Symptoms of a Sociopath
Symptoms of a sociopath include wide paraphernalia of behaviors arising from the disregard of the others rights, emotions or expectations. The symptoms may be as ordinary as lying or they may be complex ones such as serious stealing or addiction. A sociopath exhibits antisocial behavior taking into account himself only. Sociopaths are often thought of as the people who have little regard for the law. They compulsively break the laws creating difficulties for themselves, their families or others around them.
It is not clear why a person becomes sociopath or starts exhibiting the symptoms of a sociopath. There are many theories and the debate has become a typical Nature Vs Nurture argument. There are studies linking sciopathology to the genes. Researchers believe that having one or more family members who are sociopaths greatly increase the chances of one developing an antisocial personality or becoming asociopath. On the other hand classical
psychologists delved deep on the subject and theorized that losing motherly love and “RESTRAINTS” at an earlier age makes one asociopath . Neurologists equipped with modern imaging techniques have pin pointed two areas in brain responsible for sociopathology. One is prefrontal cortex. An area responsible for determining the complex human interactions and the second one is Amygdala. Amygdala is often referred to as the “seat of consciousness.
Despite the fact that Medical Sciences have been totally revolutionized, brain is still a ‘terra non cognita’ and nothing can be said with 100% accuracy about the electro-chemical processes going on or the ones which give rise to thesymptoms of a sociopath.
I have to laugh when sociopaths try to defend themselves. As if they deserve to be defended. They are a menace to society and don’t deserve a damn thing. They think the world owes them so they proceed to take what they want by stepping on people, by hurting people and draining them of their financial savings. As far as I’m concerned, they don’t deserve to breathe the same air I’m breathing. They ought to search them all out, and put them on an island far away from society.
Awww. Sounds like poor Sam got hurt by one, and from the looks of things you’d rather have us all dead than on an island. If you think we’re a menace to society I’d be rather entertained if you actually tried to do what you say should be done. Best of luck finding us all. ;]
I also object to the nature of this video and would like to know where this Martha Stout got her information from. Besides if we were all menaces bent on turning the world evil and there really were 1 in every 25 people, don’t you think we would have done it by now?
Just an intelligent thought.
Neal’s response to Sam is very telling of what many articles describes as what could be characterized as a sociopathic response.
Lack of empathy.
Mocking the pain of others.
Egocentric viewpoint.
Neal does not seem capable of understanding that the sociopath’s lack of conscience is not normal, and its a symptom of a defective human being.
Sociopath’s are defective, mentally broken people.
Sociopath’s cannot turn the world evil.
But what they do is cause trouble with everyone they come into contact with for any period of time. They are defectives. They seem to think this is acceptable.
You cannot truly reason with a sociopath. When they break the law, you lock them up.
The rest of them….you get them out of your life. They are social outcasts, and should not be included.
There is no need to become angry at them. They have no capacity to truly understand they are defective.
You deal with them in the same cold unemotional way they deal with everyone else.
They are subhuman, since they lack the very foundation, and qualitys of what sets humans apart from animals.
They do no get it, they never will. They are missing something the rest of us have. Its very funny to me when they laugh at us and mistakenly perceive us as weak. For it is them who are missing a whole dimension to life. A dimension they cannot even comprehend exists.
Much like a mentally retarded person cannot comprehend there is such thing as higher thought, sociopaths cannot comprehend there are ranges and depths to emotion that they are not aware of. They have no idea of what it is to experience love, or even what that really means. Or how that can lift up the human spirit. They engage in sex, and think thats all there is to it.
I would laugh at them….because of their egos, but its not their fault they are defective.
Its not their fault they are parasites. They are what they are. Still funny though, that those who are aware they are different, hold up their mental illness as if it were some prize.
Defective parasites.
You deal with them by getting them out of your life. Shut them out.
And Neal…when sociopaths step way over the line, many of them are put to death by the justice system.
The rest are just low level petty trouble makers wasting their lives spinning in circles in pursuit of gratification. Much like crack heads.
Defectives.
Bill
And a bit of advice to anyone else who is dealing with a suspected sociopath…
Do not give them an in.
Do not accept favors, do not grant favors.
Do not engage them other than superficially, if at all.
Shut them out.
Dispite this, they can still cause trouble through the use of other people, but they run the risk of exposing themselves this way.
Many don’t even see themselves as causing trouble. Its just what they do.
Child molesters lack the very same things sociopaths lack, and it would stand to reason to include them in this same catagory, as child molesters are probably sociopaths as well.
Do not give these people an in.
I truly
I know one! He left Emory Hospital on 3/16/10 surgical waiting room while his daughter
was 3 1/2 hours into a 6 hour surgery. But………I guess it was IMPORTANT. Yep,
he had a college softball game to coach. And….before you ask, YES I am telling the
HONEST truth. Ask anyone who knows the ‘coach’ of the MAJOR college’s girls
softball team. Its not hard to figure out.
I am putting up some of the statements I have read today on my kitchen cabinet…..
just to remind me of what he did that day WHICH is just one of the examples of why
I divorced him. I can’t think of a better way to start my day !!
Oh!! Just to let you know, his daughter made it successfully out of major surgery and
is doing just fine.
Ow Bill that hurt and so did that video. We’re not all like that; just planning what “evil” thing to do next. How would you know that a mentally retarded person cannot comprehend there is such thing as higher thought? i’m pretty sure they feel it since they do have feelings unlike “defective, mentally broken people” called sociopaths. FYI “sociopaths cannot comprehend there are ranges and depths to emotion that they are not aware of.” I’m pretty sure we are aware and use it to our advantage. Don’t act like you haven’t done it.
Well, I have known this guy for about six years now. I met him when I was just beginning college. In the beginning I said to him that I wanted to wait to get married because I thought it was important to finish up school first. I thought that at least if anything happens in the future I could at least have something to fall back on and earn a living. I thought that he was fine with this.
Well, anyhow, about a year into the relationship I started asking when he would come to meet my parents. And, he said to me “you cannot do everything.
you will not be able to manage all of the bills.” So, I said “I understand but I will be becoming a nurse and whatever you make we can put two and two together and I think we could make it.” He responded, “you have never had a real job before, you do not know what it is like out there. you cannot manage on your salary alone.” So, I said ok…he has experience I guess he is right.
This is when he brought in the fact that he had run into financial problems. And, at this time I really had no money to help him. I was still in school without a job. But, he said to me “look if you cannot help me it is ok…I just will have to move back to my country and see what I can do.” And, I thought if he goes back then I will never be able to see him again. He said,” well what else can I do.” So, I took out a small student loan to help him. Being in love with him I helped him out. I did not want to risk the chance of losing him.
As more time is going on…I am near now to finish school. He mentions that there is a business opportunity that he sees he stands a chance at. So, I said go for it if you believe in it. Well, he asks me to help to pay for the security deposit on an apartment. The apartment was to be close to a mall where the business was to be set up. And too, I helped him with what he said would be for the application fees of setting up the business. Anyhow, he told me “thank you so much for your patience with me….all your help…I am sending all the documents the business is asking for etc etc.” As time goes by I said, so how is the business going. And he said to me…”It was more work than I thought it would be so I could not go through with it. ”
So, anyhow I said ok. Things happen giving him benefit of the doubt. We continue to spend time together. And then, he said to me look regardless of what happened I am willing to move down here by you and work two or three jobs if I have to to make this work. He said I would listen to you if you have any suggestions. I said what about going back to school. I suggested the medical field but he felt as if that might be like starting all over again.
He said he had become aware of another business opportunity that he really wanted to pursue. And, when he gets it set up he would then be able to go back to school while running the business. So, I said go for it. I really helped him a lot getting this business started because he showed me the documents involved and because he sounded like he knew what he was doing. He said when we get married I would be the one who had the medical knowledge and he would teach me all about business. So, I ended up investing a lot into getting him started.
As time is going by he said to me he wanted to get back into school. So, I invested in a semester of school for him. When I would ask about how school was going he told me “school sucks” So, I said “well, how is it going are you at least passing” He said, its just difficult being by himself and having to work and the travel back and forth from where he lives and here.” He said to me after the term ended that he just could not continue with that right now. He said his focus was just getting things together for us.He asked me if I remembered about the business he was trying to set up. I said,”yeah of course.” He said well, I am still trying to work on that. And, he asked me for more assistance. So, I helped him some more.
Well, then comes August of this year. We meet.. eat together. Then we went walking in the mall. And, I wasn’t seeing him mentioning anything about coming to meet my parents. So, I said,” so whats your plans” Because for months I had been asking him the same thing and he would say to me “dont worry i have plans ; ). He responded at the mall” do not worry you have surprises coming soon.” So, in my mind I said finally ! Well, we are walking in the mall and he’s walking over to things and saying “doesnt that look like a nice family gift.” And, I felt awkward to be asking for anything from him. And that day he was treating me as if I was distrustful of him..yet if anything it was not that I was distrustful of him I was just feeling kind of let down that he had gone two months without really calling just texting me.
Well, that day ended. And, I thought ok soon something’s going to happen. He is dropping hints and maybe wants to make the proposal special and something he brings up on his own ? Well, then I went a period of 3 months exactly without hearing from him at all. And, during that time I was worried sick thinking omg what if hes sick or something happened to him since he is here by himself. I called him everyday maybe ten times a day. I even asked you guys online if you’ve heard from him. This was the only contact I had of anyone who knew him. It was in the midst of Ramadan and I was so worried about him that when I would come home I would break my fast not really eat anything for dinner pray and go straight to sleep.
Well…..finally I received a call from him. He apologized for not being able to get in contact saying “its because he was going through family issues. He brought his mom all the way here to meet my family. And, in the flight she got sick ending up in the hospital.” So, I thought because of the close relationship we shared that she was just like my mom even though I had not met her yet. Then I thought you know what maybe it is not a good idea because if I get into an accident on the way there since its a long drive and my parents not having met him yet. So, I said to him when his mom is stable and out of hospital why not come down and we could talk. He did question me of whether I had any doubts…and I have to say that once again I was disappointed that he had not included me in any of what was going on in his life…I would have been glad to have gotten a phone call to provide any comfort to him with whatever personal hardship he was going through..so not necessarily doubt just worry. I love him…is that not natural to want to be a a part ?
Well, when he comes down…I felt like it had been forever. I was so happy to see him and at the same time so anxious to know what our plans were. So, I said so when are you going to come meet my parents they have been begging me to invite you over. And, his face went blank. He said,” you always bring this up. we have gone over this a million times. i do not even feel like eating right now. i want to go home.” So, I said forget i mentioned it…let us go inside and get something to eat. I understood that yes he had been traveling and gone through a lot of stress and that I should not have maybe bombarded him with so much but I just wanted to know about things.
While we are eating I said to him “hows your mom” He said she was doing better. And then I said well how does she feel about us. He said well…”she is a little skeptical because you are of a different race than me.” And I asked him whether his feelings had changed. And, he said his feelings had not changed so I felt relieved to know that at least. I even mentioned you know if you asked me to marry you tomorrow I would put my masters aside bc thats not important to me as getting married and starting my life with you. And he responded ,”well thats not how it was when you wanted to do your bachelors.” Well, it was time to go. And, he asked if I could stay longer and I said I had to get back home but if he would like to come home with me I would be very happy to introduce him to my family. My little brother knows his name and he would be like a big brother figure to him.
He said , “you are serious aren’t you” I said, yes. He said “Well, I would love to but this is not the right time. I am not even dressed.”So I said ok. And he then asked me to see me the following day. I said I could not bc my dad would be home that day but I could see him the day after that. So, he stayed here in a hotel until I could see him. And, I did.
Well, on that day upon arriving to see him he looked very down and he was looking at his phone. I approached him and said what is wrong ? He said his mom was calling him on the phone asking him where he had been. And because, she was sick he felt bad for not going back and making sure she is ok rather than overnighting. So, I said “oh, but do you have to go back right away” He said, no.
Then he said,” you know …the only way i see out of this is to move to Orlando by you interact with family more. So, I said that would be great. He said , “well would you be willing to help me. I asked him what he meant. He told me he would need 8700 . So, that made my heart sink. And, I said, well you know I definitely could not give that to you at one time. Little by little maybe. He said to me think about it. And, he said try to get it to me as soon as you can because his mom is on him day and night wanting to go back home and he wants her here with him…she is sold on the idea of moving to Orlando.
Well, anyhow….we spend day together. I just could think to ask about things. And, he said ” i was making my time with him depressing. All I am doing is worrying now when he comes to see me.” He asked me “is it my personality to be a worrier and if all the questions I was asking are in my subconscious and if i was being coached to ask the questions I was.”
Anyhow, my dad got involved and asked me to put him on phone the following day after seeing him. He said…you know my daughter loves you very much talks about you all the time…when would you be interested in coming to meet us. And, he said he was going through a lot right now and did not know when. So, then they asked for a rough time frame. Anyhow, he said he is not sure exactly. My dad just said, well, ok hope your mom feels better and ended the conversation.
I felt bad I put him on the spot and tried to call him. He said to me “you deceived me you tricked me. Now I do not even know who is calling me, . on and on i could not get to talk to him..finally he said call.So, I said I am very sorry they just wanted to talk to you to invite you over nothing more. And he said next time I deceive him that I should not even think to talk to him anymore. Well, then he said you know if I considered helping him. He thought that was what our plan was. I began to help him.
He said to me, “If you cannot get it to me all in cash if I had any jewelry” “That material things can always be replaced and he doesn’t value material things. Well, I began to help him. (when i had seen him before those three months he had looked really happy really good and this time he looked like really depressed and stressed out ) After I started to help him then I thought back you know I am starting to feel drained emotionally bc I work so hard everything.
My parents actually got involved and said you know what you should not give him any more help. They didnt know of the recent money he asked for just that I had helped him in the past. And I said you know what “I cannot help you anymore. If my parents knew about this this would really make you look bad in front of their eyes” he responded, ” you never listen to what i tell you..you always do what your parents say. you are an adult you do not have to do what they tell you to do.”
Well, anyhow my parents left him a message saying that he took a lot of advantage on me and he texted me back saying, “that they left him so many insults..and that the accusations are unfair and offensive.” And so I responded feeling bad…I said they just never got to know you..and he said then its not fair to judge someone without knowing them first. “he just feels very hurt from the messages and is feeling sad.
Most recent conversation bc I felt so sad from everything unfolding…. He says..I want you to know that I do think about you..its just I am afraid to answer my phone bc i do not know who is calling me…he said he knows how i must be feeling…he said to me that I should just do what my parents want you to do and marry my own kind..and I responded it had nothing to do with the fact that he was of a different race…they just wanted to get to know him interact with him form a relationship with you..and he said there was a time when he wanted to do all of that and I refused saying I wanted to go to school..and he told me I didnt want be too close in public but he stood by you bc he wanted me…I told him that I was never embarassed of him I just did not want people to scandal our names not being at least engaged yet..and he said “well, when people are in love they do not care about what others think” and I said I was more conscious in the beginning about that being of the way I was raised but not anymore. I reiterated I was never embarassed of him.
He mentioned the fact that he never took my virginity away from me but could have if he truly didn’t care about me like most guys might have bc most guys are pigs but I had not had experience with a lot of other guys to know this……and he said he doesn’t know what those msgs my parents left purpose serve for me or for him…the msgs he said were just things that no one says not even how mad they are at someone…he said that the five minute conversation he had with my parents was a waste of time and he should have hung up and not taken any insults…and said “what do you think i should do, try and talk to your dad right now , are you willing to risk that an argument might happen and you might lose me forever?” he said tell my parents that I want to continue my masters before I think about getting married which I would be finishing in May 2010 and that would give him time to get himself together..he said “do you think you have pressure, he is dealing still with his mom who is sick and very disappointed at everything”
I called him recently…bc this whole thing has me feeling so down and confused.and he told me..”maybe its not your parents who have the problem maybe it is you” he blamed me for being selfish bc he said “i am not like your parents, do you think i would have said it is either school or me”"did you not tell me you wanted to go to school before getting married” stating that that was the root cause of the whole problem..he also mentioned that he does not want to be related to a family which is so abusive. then he said that he felt sick and had to go.
I apologize for how long this is…but from my story do you thnk the guy I was with is a sociopath or just had been going through a bad time in like and too proud to admit it.
@Jessica,
Go back and read your post as if it were from a stranger. You have the answer to your own question. The man you are dealing with has serious problems and he is the one who is manipulative, abusive, and taking advantage of your willingness to forgive him and make excuses for him. Don’t talk to him, don’t give money to him, don’t be in the same state with him. Run far away!
Contrary to what most of you seem to believe and what the video says, not all sociopaths are evil. The difference between a sociopath and a psychopath is that psychopaths are born that way, sociopaths are created by their dysfunctional surroundings. Also, psychopaths do what they do because the enjoy hurting others, sociopaths just do what is right for them.
I know some people, me included, who show signs of being a sociopath. We lie, we manipulate, we don’t feel, we don’t care what others feel. We are selfish, we blame others for what we do. We tend to use people. We justify our actions even though they should not be justified. And I openly admit that.
But I know for a fact that I do not drain people of their money; I have no interest in it. I do not abuse people, I can not physically harm anyone. I simply do not care if what I say or do hurts their feelings. I lie a lot, but doesn’t everybody? I pretend to be someone I’m not, but that’s just to blend in. I still never have and never will do anything that will seriously screw up a persons life.
So as you can see, not all of this information is true. I “choose the devil” because that is what seems right for me, what helps me the most. I do not choose to do wrong all of the time, just most of it.
Also, yes, it is true you can never trust a sociopath. My name is not Zoe, I did use an alias, and I suppose no one can tell if I’m lying or not. But choose to think what you want, my point is that we are created by growing up in a hellhole, and are not always innately evil.
Think on it before you assume every sociopath is incapable of emotion. I’m sure with a lot of work I can fix myself, and I’m working on that. We just need help along the way.
Whoever made this video does not have the intellectual capability to confront a ‘sociopath’ and come out feeling better about themselves.
They obviously posted this video will malicious intent because at some point they’ve been cut down to size by someone they cared about.
1) Having conscience does little to dictate ones ability to love, i think what they’re looking for is ‘empathy’.
2)The videographer attempts to imply that sociopaths have no sense of right or wrong. Of course they do, that is how they know what to say and what not to say in front of other people.
3) Stating that sociopaths are monsters and should be institutionalized clearly displays bias and deters from the professionalism and credibility of the piece, revealing the author’s personal mental weakness. Making it all too clear as to why they were possibly taken advantage of in real life and why they felt the need to post the video.
4) There is a reason that it was formerly known as ‘moral insanity’, but no longer.
Because sociopaths or not insane.
I understand the implied nature of the reference, but it’s screams ‘for lack of a better word’.
5)Sociopaths do not choose evil. They choose what will benefit themselves, whether it be considered right or wrong by way of social morality standards.
I hope you realise the connotations of your ill-informed, poorly executed attack on sociopathic people. Maybe you can listen to what I’ve said and try to make some changes to better yourself.
cheers
ben
This is fascinating. Why should they be locked up? Okay, so they know the difference between right and wrong but they choose wrong. We do that, so should we (being “normal” people) be locked up too? They make a conscious decision and so do we. It’s not as if they can help the fact that their brain is wired and constructed differently. I am beginning to wonder if my sister is a Sociopath, actually. It’s gone far beyond just being a pathological liar as she’s gotten older. She uses everyone around her with no regard to consequences or feelings of others, she’s stolen over five thousand dollars from my parents and didn’t even apologize. Then when asked to apologize she did and said she’ll never do it again. Then on April 2nd, about a month after, she withdrew 600 dollars. She lies and when she’s caught she denies it and denies it until you have to shove proof in her face that she’s been discovered. She has no conscience, she’s stolen money from me as well and took from my parents knowing they were having trouble paying the bills and mortgage and she used it to buy and iPhone and material possessions. She manipulates, lies, and takes from everyone and can’t keep a relationship even if she tried. She only tries to make a relationship work if she’s getting someone out of it. I.e( A place to stay, sex, money, food, possessions). But nevertheless, it’s still really interesting how Sociopaths have no feelings or emotions. I’d be interested to talk to one. Does every Sociopath pretend to have emotions to fit in? Or are some blatantly apathetic? I hardly think they should all be locked up though. Should every potential murderer be locked up? Just because someone has tendencies doesn’t mean they are going to go slaughter a family. And “monster” is a little strong of a word to describe a Sociopath. Someone said that mentally retarded people are like Sociopaths in the way that they don’t comprehend there’s more than what their existence is. But maybe the mentally retarded people do comprehend it, but simply can’t outwardly project it because they’re limited in speech and facial expressions. Sociopaths might not personally comprehend feelings, love, empathy, etc, but they know what it is. Or they may comprehend it. I wouldn’t know. I’m not a Sociopath.
sociopaths are emotionallly retarded. Studies have shown that if one twin is mentally retarded the other twin is either mentally retarded as well or emotionally retarded. The emotionally retarded twin is usually a sociopath.
@ Zoe
“I know some people, me included, who show signs of being a sociopath. We lie, we manipulate, we don’t feel, we don’t care what others feel. We are selfish, we blame others for what we do. We tend to use people. We justify our actions even though they should not be justified. And I openly admit that.”
Simply by what you’ve stated you cannot be a sociopath. A sociopath believes their own lies, truly thinks they are a good person and uses every piece of information they gain about others in ways to purposely manipulate and hurt them while all the while not feeling even a twinge of guilt, remorse or empathy. Being a common place liar some of the time just means you’re human and the fact that you openly admit your flaws without turning that around and using it to manipulate someone else like Amy up there who gave her, “don’t say you haven’t done it too” speech to Bill are all signs that you are in fact nowhere near the mental state of being over the edge of ludicrous the way a true sociopath is. Hope that helps!
To Bill:
And what if your son is a sociopath, or your brother, or mother, what then huh? what is left for those of us who trully and unconditionally love someone who’ll never show our kind of emotions back to us, what is left to those of us who CAN NOT shut those “parasites” of our lives. As a mother of a diagnosed sociopath i must say i find it very disturbing that you think it is that easy to do so…
And to you Neil, i would advise you to get help, but not for being a sociopath, since a REAL sociopath NEVER thinks of himself as one….