Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the characteristics of a sociopath
• Method 2 of 3: Dealing with a sociopath
• Method 3 of 3: Understanding Sociopathy
• Tips
• Warnings

In mental health, sociopathy is also known as antisocial personality disorder, a condition that prevents people from adapting to the ethical and social standards of behavior of their environment. Sociopaths can be dangerous, engage in criminal behavior, establish dangerous sects, and harm themselves and others. There are several signs that someone could be a sociopath, including a lack of regret, disregard for the law, and frequent lying.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the characteristics of a sociopath

1. Think about the person's personality and behavior. Sociopaths tend to be very charming and charismatic. Their personality can be described as magnetic and therefore they get a lot of attention and compliments from others. Sociopaths often have strong sexual energy and may have strange sexual preferences or be addicted to sex.
   • Sociopaths often feel entitled to certain positions, people and things. They believe that their own views and opinions are the only truth and ignore the opinions of others.
   • Sociopaths are seldom shy or insecure and are rarely talkative. They have a hard time suppressing emotional responses such as anger, impatience, or annoyance, constantly attack others, and quickly get carried away by these emotions.
2. Think about the person's behavior, both past and present. Sociopaths display extremely impulsive and reckless behavior. They seem to behave in an antisocial way and can do bizarre, dangerous or outrageous things without thinking about the possible consequences.
   • Sociopaths can be criminals. Because they tend to disregard laws, regulations, and social norms, sociopaths can have criminal records. They could be crooks, kleptomans, or even murderers.
   • Sociopaths are professional liars. They make up stories and make strange, misleading statements, but thanks to their self-confidence and assertiveness, they can make these lies sound convincing.
   • Sociopaths have a very hard time coping with boredom. They get bored easily and need to be constantly stimulated by something.
3. Think about how that person interacts with others. The way a person interacts with others can also indicate that he or she is a sociopath. Sociopaths are very good at convincing others to do whatever they want, either through their charm or through other, more aggressive behavior. As a result, friends and colleagues of a sociopath often do what the other person tells them to do.
   • Sociopaths are incapable of feeling guilty or ashamed of what they are doing. They often don't regret doing something that hurts others. They may appear indifferent or rationalize their behavior.
   • Sociopaths are manipulative. They can try to influence and control those around them. They also tend to seek leadership roles.
   • Sociopaths lack empathy and may not be able to feel love. Some sociopaths have a particular person or small group of people that they seem to care about, but they find it difficult to feel emotions. Chances are, they've never had a healthy romantic relationship.
   • Sociopaths find it very difficult to deal with criticism. They want the approval of others and may even feel entitled to it.

Method 2 of 3: Dealing with a sociopath

1. Talk to someone about your experiences. If you are in a relationship with someone who is abusing you or have a coworker who is treating you disrespectfully, talk to someone about it. If the relationship has turned violent or you fear for your own safety, ask for help to leave the person. Don't try to deal with the person on your own. Ask a friend or family member to help you.
   • If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can also call Safe at Home on 0800-2000.
2. Keep the person at a safe distance. If the sociopath you are dealing with is not a family member or other dear person you feel responsible for, disconnect from this person. Continuing to spend time with this person can have a negative impact on your life.
   • Stop contacting the person and, if possible, avoid situations and places where you might run into him or her.
   • Let the person know that you need some space and ask them not to contact you again.
   • If the person is uncooperative and refuses to leave you alone, consider changing your phone number and other contact information. Consider filing for a restraining order or restraining order if he or she starts stalking you.
3. Confront the person with his or her problem gently. If the person in question is someone you cannot or do not want to banish from your life, confront him or her cautiously about his or her behavior. Before confronting a sociopath with his or her behavior, remind yourself that sociopaths are naturally defensive, irritable, and potentially violent. Ask friends or family members for help and arrange an intervention to keep the person from reacting in a hostile way.
   • Try to avoid accusing or addressing the other person about specific things he or she has done wrong. Instead, focus on the big picture and let the person know that you are genuinely concerned about their health. Start by saying something like "I'm worried about you and want to help."
   • Don't talk about your feelings or how the other person hurt you. A sociopath is unlikely to respond to comments like this.

Method 3 of 3: Understanding Sociopathy

1. Understand that sociopathy and psychopathy are not the same. Sociopathy and psychopathy are both not yet fully understood, but are different disorders according to certain researchers and theorists. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-5; Dutch: "diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders"), or the manual used by mental health professionals, describes the antisocial personality disorder that affects many of has the same characteristics as sociopathy and psychopathy. Unlike antisocial personality disorder, sociopathy and psychopathy are not diagnosable disorders, but some research suggests that these two terms refer to specific cases of the antisocial personality disorder and have some overlapping features. These overlapping characteristics are:
   • Failure to conform to laws, regulations and social norms
   • Inability to recognize the rights of others
   • Inability to feel regret or guilt
   • Have a tendency to engage in violent behavior
2. Consider the main features of sociopathy. In addition to the characteristics of an antisocial personality disorder, a sociopath also exhibits other characteristics. These characteristics are mainly related to a mistake in the conscience of the person in question, while psychopaths are said to be completely lacking in conscience. A sociopath can exhibit the following characteristics, among others:
   • Being nervous
   • Having a short fuse
   • Have no education
   • Being a loner
   • Not being able to hold a job or stay in one place for an extended period of time
   • Intense possessive or "love" "relationships that hide separation anxiety.
   • Any crimes are carried out in a disorganized and spontaneous way and are not planned
3. Know that the cause of sociopathy is unknown. Some studies seem to indicate that sociopathy is hereditary, while others indicate that it may be the result of childhood neglect or abuse. One study showed that 50% of sociopaths seemed to have inherited the disorder due to genetic factors. However, in the other 50%, the disorder was thought to be caused by environmental factors or other conditions. Due to these conflicting results, the exact cause of sociopathy is unknown.

Tips

• Remember, if someone is a sociopath, it doesn't automatically make him or her a criminal or a bad person.

Warnings

• Do not attempt to label someone as a sociopath yourself. Also, don't try to tell someone who you suspect is a sociopath to seek professional help. If you think someone close to you is a sociopath, use that information to interact with that person. Get help if you feel threatened.
• If you feel that you are a victim or that you are in danger of being assaulted, enlist the help of the local police. Don't try to fix it alone if you think your life is in danger.