Sociopath
Describe someone who lies incessantly
to get their way and does so with little concern for others.
They are often goal oriented (i.e., lying is focused - it is
done to get one's way) Has little regard or respect for the
rights and feelings of others. They are often charming and
charismatic, but they use their talented social skills in
manipulative and self-centered ways. Can you say
"Sociopath?" Does it remind you of anyone in particular?
Source: truthaboutdeception.com
This is different than a Compulsive Liar which is defined as someone who lies out of habit. Lying is their normal and reflexive way of responding to questions. Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large and small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable while lying feels right. Compulsive lying is usually thought to develop in early childhood, due to being placed in an environment where lying was necessary. For the most part, compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning (unlike sociopaths), rather they simply lie out of habit - an automatic response which is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship. The terms pathological liar, habitual
liar and chronic liar are often used to refer to a
compulsive liar. 5 Different Types of
Liars Sociopathic Liars Sociopaths are defined as someone who lies continuously in an attempt to get their own way, without showing care or concern for others. These individuals are goal-oriented. Even though it might seem hard to believe, lying is focused – they are focused on getting their own way. Sociopaths don’t have a lot of respect or regard for the feelings and rights of others. They tend to be charismatic and charming, but they will use their exceptional social skills in a self-centered and manipulative manner. Compulsive Liars Compulsive liars are defined as someone who continually lies from sheer habit. Lying tends to be their normal manner of responding to any questions from others. These individuals will always bend the truth, regardless of how small or large the question is. For these individuals, telling the truth doesn’t feel right. They are uncomfortable whenever they tell the truth, while lying makes them feel right. Compulsive lying is often thought to manifest during childhood, due to being put into situations and environments where lying became a necessity. Most of the time, compulsive liars aren’t cunning or manipulative, rather they only lie because it has become such a habit for them. This automatic response is more difficult to break. It can end up taking its toll on being able to maintain a relationship. Many people also call these individuals pathological liars or habitual liars, but they all mean the same thing. Occasional Liars Occasional liars are those who seldom tell a lie. When they do, they are so blown away by what they said that their guilt overcomes them. These individuals are quick to ask for forgiveness from the individual that they lied to. Occasional liars might not be perfect, but they are often respected for their attempts at being truthful and humble enough to admit when they are wrong. Careless Liars Careless liars will go about their normal lives and lie every way they can. This individual isn’t concerned about trying to hide their lies or making sure they make sense. Everyone knows that the person isn’t being honest because they tend to be sloppy with their lies. They don’t have a lot of friends because most people get tired of hearing their twisted stories. White Liars People who tell white lies don’t usually think of themselves as true “liars”. They justify their white lies as harmless, or even beneficial, in the long term. They will sometimes tell only part of the truth, and not be suspected of lying at all. White liars may use their lies to to shield someone from what they believe is a hurtful or damaging truth. Sadly, lying is a common denominator
in many of our lives and recognizing some of the different
types might just help us in dealing with the liar in our
lives. How to Determine if
Someone Is a Sociopath Identifying Traits of a Sociopath Consider the individual's personality and mannerisms. Sociopaths are usually extremely charming and charismatic. Their personalities are described as magnetic, and as such, they generate a lot of attention and praise from others. They also tend to have a strong sexual energy, and may have strange sexual fetishes or be sex addicts.[2] Sociopaths oftentimes feel overly entitled to certain positions, people, and things. They believe that their own beliefs and opinions are the absolute authority, and disregard the opinions of others.[3] Sociopaths are rarely shy, insecure, or at a loss for words. They have trouble suppressing emotional responses like anger, impatience, or annoyance, and constantly lash out at others and respond hastily to these emotions. They may cultivate an innocent persona. It's as if they are playing a character in a play, with very thoughtful displays of their personality. They may act innocent or especially sweet, which is easy to believe because they are very good actors. You shouldn't take your first impression of them at face value. If you don't know a person well, they can mislead you into thinking they are innocent or sweet. The only real way to know a sociopath's true personality is by getting to know them well. But if you listen to your intuition, you may get the feeling that their persona is just too simple to be real. Non-sociopaths are genuine people and not a perfect picture of a simplified personality. Take the person's past and present behavior into account. Sociopaths exhibit abnormally spontaneous and daring behavior.[4] They seem to act outside of the realm of social norms, and may do bizarre, risky, or outrageous things without assessing the potential repercussions. Sociopaths can be criminals. Because of their tendency to disregard the law and social norms, sociopaths may have a criminal record. They may be con artists, kleptomaniacs, or even murderers.[5] Sociopaths are professional liars. They fabricate stories and make outlandish, untruthful statements. Because they have practiced lying so much, they are able to make these lies sound convincing. As their experience with lying grows, so does their confidence and assertiveness in telling their lies. Sometimes their lies are stories to get sympathy, others are lies about work they have done. Sociopaths have no typical feelings of guilt associated with claiming someone else's work as their own. They only care about their image and will do whatever is easiest to create it.[6] Sociopaths have a low tolerance for boredom. They get bored easily and require constant stimulation. Their image and ability to control others are the only things that they really care about, so they satisfy their boredom by working to enhance their image and playing with the feelings of others. [7] Consider the person's relationships with others. The way that a person interacts with others may also be an indicator that that person is a sociopath. Sociopaths are very good at convincing others to do what they want, either through charm or other more aggressive means. As a result, friends and coworkers of a sociopath may find themselves doing whatever the person wants them to do.[8] Sociopaths are incapable of experiencing guilt or shame for their actions. It is common for sociopaths to lack remorse when they have done something that hurts others. They may appear indifferent or rationalize their actions. They will feign remorse or pity though if they need to appear to be socially normal. For example if someone tells a sociopath about a family member's death, they would feign sympathy. Sometimes they might use the other person's sorrow as a vulnerability to take advantage of. Sociopaths often seek out others who are weak or at weak moments to exploit their emotional vulnerability, and to make the person feel more attached or dependent on them.[9] Sociopaths are manipulative. They may try to influence and dominate the people around them and tend to seek positions of leadership or high social standing.[10] Sociopaths lack empathy and may be incapable of love. While some sociopaths will have an individual or a small group of people that they seem to care about, they have a hard time feeling emotions and it is likely that they have not had healthy romantic relationships in the past.[11][12] Sociopaths have a hard time dealing with criticism. They often desire approval from others and may even feel like they are entitled to it.[13] Coping with a Sociopath Talk to someone about what you are going through. If you are in a relationship with someone who is abusive to you or you have a coworker who treats you with disrespect, talk to someone about it. If the relationship has become violent or you fear for your safety, ask for help to get away from the person. Do not attempt to deal with the person alone. Ask a friend or family member to help you. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, you can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.[14] (or Text 741741.) Maintain a safe distance from the person. If the sociopath you are dealing with is not a family member or other loved one, disengage with the person. Continuing to spend time with the person may have a negative impact on your life. Stop contacting the person, and avoid situations/places where you may run into the person, if possible. Let the person know that you need some space, and request that he/she refrain from contacting you. If the person does not cooperate and refuses to leave you alone, then you may want to consider changing your telephone number and other contact information. If he or she proceeds to stalk you, then consider filing for a restraining order.[15] Understanding Sociopathy Understand that sociopathy and psychopathy are not the same thing. Sociopathy and psychopathy are not fully understood, but they are different according to certain researchers and theorists. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders V (DSM-5), or the handbook used by mental health professionals, provides a description of antisocial personality disorder which shares many of the same characteristics of sociopathy and psychopathy.[16] Sociopathy and psychopathy are not diagnosable disorders like antisocial personality disorder, but some research has suggested that these two terms are specific kinds of antisocial personality disorder and that they share several traits. These shared traits include:
Consider the main indicators of sociopathy. In addition to showing signs of antisocial personality disorder, someone who is a sociopath would display additional traits. These traits are mostly related to a defect with the person’s conscience, whereas someone who is a psychopath might be said to lack a conscience.[18] Traits that a sociopath might have include:
Be aware that the cause of sociopathy is unknown. Some research has suggested that sociopathy may be inherited, while other research has suggested that it may be the result of childhood neglect or abuse. One study showed that about 50% of sociopaths appear to have inherited the disorder through their genetic makeup. But environmental factors or other conditions were thought to be the cause of the remaining 50% of sociopaths in the study. As a result of these conflicting findings, the exact cause of sociopathy is unknown.[20] Tips
Warnings
Sources and Citations 1.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sociopathy |
