From the Experts: NARCISSISTS, PSYCHOPATHS AND SOCIOPATHS
- Replies 0
Note from the Editor:
This article was written for the SDC by psychologist and member @Jan A. Jan A. works part-time, taking on clients under the Medicare Mental Health Care Plans. She works with people of all ages, from children to seniors!
In this article, we will look at the dark side of human personality in the form of narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths.
It does not occur to the majority of the population that these people exist among us in our everyday lives, but the fact is that they are there. When we know more about them, we can spot them and protect ourselves from the damage these people inevitably cause to those around them.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder occurs in about 6.2 per cent of the population. It is an essential feature of both psychopaths and sociopaths. The condition is characterised by self-centredness, lack of empathy and an exaggerated grandiose sense of self-importance. Narcissism is an enduring and persistent pattern of behaviour affecting social, family and work relationships. Narcissists have an exaggerated sense of their own importance, abilities and achievements. Because of their belief in their superiority, breaking the rules is of little concern to narcissists.
Narcissists have a constant need for attention and praise. They believe they are 'special' and should associate only with others of the same special status. They have a sense of entitlement and an expectation of special treatment. They seek admirers; they do not have equals. They have persistent fantasies about attaining power, success and wealth. They have ideas that they were 'born to rule'. They tolerate no disagreement.
Narcissists are envious of others and believe that others are envious of the narcissist. They exploit other people for personal gain. They feel no obligation to help anyone, even having received help from others.
Narcissists do not seek help because they do not acknowledge there is anything wrong with them. Therapy would seek to create a more realistic self-image by altering the distorted narcissistic thoughts, such as their belief in their own grandiosity, power and destiny. However, it is difficult for you to persuade a narcissist that they are not more important than others when they believe they are more important than you!
Similarities of Psychopaths & Sociopaths
While having some different characteristics, psychopaths and sociopaths, both are highly narcissistic. Both exhibit grandiosity, arrogance, aggression and deceitfulness. They lack a sense of remorse or empathy. They are often sexually promiscuous, feeling no commitment to anyone else. They are manipulative and charismatic. They can be violent and have no remorse for hurting others. There is no cure for these conditions.
Psychopaths have no emotional attachment to anyone. They would commit crimes against family members or 'friends' (as well as strangers) and feel no remorse. They are always cool, calm and calculated.
Sociopaths may not lack empathy entirely and can attach emotionally to others, feeling badly when they hurt people they are attached to. But, like psychopaths, sociopaths feel nothing about harming a stranger or breaking the law.
Psychopaths:
Psychopaths comprise about 1 per cent of the general population and up to 25 per cent of offenders in prison. They declare that either they were innocent or they had every right to do what they did, and the other person deserved it. This deficit has been shown to be genetic, but there may be some contribution by biological influences on the developing foetus, particularly flooding of serotonin (the 'happy chemical') on the foetus.
Psychopaths are not psychotic. They are in touch with reality. They are superficially charming but have no capacity to experience empathy and the range of human emotions, including fear. They are entirely without conscience. They are dangerous to know. In general, it is true to say that one cannot cross the path of a psychopath and remain undamaged.
Extremely narcissistic psychopaths have an exaggerated view of their own importance and potential. They are highly predatory and live off others with no sense of mutual responsibility. They are practised liars. They cannot connect with others in a caring or loving way. They do not see others as equals, only as things to be used and abused.
Psychopaths are callous in nature. They are aware they are doing wrong but do not care. Charming on the surface, they control others with charisma and intimidation. Opposition brings rage and a determination for revenge.
Although they do not experience caring feelings, they learn to mimic them to get their own way with others. Because these feelings are not natural to them, they can overdo it with highly exaggerated expressions of affection or 'love-bombing'. As children, they quickly find that making demands and temper tantrums do not work, so they learn to fake affectionate behaviours to get what they want but overdo it because it is not genuine.
Psychopaths are organised in their thinking and plan ahead. They show little emotional responses, even in threatening or horrific circumstances. They are easily bored and seek risks. They seek psychological gratification in sexual and criminal activities. They crave power and will destroy anyone who stands in their way. Their charisma and intimidation tactics often result in them being promoted to high levels in organisations where they will use their power to break the rules as it suits them. Workplace bullies often fit this category.
Brain scans show psychopaths have the same responses to highly emotional material and neutral material. For example, normal people have different responses to pictures of baby animals and pictures of horrific accidents. Not so with psychopaths. All are neutral for the unfeeling psychopath.
Sociopaths:
Sociopaths comprise 1 to 4 per cent of the population. Like psychopaths, they have no conscience. They are less controlled than psychopaths in feelings and demeanour. They tend to be nervous or easily agitated and get angry quickly. They are dangerous because they have no limits on their actions. They are not intimidated by the law or authority.
Sociopaths are charming and manipulative. They make an effort to seem normal and can change their behaviour to suit the situation where they want to deceive someone. They are reactive rather than planners and may act spontaneously without considering the consequences. In general, they have no sense of shame, remorse or guilt. They lie continuously to get what they want. They never accept blame for what they have done.
Sociopaths will con you whenever they can. They will get what they want through deception and then discard you. They have no empathy for people they have harmed (except possibly where they harm a family member). They will rigorously deny any wrongdoing on their part.
Sociopaths have a strong sense of entitlement. They are highly narcissistic. They show love or happiness only to get what they want or to deceive someone. They have many sexual partners but no commitment. They need to be excited and live on the edge of danger. They often have a history of juvenile delinquency and behaviour problems. They often come from a criminal background, where they learn their behaviour.
Summary: Psychopaths and Sociopaths
Note from the Editor:
Isn’t this so fascinating? A huge thank you to member @Jan A for sharing this information with us.
Interested in this topic and want to see more of it? Do you have a topic suggestion? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Want to read more from member @Jan A? Here are their other articles for easy reference:
Some Facts About Phobias
Can Dreams Predict the Future?
@Jan A’s Member Spotlight: ‘Be unpredictable: they hate that!’
COERCIVE CONTROLLERS
From the Experts: BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE COUNSELLOR
We are only able to share this content because of the financial support of SDC Rewards members. If you'd like to see more of this (and a lot fewer ads!), please consider supporting us and signing up for SDC Rewards today—it starts at just 14 cents per day.
This article was written for the SDC by psychologist and member @Jan A. Jan A. works part-time, taking on clients under the Medicare Mental Health Care Plans. She works with people of all ages, from children to seniors!
In this article, we will look at the dark side of human personality in the form of narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths.
It does not occur to the majority of the population that these people exist among us in our everyday lives, but the fact is that they are there. When we know more about them, we can spot them and protect ourselves from the damage these people inevitably cause to those around them.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder occurs in about 6.2 per cent of the population. It is an essential feature of both psychopaths and sociopaths. The condition is characterised by self-centredness, lack of empathy and an exaggerated grandiose sense of self-importance. Narcissism is an enduring and persistent pattern of behaviour affecting social, family and work relationships. Narcissists have an exaggerated sense of their own importance, abilities and achievements. Because of their belief in their superiority, breaking the rules is of little concern to narcissists.
Narcissists have a constant need for attention and praise. They believe they are 'special' and should associate only with others of the same special status. They have a sense of entitlement and an expectation of special treatment. They seek admirers; they do not have equals. They have persistent fantasies about attaining power, success and wealth. They have ideas that they were 'born to rule'. They tolerate no disagreement.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Narcissists are envious of others and believe that others are envious of the narcissist. They exploit other people for personal gain. They feel no obligation to help anyone, even having received help from others.
Narcissists do not seek help because they do not acknowledge there is anything wrong with them. Therapy would seek to create a more realistic self-image by altering the distorted narcissistic thoughts, such as their belief in their own grandiosity, power and destiny. However, it is difficult for you to persuade a narcissist that they are not more important than others when they believe they are more important than you!
Similarities of Psychopaths & Sociopaths
While having some different characteristics, psychopaths and sociopaths, both are highly narcissistic. Both exhibit grandiosity, arrogance, aggression and deceitfulness. They lack a sense of remorse or empathy. They are often sexually promiscuous, feeling no commitment to anyone else. They are manipulative and charismatic. They can be violent and have no remorse for hurting others. There is no cure for these conditions.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Psychopaths have no emotional attachment to anyone. They would commit crimes against family members or 'friends' (as well as strangers) and feel no remorse. They are always cool, calm and calculated.
Sociopaths may not lack empathy entirely and can attach emotionally to others, feeling badly when they hurt people they are attached to. But, like psychopaths, sociopaths feel nothing about harming a stranger or breaking the law.
Psychopaths:
Psychopaths comprise about 1 per cent of the general population and up to 25 per cent of offenders in prison. They declare that either they were innocent or they had every right to do what they did, and the other person deserved it. This deficit has been shown to be genetic, but there may be some contribution by biological influences on the developing foetus, particularly flooding of serotonin (the 'happy chemical') on the foetus.
Psychopaths are not psychotic. They are in touch with reality. They are superficially charming but have no capacity to experience empathy and the range of human emotions, including fear. They are entirely without conscience. They are dangerous to know. In general, it is true to say that one cannot cross the path of a psychopath and remain undamaged.
Extremely narcissistic psychopaths have an exaggerated view of their own importance and potential. They are highly predatory and live off others with no sense of mutual responsibility. They are practised liars. They cannot connect with others in a caring or loving way. They do not see others as equals, only as things to be used and abused.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Psychopaths are callous in nature. They are aware they are doing wrong but do not care. Charming on the surface, they control others with charisma and intimidation. Opposition brings rage and a determination for revenge.
Although they do not experience caring feelings, they learn to mimic them to get their own way with others. Because these feelings are not natural to them, they can overdo it with highly exaggerated expressions of affection or 'love-bombing'. As children, they quickly find that making demands and temper tantrums do not work, so they learn to fake affectionate behaviours to get what they want but overdo it because it is not genuine.
Psychopaths are organised in their thinking and plan ahead. They show little emotional responses, even in threatening or horrific circumstances. They are easily bored and seek risks. They seek psychological gratification in sexual and criminal activities. They crave power and will destroy anyone who stands in their way. Their charisma and intimidation tactics often result in them being promoted to high levels in organisations where they will use their power to break the rules as it suits them. Workplace bullies often fit this category.
Brain scans show psychopaths have the same responses to highly emotional material and neutral material. For example, normal people have different responses to pictures of baby animals and pictures of horrific accidents. Not so with psychopaths. All are neutral for the unfeeling psychopath.
Sociopaths:
Sociopaths comprise 1 to 4 per cent of the population. Like psychopaths, they have no conscience. They are less controlled than psychopaths in feelings and demeanour. They tend to be nervous or easily agitated and get angry quickly. They are dangerous because they have no limits on their actions. They are not intimidated by the law or authority.
Sociopaths are charming and manipulative. They make an effort to seem normal and can change their behaviour to suit the situation where they want to deceive someone. They are reactive rather than planners and may act spontaneously without considering the consequences. In general, they have no sense of shame, remorse or guilt. They lie continuously to get what they want. They never accept blame for what they have done.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Sociopaths will con you whenever they can. They will get what they want through deception and then discard you. They have no empathy for people they have harmed (except possibly where they harm a family member). They will rigorously deny any wrongdoing on their part.
Sociopaths have a strong sense of entitlement. They are highly narcissistic. They show love or happiness only to get what they want or to deceive someone. They have many sexual partners but no commitment. They need to be excited and live on the edge of danger. They often have a history of juvenile delinquency and behaviour problems. They often come from a criminal background, where they learn their behaviour.
Summary: Psychopaths and Sociopaths
- Psychopaths and sociopaths are not what they seem.
- They trick you into believing they care about you.
- They make you believe any problems are your fault.
- They lie continuously.
- They feel no loyalty and will drop you as soon as you stop giving them what they want.
- They are so convincing they can make your family and friends believe any disputes are your fault.
- Both have the psychological capacity to kill.
- See them for what they are. They will not change for the better.
- Rely on your feelings: if the person’s behaviour makes you question whether they are what they seem, trust that feeling.
- If you encounter someone you suspect of being a psychopath or sociopath, run for the nearest exit!
- Hare, R.D. (1993). Without Conscience: the disturbing world of psychopaths among us. New York: Pocket Books.
- Stout, M. (2005). The Sociopath Next Door: the ruthless versus the rest of us. New York: Broadway Books.
- Babiak, P., & Hare, D. (2006). Snakes in Suits: when psychopaths go to work. New York: Regan Books.
Note from the Editor:
Isn’t this so fascinating? A huge thank you to member @Jan A for sharing this information with us.
Interested in this topic and want to see more of it? Do you have a topic suggestion? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Want to read more from member @Jan A? Here are their other articles for easy reference:
Some Facts About Phobias
Can Dreams Predict the Future?
@Jan A’s Member Spotlight: ‘Be unpredictable: they hate that!’
COERCIVE CONTROLLERS
From the Experts: BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE COUNSELLOR
We are only able to share this content because of the financial support of SDC Rewards members. If you'd like to see more of this (and a lot fewer ads!), please consider supporting us and signing up for SDC Rewards today—it starts at just 14 cents per day.
