Sociopath - what kind of person is this, how to interact with such a person? Modern specialists did not agree in a single opinion whether sociopathy is genetically transmitted by inheritance, or personality deformation occurs during the process of upbringing in a family that is unsuccessful for the child.
Who is a sociopath in simple words?
Sociopath is a person who rejects morality , values and morals of society, is indifferent to the feelings of other people. In the old textbooks on psychiatry, this personal dissociative disorder sounds like psychopathy, and people suffering from this deformation are none other than psychopaths. Today, a sociopath is a broader concept, but it is still a man with a craving for impulsive behavior and deviant behavior.
Active sociopath
A highly active sociopath - can be a dangerous person: immoral, unprincipled, among them many criminals, and true psychopaths. Characterized deviant behavior: commit criminal acts (rob, kill, rape, cause damage). If sociopathic traits are not so clearly expressed, it can manifest itself in petty hooliganism, fraud, inadequate behavior as a driver on the road.
Passive sociopath
The latent sociopath (he is also passive) is often a single person who behaves decently in public and does not show his true attitude towards people, restrained, guided by his chosen authority, doctrines (this is a kind of "substitute" for conscience). In a fit of anger, for example a critic's critic addressed to a sociopath, or a doubt in his ideals - shows the characteristic signs of a sociopathic personality.
Sociopath and social phobia - the difference
For many people, the sociophobus and the sociopath are identical concepts, but this is not so. The concept of a sociopath includes destructive psychopathological disorders that contain a deep inability for human attachment and manifestations of love and compassion, often these are very cruel, cold-blooded people. Sociophobia is an acquired phobia, in which there is a fear of communicating with people, accompanied by intense excitement and fear to say something wrong or to do.
How to recognize a sociopath?
How to define a sociopath in reality? Sometimes it is difficult to recognize such a flaw in a person. These people can be very nice, charming and enveloping the mind on first examination, but this only the appearance and charm is destroyed, replaced by aggression, if another person tries to respond to the request of the sociopath with a refusal or disagree with his point of view. High conflict and lack of empathy for people are the main features of a sociopath.
Sociopath - signs
From a meeting with a sociopathic person, you can wait for anything, how can you see that in front of you is a person from whom it is better to stay away? Sociopaths are psychological signs:
- impulsive and inadequate actions;
- pathological deceit;
- antisocial behavior (easily transgressing the law);
- absence of such feelings as: wine, shame, remorse;
- offensive feelings;
- aggressiveness;
- constantly show their superiority to people;
- the desire to destroy, as material objects, other people's property, and relations between people.
Techniques of a sociopath
The definition of a sociopath does not reflect the diversity of personal destructive traits, and the way such individuals interact with the society, on one hand, people with defects and weaknesses come across their tricks and tricks, but in fact no one is immune from the invasion of their sociopath. How does a magnifier, a sociopath, work:
- Gazlaiting is a method that distorts the sense of a person's reality and trust in himself. The result of gaslaiting is a doubt: "what if he is right, but I am mistaken?". Typical replicas of a sociopath in gaslaiting: "No, it was not", "it seemed to you" "are you in your mind?".
- Projection. Sociopath never acknowledges his guilt and shortcomings - he dumps it on others (a protective mechanism of the psyche). They like to inspire a feeling of shame to surrounding people, for their flaws and misdemeanors. Liar accuses others of lying, the rapist shifts his guilt to the whole world, mired in violence.
- The distortion of the thoughts of the interlocutor during the conversation (cognitive distortion). For example, in a conversation the interlocutor tells a sociopath that "I am uncomfortable that you are talking to me in such a tone", in response, the sociopath will depict a genuine perplexity-indignation: "you want to say that I'm bad," "and you mean we have Mother Teresa and Firestarter!".
- Slander and persecution. Gossip behind their backs, tell stories, "expose" shortcomings.
How to communicate with a sociopath?
If there is such an opportunity, it is better not to communicate with such people. At least energy devastation is guaranteed. A powerful sociopath knows and skillfully manipulates painful points in people. It is important to be on the alert and not to succumb to the tricks and manipulations from which the sociopath gets a refined pleasure. If there is no possibility to break off relations, for example, this is a close person, there are several methods of communication:
- during the communication try to keep calm, not showing their emotions ;
- it is desirable to answer with monotonous answers "yes", "no";
- conversations about what pleases or upsets, should not sound in the presence of a sociopath;
- to depict boredom.
How to get rid of a sociopath?
Relations with a sociopath are always devastating, it's like a black bottomless pit. How to secure yourself and get out of such established relationships. There are no concrete answers here, but following simple recommendations it is possible to reduce the interest of a sociopath to yourself and reduce communication to nothing:
- Do not talk about your plans. The weakness of a person is a favorite niche for manipulation.
- Help from a sociopath in any form (money, service) - are unacceptable, to be indebted to this person imprudently.
- If the sociopath threatens, it is important to gather evidence (e-mails, record calls or conversation with threats, the presence of witnesses who can confirm).
Sociopath - how to treat?
How to stop being a sociopath - the sociopaths themselves rarely ask this question, it is important to understand that they do not need psychological help, do not consider it necessary. And compulsory treatment is considered a mockery of oneself and a restriction of freedom. Sometimes they realize that most people are not like other people and this can be a reason to call a specialist. Treatment can last for life, as well as a supportive psychological correction of behavior.
Drug therapy, as a rule, is aimed at relief of symptoms:
- antidepressants;
- Barbiturates and tranquilizers (reducing symptoms of aggression, impulsivity);
- antipsychotics.
Psychotherapy:
- a cognitive-behavioral approach for the development and consolidation of new patterns of behavior;
- family therapy;
- psychoanalytic group therapy.
Famous Sociopaths
A person with dissociative personality disorder can manifest himself and for the benefit of society, the so-called highly functional sociopath - an example is the hero of Benedict Cumberbatch - detective Sherlock Holmes from the literary opus of Doyle.
Such fictional heroes as Dexter, Dr. House are also examples of a sociopathic personality. Real person-sociopaths:
- J. Stalin - executions, Stalin's concentration camps, all this is a sad part of the history of the Soviet period.
- A. Hitler is an ideological fanatic, convinced of the superiority of his race, an example of how a sociopath can influence the world.
- D. Venables and R. Thomson - these children at the age of 10 years of age tortured a 2-year-old baby and were sentenced to life imprisonment.
- Caligula - the famous Roman emperor, under whose rule the empire was mired in debauchery, lust and violence, Caligula himself experienced pleasure in contemplating fierce battles between gladiators and committing torture.
- Kim Basinger - in one of her speeches on the stage, the actress admitted that she has been experiencing sociopathy since childhood, which did not prevent her from becoming a successful person.
Movies about sociopaths
Sociopaths in the cinema are an attractive and inexhaustible subject for filmmakers, films where a large number of psychopaths become antagonists of the main characters. "The Silence of the Lambs" - a chilling thriller about a sociopathic maniac released on the screen in 1991 became a cult. Why such films are a success? Psychologists explain this as a man's desire to know what is not entirely clear. Films about sociopaths:
- " Clockwork Orange / A Clockwork Orange ". A gang of teenagers, led by a charismatic but cruel and unprincipled Alex, break into houses, rob, mock and rape. They do not have feelings of compassion, only aggression and the desire to cause pain.
- Speed / Speed . A psychopath terrorist placed a radio-controlled bomb on a passenger bus that explodes when driving less than 50 miles per hour, so you can not stop and at the full speed the police officer Jack Treven (Keanu Reeves) gets to the bus, he has almost no time to turn off the bomb.
- " The Dark Knight ." A film from a series of comics about Batman. Gotham ugly gloomy place, swarming with the dregs of society, most of them are sociopaths. All of them are superior to the Joker - a sociopath supervillain, leaving behind a mountain of corpses with a smile on his face.
- " American Psycho / Amerian Psycho ." During the day, he is an ordinary American citizen, unremarkable in the crowd, but at night he is a sophisticated murderer who has a hatred for people and a pathological craving for blood and violence.
- " Something's wrong with Kevin ." Kevin grew up as a strange boy: he cried for hours without stopping, almost did not talk at all for 3 years. At the age of 15, Kevin finds himself the only entertainment and outlet - books about Robin Hood. Father supports his son, and at Christmas gives him a sports bow. A few days before the 16th anniversary of Kevin kills his father and sister, is cracking down on teachers and classmates.