Sociopaths, also commonly known as "psychopaths," are diagnosed with the label "anti-social personality disorder," using the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual" of the American Psychiatric Association. Characteristics include an extreme disregard for people and laws, and engagement in irresponsible, reckless, impulsive and illegal behavior. Treatment attempts tend to be unsuccessful, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Disregard for Others
The sociopath does not care about other people. He will manifest a lack of empathy and callousness toward the feelings of others, because he cannot feel emotions the way normal people do, according to Dr. Robert Hare's Sociopathic Trait Checklist at sociopathicstyle.com. While he may exude a friendly, open and gregarious demeanor, underneath lies a cold callousness.
Deceit and Manipulation
Sociopaths manipulate others to get what they want. One manifestation of this practice is the "parasitic lifestyle," according to the Hare Checklist, in which the individual exploits others by relying on them for resources, such as housing and money. The sociopath may seem to others as simply unmotivated or lacking self-discipline. However, a sociopath's exploitation is deliberate and planned. According to the American Psychiatric Association, deceit presents as repeated lying and conning of others. An example may be a person who lives off the income of another person, lying about plans and motivations and claiming to experience bad luck in employment.
Violating Social Norms
Sociopaths seldom exhibit any respect for law or social norms. The rate of criminality among sociopaths is high, including aggression towards people and animals, destruction of property and pursuit of illegal occupations, according to the American Psychiatric Association. When caught violating a law or norm, the sociopath does not demonstrate remorse because she lacks the capacity for guilt; she simply regrets being caught.
Poor Behavioral Controls
Sociopaths do what they want to do without thinking about the consequences. They experience difficulty in planning ahead, unconcerned about the outcome. This tendency leads to reckless behaviors in which they demonstrate no concern for their own welfare or that of others and an inability to resist temptation. This lack of behavioral control also manifests in irritable outbursts and aggression towards others, according to the Hare Checklist.
Irresponsibility
Sociopaths do not feel an obligation to honor their obligations to individuals or society, according to Dr. Hare's checklist. They may not pay bills, pay child support or go to work if they do not wish. This irresponsibility sometimes occurs in conjunction with the incapability of planning ahead or making long-term plans or goals. This trait feeds into the general pattern of a disregard for others.
Diagnosis in Children
Sociopathy usually starts in childhood, and continues through adolescence into adulthood. However, clinicians do not diagnose sociopathy using the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual" until the person is 18 years or older. A clinician may diagnose a child with conduct disorder, which presents with similar symptoms. However, this disruptive behavior often diminishes or disappears by adulthood. An earlier onset of childhood conduct disorder can predict those who are more likely to become adults with anti-social personality disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Antisocial Personality Disorder Treatments
- Sociopathic Style: Classic Traits -- Dr. Hare's Checklist
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
- Behavenet: Clinical Capsule -- Antisocial Personality Disorder
