In the field of mental health, a sociopath-also known as antisocial personality disorder-is a condition that prevents a person from adapting to the ethical and behavioral standards that apply in their community. A person who has a sociopathic disorder can be very dangerous, prone to crime, perform dangerous cult rituals, and can even hurt himself and others. There are several signs to identify a person who has a sociopathic disorder, such as never showing remorse for his mistakes, not caring about the law, and often lying.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Understanding Sociopath Disorder
Step 1. Recognize that sociopath and psychopathic disorders are two different things
According to researchers and theorists, there are differences between sociopathic and psychopathic disorders, although these two are not yet fully understood. In a book entitled The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders V (DSM-5) as a handbook used by mental health experts, the characteristics of antisocial personality disorder are described which are the same as those of sociopaths and psychopaths. Sociopathic and psychopathic disorders are not as well diagnosed as antisocial personality disorder, but researchers say they are antisocial personality disorders with several behaviors in common, including:
- often do not care about legal and social rules
- cannot respect the rights of others
Step 2. Never show remorse or feel guilty
shows a tendency to commit acts of violence
Step 3. Identify the main indicators of sociopathic disorder
In addition to the signs of antisocial personality disorder, a sociopath will exhibit several other habits. This habit is closely related to a problem with one's conscience, while a psychopath is considered to have a lack of conscience. The habits of a sociopath include:
feeling worried or nervous
Step 4. Be quick to anger
- don't know the rules
- like to be alone
- not being able to work well or not being able to stay in one place for too long
- commit crimes spontaneously, unintentionally, and without a plan
Step 5. Recognize that the cause of sociopathic disorder is not known
There are studies that suggest that sociopathic disorder may be hereditary, while other studies suggest that this disorder is caused by neglect or abuse that occurred in childhood. A study shows that about 50% of sociopaths inherit this disorder genetically, but another 50% occur due to environmental factors or other conditions. Because the results of this study are still in conflict, the exact cause of sociopathic disorder has not been determined.
Method 2 of 3: Recognizing the Traits of a Sociopath
Step 1. Get to know the personality and behavior of a sociopath
Sociopaths are usually attractive and charismatic. Their personality can be described as a magnet that can attract a lot of attention and praise from others. They also tend to have high sexual energy, enjoy strange sex objects, or experience sex addiction.
Step 2. Sociopaths are usually very attached to certain positions, people, and things
They assume that their beliefs and opinions are the most correct, so they often ignore the opinions of others.
- Sociopaths are rarely shy, show insecurity, or don't like to talk. They usually have a hard time controlling their emotional responses when they are angry, impatient, or upset. In addition, they like to berate others and are easily provoked into responding to these emotions.
- Observe the habits of sociopaths. They often behave abnormally and sometimes show courage spontaneously. They also usually act outside the prevailing social norms and can do strange things that are risky and cruel without thinking about the bad consequences.
- Sociopaths can be criminals. Sociopaths may have criminal records because they tend not to care about the rule of law and social norms. Usually they are unlikable artists, kleptomaniacs, even murderers.
Step 3. Sociopaths are usually very good at lying
They can make up stories and make weird statements that aren't true, but they can make these lies sound convincing by showing their confidence and assertiveness.
- Sociopaths don't easily deal with boredom. They get bored quickly and always need a stimulant.
- Observe this person's relationships with other people. The way a person interacts with other people can also be an indicator that he is a sociopath. Sociopaths are usually very good at convincing other people to do what they want, either by taking advantage of their appearance or in aggressive ways. As a result, sociopaths' friends and co-workers just go along with their wishes.
Step 4. Sociopaths usually never feel guilty or ashamed for their actions
In general, sociopaths don't feel remorse after hurting other people. They even act indifferent and try to justify their actions.
- Sociopaths like to be manipulative. At times, they seek to influence and dominate those around them and tend to want to be leaders.
- Sociopaths usually lack empathy and love for others. Sociopaths are emotionless and have had unhappy relationships in the past.
- Sociopaths have a hard time accepting criticism. They usually seek approval from others and feel very attached to these kinds of things.
Method 3 of 3: Dealing with Sociopaths
Step 1. Talk to someone about what you are going through
If you're in a relationship with a rude person or a coworker who doesn't respect you, talk to someone about this. If this relationship endangers or threatens your safety, ask for help so you can stay away from this person. Don't try to deal with it alone. Ask a friend or family member for help.
Step 2. If you experience domestic violence, report the behavior to the police or seek local legal aid
- Keep a safe distance from this person. If this sociopath is not a family member or loved one, cut ties with him or her. You will be a bad influence if you keep in touch with this person.
- Never contact this person again and as much as possible, try to avoid the possibility of meeting them in certain places or situations.
- Let him know that you need some leeway and ask him not to contact you anymore.
- If this person doesn't cooperate and doesn't want to leave you, try changing their phone number and other contact information. If he continues to stalk you, it's a good idea to request a police arrest warrant.
- Be wary of sociopaths. If you can't or don't want to stay away from this person, be careful how you deal with their behavior. Before you confront the behavior of a sociopath, remember that he or she will by nature be defensive, irritable, and potentially violent. Enlist the help of a friend or family member and ask them to intervene to prevent a fight from occurring.
- Don't make blaming statements or point out certain things to say he's guilty. Instead, focus on more important goals and let him know that you really care about his health. Try saying, "I'm really worried about you and really want to help."
Step 3. Don't talk about how you feel or how this person hurt you
Sociopaths are usually unresponsive to statements like this and this will only make them angry with you.
Tips
Remember that being a sociopath doesn't mean being a criminal or a bad person
Warning
- Don't try to diagnose someone as a sociopath or suggest someone seek professional help because you think they are a sociopath. If you suspect someone close to you has a sociopathic disorder, use this information to help you deal with it and seek help if you sense danger.
- If you feel you are a victim or are in danger of violence from someone, seek protection from the local police. Don't try to deal with it alone if you feel you're in danger.
Related article
- How to Investigate a Sociopath
- How to Deal with a Sociopath
