Sociopathy

Sections:

• 12 Ways Narcissists & Sociopaths Reveal a Pathological Intent to Cause Harm
   
  

• How to Spot a Sociopath in 3 Steps

Traits of a High Functioning Sociopath

12 Ways Narcissists & Sociopaths Reveal a Pathological Intent to Cause Harm

1. They use gaslighting to derail any attempt of another to feel fully human, as separate beings with needs, wants, dreams of their own.

Narcissists regard kind, loving, caring persons as not only inferior and weak, but also dangerous and emasculating to those in authority positions. They live in a topsy turvy world in which everyone is either a hunter or prey.

In other words, they lie, lie, lie to themselves and one another about what is normal in human relationships. These lies are not just the "normal" lying most use at least occasionally, i.e., to defend or avoid conflict and so on.**They gaslight.**

And gaslighting is a form of lying, a fear-elevating communication tactic, proven in scientific studies, to cripple the otherwise amazing abilities of the human brain to think, more specifically, to derail any attempts of a partner to emotionally connect as a real live human being with a voice, yearnings, wants, and dreams of her own.

He sees his job as training her to think, do, feel, say what serves or pleases his needs and interests. Anything else he perceives as a threat.

In couple relationships, the use of gaslighting is a common practice, an example of tactics that even otherwise amazing "good" guys methodically apply to keep their spouse or girlfriend in her place, literally, by shutting down her every attempt to emotionally connect in humanizing ways.

So learn the signs of gaslighting, and save your energy, by letting go of wanting a narcissist to "get" or "understand" the situation you are in.

2. They lie feeling entitled to do so to prove their superiority.

Narcissists lie as a way of life. They say one thing, yet do another. They often speak in code, amongst one another. They say the word love, they mean sex.

They view concept such as soulmates or partnership relations as bait to trap women. To them, it's nonsense or "emotional craziness" associated with the "weaker" sex.

Every "real" man is supposed to only need sex, a form of love that is manly - and it's his job to "fix" her so that she only serves as a extension of what pleases and doesn't threaten him!

Get to know what they really mean by what they do, and what a narcissist means when he says "I love you" to his partner, and take nothing they say at face value. It is all designed to confuse, derail, diminish another's sense of agency and worth. It's beyond what most human beings would ever suspect.

This also explains narcissists' systematic use of gaslighting. In his mind, he's proving that women are "emotionally crazy" due to their obsession with "love stuff," and yet this love stuff supposedly also makes women dangerous, fierce competitors, who are trying to con and strip men of the emotional detachment that protects and keeps them virile, strong, impenetrable - you know, just like Delilah and Samson.

As a tool, gaslighting is designed to dominate, domesticate, train a partner to feel their wants and needs and voice are irrelevant, selfish, invisible, undeserving of attention, and so on.

Make no mistake, it is a tried and true tactic, however, it is only effective on those that are unaware or disarmed by gaslighting and other con-acts, such as "love bombing" (the narcissists attempt to act like normal, empathic human beings.)

According to author Derrick Jensen in A Language Older Than Words, the problem is rooted in the "cult of masculinity" that strategically works to explain violence as normal and evidence of "real" masculinity or strength, superiority of male sex, but also dangerous entitlements to benefits that include exploiting and harming those they arbitrarily deem inferior, weak, feeble.

3. They believe violating the rights of a partner is proof of their superiority.

Narcissists do not see their partner, or women in general, as human beings. This more than anything else explains why they act entitled to treat women (perhaps also other groups, children, gays, nonwhites, other religions, etc.) as having no right to voice an opinion, make a request, ask to be treated with dignity.

They do not see a woman partner as human. In many cases the domestic violence is mostly or perhaps solely emotional abuse, a form of emotional abuse that is separate and far more severe than the usual tongue lashings of parents scolding, shaming children into obedience (although this is also abuse, and harmful as well).

Trying to get a narcissist to understand that they should stop what they do because it hurts you or your relationship, or another person, often leads to, as one of my clients put it, a "conversation from hell." 

That's because: To argue with their points causes more not less confusion, self-doubt, disconnect from common sense. Narcissists know this well. They want you to argue over the points they make, or their accusations.

Narcissists intentionally violate and abuse a partner, using the tactic of gaslighting to get into their mind to subjugate their will, control what they think, feel and believe about self and their abuser.

Ultimately the goal of narcissistic abuse is to inflict on their partner the same topsy-turvy worldview they hold - one in which the abuser is infallible master and justified in all they do to include abuse, whereas their victim is ever to blame, deserves, even caused their own abuse.

4. They display outrage if their "right" to mistreat or hurt another with impunity is questioned.

Narcissists reveal themselves by the way they automatically react to even hints that they hurt or mistreated a partner, or a request for some understanding or attention to the other's wants or needs.

Telling a narcissist that they faltered in any way is likely to get a violent reaction, a fit of rage, physical and, or emotional abuse, stony silence or punitive treatment that lasts for hours or days.They may leave the house for an extended period of time, or react violently just to have an excuse to leave or do what they wanted anyway.

This reveals the dehumanizing view they hold of others, and sadly of human relationships. In their mind, those in authority never engage or want mutual understanding, they never cooperate, and they always view a partner's attempts to gain their cooperation as a dangerous ploy women use to subjugate and turn men into women.

The violent reaction by the way is intentional, itself part of a strategy. It's how "those in authority" are supposed to use fear-based tactics, in this case, cold anger or rage, to train those deemed weak to keep their place.

In their mind, your relationship is a boot camp, and the narcissist is the drill sergeant and you're a recruit who needs to be subordinated to obey upon command.

Narcissists hold a "might makes right" view of this world, which forms the basis of the thought disturbance associated with both narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders. It is a worldview that strategizes 24/7 to destroy any evidence, or persons or groups, which promote ideas of mutuality, compassion-based relationships, cooperation, self-governance, human rights and dignified treatment for all human beings.

This is why narcissists hate and fear the truth like nothing else. It threatens their existence because the core of what they believe is simply founded on house-of-card lies.

5. They obsessively gather intimate data that a partner discloses to fulfill the aims of their con.

Narcissists gather data and take note of what a partner reveals are her dreams, wants, likes, and gives special attention to what she shares are her weaknesses, wounds, and details of previous partners and relationships. Narcissists listen carefully, especially at the start of a relationship, but it is never to understand a partner's heart; it is rather to gather data to fulfill the aims of their exploitation schemes.

Narcissists have also studied women as a group (as well as other groups they deem weak) in order to use words and for bait-and-switch traps for them. It's easy. Most women love to talk, and engage in taking turns talking about self with friends a lot. 

For example, they know women are looking for soulmates, spiritual guys, and they know women hunger for attention, compliments, feeling close, emotional connection, partnership relationships, and so on.

A covert narcissist may sabotage his partners success in hidden ways by making it more difficult, or may support her, but does so to promote his own image, and take credit for her success, or her as a trophy by his side.

Narcissists also make direct strikes where they know a partner has been most wounded in childhood or a past relationship. E.g. If you were molested or sexually assaulted, he will request demeaning sex acts and/or demand sex when you are not ready. Or maybe he goes out of his way to flirt with other women, make his partner feel threatened, doubt herself, knowing she experienced infidelity in the past, or gets upset when he flirts or gawks at other women.

A narcissist goes out of his way to misrepresent his partner, or what she stated were her thoughts and dreams, for example, he may use what she said to accuse her of being selfish or caring only about her success, or make her feel absurd, crazy or evil.

Narcissism is a serious pathology, a worldview that causes much suffering for those around them. There is no pathology less "normal" for human beings.

To the extent a narcissist hates and feels scorn for human traits of love and caring, kindness and compassion, in himself and others, keeps himself walled off from all that brings beauty and meaning - and some semblance of normalcy - to human life.

6. They employ scientifically proven, fear-based tactics to terrorize a partner into feeling irrelevant, voiceless, invisible.

A narcissist knowingly uses tactics that elevates cortisol in the brain and body of their victims. When this occurs, the body's survival system is activated, and automatically, thinking areas of the brain go offline.
In other words, fear and confusion cripples the brain's otherwise amazing capacity to think reflectively. This makes it easier for the narcissist to get away with lies and illusions.

Narcissists were exposed to many of these tactics of dominance, and learned the rules of "real masculinity" in childhood. They also typically study methods of persuasion, and the use of words and language as a tool to exploit others.

Today, we have nearly a century's worth of science-based methods in thought control available, perfected in the last few decades with studies of neurolinguistic programming. 

These are commonly used in training workforces in most all industries and sectors, among others, advertising, sales, military, politics, and so on.

The sociopath reveals himself in the specific outcomes they achieve in using a specific set of tactics that knowingly cause their partner to lose their sense of self in the relationship, and overall feel voiceless, invisible, irrelevant, to blame for the narcissist's "unhappiness" or what's gone wrong in the relationship, yet also confused because they cannot believe the love he professed was never real.

With covert narcissists, the use of these tactics can remain well hidden, and they prefer to operate by making themselves look like "laid back good guys" who have to live with an angry, emasculating wife that makes their life miserable.

They know how and when to trigger a partner to complain or have an outburst of anger, and then blame her and turn others against her, or get them to side with him.

In all cases, this is narcissistic abuse and it is separate and more severe than what we also refer to as emotional abuse.

If you're experiencing this, get professional help from someone who has experience in the area.

To protect your sense of agency, a first step is to let go of needing any validation or approval from the narcissist. One of their aims, after all, to hook their prey on needing their approval or validation.

7. They expect a partner to take pleasure in being used as a punching bag.

A narcissist lives in misery, self-loathing inside, and misery loves company.

They cannot stand the sight of happy, cheery and successful persons, and hatred stems from the hatred and disgust they feel for any signs of weakness in others, and thus themselves.

The narcissist not only takes pleasure in hurting or making their partner feel bad, i.e., selfish, spinning their wheels, failing to make them happy, and so on, they also hold a perverse believe that their partner, or women and the "weak" in general, admire them for dominating or keeping them in their place, and overall take pleasure in being used as punching bags, objects for their pleasure.

To break free, the first step is to understand, and believe that a narcissist is hooked on hurting and using others as a punching bag, that's all the supply they need to keep their false-self superiority over others game going.

This explains why it's impossible to make them happy or rescue them from their misery and fragile sense of security.

8. They seek to separate their partner from all they love or makes them thrive.

The narcissist takes pride in honing skills that condition a partner with fear and shame, confusion, self-doubting, scared to act on their own, so that they drop what they once associated with happiness, fulfillment, strengths, talents, such as a job, career, parenting, hobbies, and so on.

They take pleasure in competing for power to outsmart and block you from realizing your goals for positive growth as individuals and a couple.

They cannot stand a partner feels happy or fulfilled, admired, or has any pleasure for that matter apart that doesn't please the narcissist; they want to keep you obsessed on rescuing them from misery or their addictions, such as pornography or affairs.

The secret to outsmarting a narcissist is not trying to, refusing to play by their subhuman rules. Be human, connect to your heart, cultivate the authenticity of your connection to your self and life around you. Learn to control only what you can and let go of the rest, i..e., the narcissist; it is a waste of your energy, not worth the anger build up or headache.

9. They seek to isolate partners away from family friends, or other support systems.

Narcissists use an array of fear tactics to isolate their partners away from persons who love and care for them. This is part of their strategy to take control and put them in a state of dependency on them.

Thus, narcissists work systematically, some overtly but others covert and undetected, to make a partner question family members and friends, at every opportunity, to doubt their loyalty and support, to question your sanity, and rewrite your history, and question their motives.

Simultaneously, they may instill others with doubts about a partner's emotional stability, pull out a diagnostic label or two, i.e., bipolar or borderline, and even actually set up their partner to look controlling, demanding, emotionally unstable by triggering them.

10. They regard their "partners" as possessions or objects pleasure.

In their worldview, narcissists regard women as objects for the pleasure and comfort of men. Their brain treats their relationship with you, as a partner, as it would living in a jungle or a war zone.

They are conditioned to believe that it's a woman's job to make a man feel like a man by meeting his pleasure needs, and that it is both emasculating and dangerous for a man to "give in" to the emotional closeness a woman wants. This explains why a narcissist sees a woman as someone who is a fierce competitor, vying for power to dominate, and that he must get her before she gets him.

So they willingly "stoop down" to the level of those they exploit, much like an actor on the big screen, as long as it is part of their con game, one that, in their pathological mindset, proves their superiority and prowess over you.

Remember they've studied women, and learn to speak their "emotional connection," "soulmate," "partnership" lingo, to say and do, and to disguise themselves accordingly.

They "love bomb" women as part of their con game - knowing what women want to hear, they put on a "act" of saying loving things, or empathizing and so on, to bait and switch and trap, but also to disarm accordingly.

If someone says they "love" you, yet expects you to be okay with being abused, doing something that compromises your values, or you find sexually distasteful or uncomfortable, it's not love - it's hatred of human truth and common sense wisdom. Run!

11. They feel disgust for human emotions of empathy.

Narcissists reveal a pathological disconnect to the emotion of empathy and empathic connection by the level of disgust they express whenever a partner tries to tell them they felt hurt by something the narcissist did!*

Even in therapy settings for couples, narcissists self-identify. Automatically, they gaslight to derail the conversation! 

Contrary to what we once thought, the narcissist can and does express empathy - but only "stoops down" if they think there is some benefit for them to do so, such as to con, to trick, to perform or trap someone they are preying on. Based on their worldview, this and other "human caring" traits disgust them!

They grew up in environments where they learned to feel shame and disgust for these "soft human" traits, associate them with women and children, and other groups, i.e., gay that those in positions of authority, the strong and mighty, are destined (in their mind) to prey upon, exploit and abuse - as proof of their superiority. This reveals the pathology of their thought disturbance, which occurred as a result of early traumatic experiences.

For narcissists, it is an act. They are merely "stooping down" to prove their superiority by using this as a decoy, a tactic to exploit another. This "love bombing" is part of the con game of most narcissists.
To them, the fact that women can be fooled in this way is proof the female gender's inferiority, and proof of the male gender's superiority and right to dominate, treat a woman like a possession. Using empathy is a bait and switch power-over-another tool used intentionally to deceive, impress, ensnare.

12. They believe the ability to con others into serving their interests is evidence of their superiority.

Narcissists have honed skills of dominance, practiced them with men from boyhood, perhaps also in the military.

They believe women are less than human, and it's men's jobs to domesticate them, like animals, i.e., horses, to keep their place, never question the narcissist and become obsessed with his happiness and comfort. entitled, serving at their pleasure - training her to disconnect from her own needs, wants, feelings, voice, dreams, etc.

Their gaslighting reaction is automatic, repeated, predictable, punitive, and over the top, and it serves to train a woman to disconnect from her needs for closeness, to be treated with dignity, like a human being.
 

Gaslighting can render a person speechless, baffled. It's not occasional, here and there, but repetitive! And it's not arguing, it's a 180 degree shift that derails what a partner brought up to the list of things a narcissists uses to make his partner feel bad, small, undeserving, irrelevant, crazy, and so on.

***The term narcissist, or narcissism, refer to persons that fully meet the criteria (as opposed to mere tendencies) for narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) - or its more extreme version on the spectrum, sociopathy or psychopathy, labeled as antisocial personality disorder (APD) in the DSM-5. These character disorders are cognitive disturbances that, unlike other mental health disorders, predispose persons to intentionally act out their rage and scorn on others, in characteristically patterned behaviors (known as narcissistic abuse). The use of male pronouns is supported by decades of research showing that domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, mass shootings, pedophilia, and other acts of "false-power" violence are not gender neutral. They are rooted in rigid adherence to gendered might-makes-right norms for "toxic masculinity" for men (and "toxic femininity" for women). These norms idealize violence and intimidation as means to male establish status and dominance. Though comparatively fewer in number, female narcissists exist; they too self-identify with "toxic masculinity" norms, in my experience.***

SOURCES

How to Spot a Sociopath in 3 Steps

by Bill Eddy LCSW, JD

The Theme of Dominance

The DSM-5 states that the essential feature is their willingness to "disregard [or violate] the rights of others."

The driving force with sociopaths (and they have lots of energy) is to dominate others. This may or may not involve breaking the law.
 

They want to dominate people in order to get things from them, such as their possessions, money, sex, business partners, homes, cars, investments, reputation and so forth. But they also like dominating others just for the feeling of it-the feeling of power and control.
 

Sociopaths lack a conscience, so they will do anything to get what they want. 

The three-step method is used to quickly size up whether someone has sociopathic traits (or any high-conflict personality pattern) is called The WEB Method®:
  

1.  Their WORDS

2.  Your EMOTIONS

3.  Their BEHAVIOR

(which involves actions 90% of people would never do).
 

The following are several hints you may pick up from someone by using this method:
  

1. Their Words

Sociopaths are fast talkers. Their words are mostly, if not entirely false. But they use many, many words designed to cover their behavior. They may be a completely different person from who they say that they are.
 

Watch out for extremes-big promises; big stories, about the past or the future; and big plans, with no basis for them or no experience at whatever they're planning.
 

Extremely positive words

You're the best! I can't live without you! I will never hurt you! You deserve better! You make me a better person! We'll be rich! You're the most beautiful [smart, persuasive, honest, ethical, spiritual, etc.] person I ever met! I'll take you around the world! I'll introduce you to some really famous people! Believe me!
 

Extremely negative words

On the other hand, their words can be extremely negative, often after they've known you a little bit. They will blame you (their Target of Blame) for minor or non-existent offenses: You lied to me! (Even though you didn't and they lie constantly to you.) I can never trust you again! No one will ever hire you! No one will ever want you! I own you! I will destroy you! Don't tell anyone what we're doing, or I'll have to hurt you! You deserve to be punished after what you did! You owe me this! I have never hurt you, but look at what you've done to me!
 

The switcheroo

A sociopath will often switch back and forth between extreme charm and extreme threats to get what they want, depending on what they see is or isn't working at the time.
 

Watch out for strong opinions, which they then drop to adopt the opposite point of view when it's convenient. They will use whatever words they perceive as helping them dominate the situation at the moment, like an artist's palette of colors.

They also will figure out your weak spots and vulnerabilities. They may play on them positively, with words to boost your ego: You will be incredibly successful. With my connections and your brains, we've got it made. Or they may play on your deepest fears: See, your body really isn't attractive at all. No one will ever want to be intimate with you. Or no one will ever hire you. I'm the best you'll ever get. You better be grateful. Very grateful.

2. Your Emotions

How do you feel around the person? It's often your emotions that first tell you to beware, because your brain wants to believe them. Many people marry sociopaths, or hire them, do business deals with them, or elect them to responsible positions, even though they saw some warning signs.

They wanted to believe the person's words rather than pay attention to how they felt. Trust your feelings more than their words. If you have an uncomfortable or extreme feeling, check it out. Do a little research or ask around about what people think of so-and-so.
 

Fear

One common feeling around a sociopath is that they could hurt you if they wanted to. Sociopaths can be predators, so you may naturally feel uncomfortable being alone with them. You may suddenly get the feeling that you want to get out of a situation. Go, and ask questions later. Don't let them talk you out of your fears. Take your time and get more background information about them.
 

Infatuation

This is the other extreme. Because of their many extremely positive words, people can fall in love with them-especially if they are lonely, grieving or have low self-esteem at the time. (For more, see my book Dating Radar, co-authored by Megan Hunter.) This also goes for hiring. In today's fast-paced and competitive business world, sociopaths can make themselves look like a superstar. If you feel swept off your feet by a potential business partner, employee or employer, you may be falling for a sociopath. Since they are everywhere, you have to maintain a healthy skepticism no matter where you are.
 

Extreme sympathy

If you find yourself feeling extremely sympathetic toward someone, you may want to check out why. Sociopaths are skilled at claiming they have been victims and tell good stories to go with it.

They often take advantage of people in vulnerable or sympathetic situations (the elderly, victims of in natural disasters, churchgoers, volunteers, etc.). By playing hard on your sympathy, they may be able to get you to do things you wouldn't ordinarily do for anyone else.

3. Their Behavior*

(The 90% Rule)

A surprisingly simple way to spot a sociopath is to stay focused on their behavior and ignore their words.
 

Pay special attention to any extreme behavior-things they do that 90% of people would not.
 

Ask yourself, Would I ever do that?

Extreme behavior is common for sociopaths, but they quickly cover it up with excuses: I was tired. I was under a lot of stress. He (or she) made me do it. I had to do it given what the other person did. It almost doesn't matter what the behavior was; their excuses are often the same.
 

They are always blameless and rarely apologize, unless they are caught and it will make them look good.
 

Targets of blame

many sociopaths end up focused on Targets of Blame-people they feel justified in treating cruelly, whether in their families, at work, or in their communities. They often enjoy the suffering of other people.

While they may target anyone, most people will avoid them. The ones they keep targeting or bullying are those who stay engaged with them. Either they get aggressive back with the sociopath (who can do aggressive better than almost anyone else) or they show their fear or frustration.

Both approaches are unwise. It's better to calmly disengage than to show how they affect your emotions. They will enjoy your helpless anger and/or your helpless frustration; it just confirms that they are dominating you.

Smiles, smirks, and laughter

One surprising aspect is to see how they enjoy other people's pain and hardship.

In legal cases, I have seen sociopaths smile, smirk or outright laugh when a victim tells their story in a deposition or in open court. It gets your attention, because, again, 90% of people would never do that. They would know better and feel some empathy for the victim. If you see someone smiling, smirking, or laughing out loud as they watch another's pain on TV, in a movie, or on the street at an accident, you may be watching a sociopath who can't help himself or herself.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/5-types--who-can-ruin-your-life/how-spot-sociopath-in-3-steps