by Bob Trowbridge

Created on: September 09, 2010

Martha Stout’s book “The Sociopath Next Door” is a disturbing book. She claims that 4% of the population are sociopaths. Others have given even higher numbers. Still, that is one in 25. Since most of us know far more than 25 people, there is a good chance that we know at least one sociopath. It’s also a good bet that we don’t recognize them as such.

Instead of talking about individual sociopaths, Dr. Stout takes different characteristics of the sociopathic personality and combines them to create a number of fictional characters who represent the various types of sociopathic individuals.

Dr. Stout’s book was the first place I encountered “sociopath” and “psychopath” being used interchangeably. There are some differences of opinion on these two diagnoses but they are close enough and share enough symptoms to be used interchangeably.

The main point of the book is that sociopaths do not exhibit behavior that would cause any suspicion in most people. There could be sociopaths among our friends and even in our family and we might not recognize it. Until a sociopath’s behavior calls attention to itself from authorities through some blatant criminal act, they can go through life undetected.

Sociopathic Behavior

In popular culture, the psychopath is seen as the deranged serial killer, celebrated in movies and TV shows. She may still be unnoticed by friends and coworkers as a killer but her crimes are horrendous.

The majority of psychopaths do not commit terrible crimes, although none of them have any regard for the law. A sociopath could kill another without hesitation or remorse. But it is unlikely that they would put themselves in such jeopardy if killing could be avoided.

The sociopath is, more likely than not, a very charming person who is very flattering and attentive. They can even seem to be quite generous and kind if it suits their ultimate ends. Sociopaths are more successful in relationships than most people because they do not hesitate to lie about themselves or lie to others. They are very good with the opposite sex because they say anything the other may want to hear.

Symptoms:

         Essentially, according to Dr. Stout, sociopaths have no conscience. They cannot feel guilt or remorse. All other behaviors stem from this basic lack.

         Because of this, sociopaths are pathological liars. Lying comes easily,

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