Taking Out the Trash
Charming, outgoing, charismatic, convincing, spontaneous, successful, intelligent, are traits that when coupled with a need to “win” and be in power tend to describe a sociopath.
4% of the American population is thought to be sociopathic. This is significantly higher than in other parts of the world, particularly cultures that promote collectivism as opposed to individualism. Sociopaths make excellent cult leaders, corporate raiders and dictators, and modern-day metropolitan sheep herders.
Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D. makes a notable distinction found in research between psychopaths and sociopaths. Psychopaths are “confident, social, and dominant, sociopaths are reserved and inhibited, sometimes loners. And while psychopaths are exempt from negative emotion, sociopaths are often hostile and do experience anxiety and rejection. Second, while psychopaths truly have no morals, sociopaths do have a sense of morality and a conscience, but their sense of right and wrong is skewed and doesn’t match that of society at large. Sociopaths are often crusaders or martyrs for a perceived cause, viewing their acts as necessary.
Not all sociopaths are actively dangerous. Many are just simply impossible to deal with, unless you are constantly agreeing with and supportive of their plans. It is very important to know when you are dealing with a sociopath because getting such a person to be considerate of your goals and wishes may be impossible.
Investigative journalist Mike Adams wrote: “Each time we investigate a sociopath, we find that they always have a little cult group following of spellbound worshippers who consider that particular sociopath to be a "guru" or "prophet."
With a smaller prefrontal cortex and a deformed amygdala, a sociopath’s brain seems to have less ability to regulate behavior, impulses, and planning and has less access to fear, guilt and sadness (if any).
Easily bored, sociopaths crave stimulation. One can easily see these traits in the serial killer, but here in the US, where we tend to promote risk taking in every day life (“The sky’s the limit;” “Reach for the stars;” “Shoot for the moon;” “You need to spend money to make money;” “go out on a limb”), grandiosity, extroverted theatrics and looking out for oneself, it is more difficult to spot this person in the workplace or amongst our colleagues than ever before.
How to spot a sociopath:
- Look for a lack of remorse: Sociopaths do not accept blame, even when it was their project or idea. Anyone in the way of their goals is likely get hurt. This is why they sociopaths are frequently so successful.
- Look for frequent lying: Sociopaths will do whatever it takes to get to where they want to go. If they are caught in a lie, more lies will emerge to cover that lie. They will go to great lengths to convince you. They are very facile with making the truth flexible.
- Look for a lack of anxiety: Sociopathic brains do not react to emotional events. If most people are flustered or panicked by a situation, the sociopath will not be (unless they are faking it). Some describe this as an “eery calm”.
- Look for extreme charm: Sociopaths are excellent at making people feel comfortable. They know exactly how to smile and greet people to make them feel special. They can exude a sexuality that successfully manipulates others. The charm disappears when someone interferes with their goals.
- Look for high IQ: While not all sociopaths have a high IQ, when they do they tend to be very successful in school, work or at serial killing.
- Look for manipulation: What sociopaths lack in authentic emotions (outside of rage), they have in intuition in spades. Without their targets realizing it, they find and exploit weak links and gain control. They are much less comfortable being around strong people who stand up to them, who might expose them. They do, however, like to find the strongest person they can deceive, so as to use them as a cover. In the workplace sociopaths tend to gain dominance through psychological warfare, weakening the resolve of others over time.
- Look for egotism: Sociopaths are narcissistic, think very highly of themselves, are entitled, and are ignore criticism. It does not phase them.
Does this sound familiar? Then work to:
1. Be immune to charm
2. Warn others
3. Think independently
- Give up fear, and
- Take out the trash
For more information on sociopaths, see Martha Stout, Ph.D.’s book: The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus the Rest of Us, as well as Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D.’s article: How to Identify a Psychopath or a Sociopath, and Mike Adams article: How to Spot a Sociopath - 10 Red Flags That Could Save You From Being Swept Under the Influence of a Charismatic Nut Job.
This post originally appeared in the Illiinois Psychologist newsletter. Artwork by RustyAge
Posted by: Karla Steingraber, Psy.D.October 5th, 2016 Share
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