger. Thus, instinct and impulsiveness prevail.

Your interpersonal relationships are unstable

Instability is an important factor in the interpersonal relationships of sociopaths. Their characteristics, such as heightened aggressiveness, impulsiveness and absence of empathy or remorse, make them unreliable partners.

It is virtually impossible to develop a peaceful and healthy long-term relationship with a person who has antisocial personality disorder, so family members and partners face daily challenges and are often emotionally shaken by their relationship.

Sociopaths tend to isolate themselves socially when they are not interested in getting something from a person. Therefore, they often relate out of interest and initiate relationships disguising their real personality.

Abusive relationships

Interpersonal relationships involving sociopaths are essentially abusive. Sociopaths have extreme difficulty in developing positive feelings such as respect and admiration, do not assume their own mistakes, like to manipulate, and often take pleasure in the suffering of others.

They associate with people by interest and present enormous recidivism of aggressions. All these factors make the coexistence extremely stressful and even traumatic, being practically impossible to develop a healthy relationship.

However, milder degrees of the disorder may allow for less turbulent relationships. Still, they are not easy relationships and demand a lot from those involved.

The impatience of the sociopath

In depictions of sociopaths and psychopaths in fiction, it is common for them to be portrayed as figures endowed with patience. However, this is not true. Impatience is a personality trait of those with antisocial personality disorder.

Therefore, it is one of the demarcators of the diagnosis, but not the most striking and decisive. This is because impatience is a characteristic that can be found in several persons who are not sociopaths or psychopaths.

Because they do not control their impulses and instincts well, sociopaths show impatience when they see their plans frustrated or when they are confronted, and can even become aggressive.

The repetition of your mistakes

The recurrence or repetition of mistakes, misconducts and abusive behaviors is extremely common in the daily life of sociopaths. These people, in fact, usually present a behavioral pattern very marked by repetition, in what concerns their other characteristics.

The compulsion to lie and to manipulate is an example of such recidivism. Therefore, those who live with sociopaths can, with time, realize that they will repeat previous reprehensible acts.

As for the crimes they are inclined to commit, because they are impulsive and show no signs of repentance or notion of danger, they tend to repeat them, which indicates their potential dangerousness to society.

Diagnosis and treatment of antisocial personality disorder

People with antisocial personality disorder need treatment. After the diagnosis, made by a professional, there are therapeutic approach options. Check it out.

The diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder

The persistence of attitudes and behaviors that reveal traits of the so-called antisocial personality disorder should not be overlooked. People who fit at least three of the characteristics presented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should be evaluated by a professional in the field of psychology.

However, there are many people who develop a combination of traits and behaviors consistent with the profile provided in the manual and do not seek care, going their whole lives without a diagnosis.

Diagnosis depends on assessment of the patient's personal and medical history as well as feelings, thoughts, and behavior patterns.

Treatment for antisocial personality disorder

The treatment for antisocial personality disorder is performed after the diagnosis of the disorder by a mental health professional. It is important to emphasize that any positive results that the treatment may present, as in all therapy, depend on good patient compliance.

In other words, the person diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder must, first of all, want to be treated, dedicating himself to follow the psychologist's guidelines. The available treatments are therapeutic, consisting of analysis and long-term patient follow-up. If the patient presents concomitant psychic disorders, specific medications may be prescribed.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is an approach to psychological treatment that is designed to identify, analyze, and provide treatment for patients suffering from mental disorders and disturbances.

Several problems such as anxiety, depression and other emotional and psychological difficulties can and should be brought to psychotherapy. It is performed by a psychologist and consists of presenting strategies and tools useful to the patient's adaptation to a more balanced life.

In the case of antisocial personality disorder, psychotherapy is an important ally in learning to control aggressiveness and other destructive behavioral patterns. Social functioning is one of the goals of this therapy.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy consists of a meeting of methods from cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. Thus, it is a treatment that can be indicated for APD patients.

It is based on a 5-step structure: it begins with the diagnosis, goes through the problem analysis, in which an in-depth profile of the patient is sought, and objective analysis, in which the objectives of the therapy in question are formulated.

Then, the professional starts the analysis of the means, in which the procedures are planned and determined. Finally, the previous steps are evaluated in order to check the progress of the approach and its provisional results.

Medications

There are no specific medications prescribed in the treatment of antisocial personality disorder. Therapeutic approaches consist of psychotherapeutic follow-up, which means that the patient must commit to the analysis, that is, invest in the possible results obtained with the psychologist.

However, patients diagnosed with APD who develop other disorders and disturbances, such as depression and anxiety, for example, are referred to psychiatry to define medications to treat these problems.

Some studies point out that clozapine, a drug prescribed for schizophrenia, has been shown to be effective in helping stabilize some traits seen in APS, especially in male patients.

Is it possible to cure a sociopath?

Sociopathy, or antisocial personality disorder, is a disorder that has no cure. However, some patients diagnosed with APD find chances of responding positively to psychotherapy treatments.

The purpose of these treatments is to assist in building boundaries and replacing destructive behaviors with positive practices. Thus, factors such as family support and absence of abusive experiences in childhood and adolescence tend to contribute to the results of psychotherapy.

But it is necessary to understand that this disorder demands intense therapy, that is, full dedication of the patient in order to obtain results, and that the treatments are challenging and without guarantees of success.