---

Synopsis :: What’s the first image that comes to mind when you think of a sociopath? Is it a crazed, demented, serial murderer? Or, is it that special person in your office who everyone likes, always seems happy, willing to help others, and generally, just a real charming individual?

---

 
Yes, sociopaths are all the same in one aspect: each one is human (or resembles a human). There are no known canines.

But what about everything else? Isn’t it true that most, if not all, sociopaths are violent maniacs, serial killers … just completely insane?

Let’s evaluate this and determine the truth. If all sociopaths are the same, then it becomes a black-and-white issue. To avoid distraction, let’s take it to a very basic level using dots. A black dot and a white dot.

Which color dot is a sociopath?

Both black dots and white dots have a lot in common, though some people think they’re quite opposite [I don't see that].

• Black cannot be any lighter, nor can it get darker. Black is black.

• White cannot be any darker, nor can it get lighter. White is white.

The same holds true for hue … neither one can have one.

• Black can either be the absence of all color or the inclusion of all color.

• White can either be the absence of all color or the inclusion of all color.

So with all their similarities (and those opposite theories), there can be only one black and one white.

Like pregnancy. A woman is either pregnant, or not. She cannot be somewhat pregnant, or just one-third as pregnant as the next pregnant woman.

That’s black-and-white.

Remember, this is about sociopaths.

If sociopaths could be thought of in either black or white, then they would all be the same.

Just like all white dots are white, and all black dots are black … all sociopaths would be just like Hannibal Lecter.  Easy, but wrong.

Conclusion #1: This is not a black-and-white issue … sociopaths are not all the same.  Few, if any, are like the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter.  Most blend in better than you or I.

If not pregnant, then what?

A sociopath is more like vision. Example: two people, both nearsighted.

The first, diagnosed as nearsighted, has borderline perfect vision. This person only needs to wear correction if they want to read street signs while driving … say 20/30 vision, uncorrected.

The other, also diagnosed nearsighted, has been told they will soon not be able to drive at all, since they are currently borderline legally-blind. That means even with the best correction, they can’t even read their speedometer … let’s say about 20/400 vision, corrected.

Between these two extremes are an infinite number of possible variations.

That’s a huge gray area. 

I just stepped in some gray area.  It stinks, doesn’t it?

Yes, gray area can really stink, especially if you’re used to dealing with black-and-white. And although I believe that includes most everyone, there seems to be many more black-and-white answers than there are qualifying black-and-white questions. I don’t believe most issues are black-and-white anymore.

Life is too complex.

But in lieu of real black-and-white issues, a high percentage of people, if not the majority, attempt to force-fit gray issues into black-and-white parameters. A gray issue requires actual thinking … a few seconds to blurt-out a yes or no does not qualify. Thinking puts a demand on people that most equate to a waste of time. They either exercise the blurt, go with someone else’s solution, or maybe just follow someone else’s ongoing instructions.

For them, life is too complex.

Do we all need to think if someone will do it for us?

Phuque no!  Why would anyone want to start now. If it “ain’t broke” why fix it? Going along with the majority has always worked in the past. This [the US] is a free country, right? [sic]  You’re free to be as gullible and ignorant as you want to be … and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Let’s listen to Mildred, a close friend [disciple] of Chris [the sociopath she blindly follows],

“Chris warned me about people who are obviously jealous [insightful thinkers] of all the friends [gullible followers] that Chris has, and because of their jealousy [intelligence], Chris told me that they will do anything to smear [expose the truth] Chris’ good name [#&^@$%]. Chris told me just to ignore them, but I decided to tell Chris who I’m ignoring, just so Chris can be aware of them, too [begin character assassination].”

From my own experience, when I’ve told anyone who knows my sister, Kathy, that Kathy is a sociopath, the responses are all fairly similar.

• They stop replying to my emails.

• They never return my calls.

• They refuse to look at my evidence, likely figuring they will only encourage someone who’s obviously lost his mind.

• They’ll tell my sister what I said about her. She laughs and tells them that I’ve become paranoid … strange, but that they believe.

Paranoia is often associated with psychotic illnesses, sometimes even schizophrenia[1]. So, that’s believable, but a sociopath?

Jeffrey Dahmer was a sociopath. Kathy is not like Jeffrey Dahmer, so Kathy cannot be a sociopath. Therefore, Larry must be a paranoid. [sic]

All bad logic by gullible people. Ignorant, too. Ignorance is based on the word “ignore”… and if they did not ignore my evidence, they may, just possibly, draw a different conclusion. Breath-holding not recommended.

I’ve seen a gray scale … there’s only a handful of grays.

OK, so if a sociopath is not a black-and-white issue, but instead, a gray area, how many different gray dots can there possibly be?  10-20 maybe?

Think of a black-and-white fractal which includes every conceivable gray. A fractal is an illustration created by a mathematical equation that never ends … at least no one has been able to find an end.

It continues to draw the same pattern, over and over, into itself. Therefore, I suggest, if the pattern itself is infinite, so must be the grays.

Conclusion #2: Based on a thorough technical analysis, including years of mental health research, that fact remains clear that there are just as many different variations of sociopath personas as Carter has pills.

Questions?

###

Related Posts:
Sociopaths are all the same … right?
What makes a sociopath so dangerous?
Psychopath/Sociopath: Similarities Outweigh Differences
Discovering Your Best Friend is a Sociopath
How do you spot a sociopath?
Identifying a Sociopath
AUDIO: Evidence by Recording Phone Calls :: Part 1 of 4
Do School Administrators Help Young Sociopaths?
One Small Lie = One Huge Revelation :: Part 1 of 4
 

[1] Source: Wikipedia.org
 
“Mildred” and “Chris” are imaginary characters, and are not intended to refer to anyone, alive or dead. I used “Chris” since it could be either male or female.