Five Easy Steps to Identify a Sociopath

09.12.17

Defining a Sociopath, Identifying a Sociopath, Sociopaths in Business Add comments

Synopsis :: If you’re looking for the “cheat-sheet” of rules to identify a sociopath, this article is a must-read.

Google the phrase: “how to identify a sociopath” and you’ll find pages, upon millions of pages, with 1-10 lists, bullet-pointed lists, all written defining how to spot a sociopath, and what to do when facing one … sort of like the Web’s version of sound-bite plagiarism.

Sorry, but my subject line is intentionally misleading, and is so to make a very important point — don’t be suckered. The Web is filled with new sites featuring short “how-to” articles, written by a new breed of amateur writers looking for their 15-minutes of fame, and to make a buck.

Non-jounalists, non-experts, and non-experienced individuals writing about very serious topics that they simply re-purpose from others like them … and it goes on and on.

More of these “public-reporting” Web sites are popping up all the time, allowing virtually anyone to write about topics without any sort of “check” on their sources or accuracy. If the Web has succeeded in spreading any character flaw, it’s got to be “gullibility.” Blind leading the blind?

I’ve read countless, misinformed articles on the topic of sociopaths, such as the one typical example above: the frighteningly-laughable “How to Deal with a Sociopath” — rated four-out-of-five stars by the readers.

Some are so misguided, that I considered them dangerous if someone actually did what was recommended. On many of those, I added a comment warning other readers that by placing some of the suggestions into practice, they could place themselves into jeopardy, if not outright danger.

How difficult could it be to identify a sociopath?

Most sociopaths are not like Hannibal Lecter, but more in line with Bernard Madoff.

Although a fictional character, people usually relate a Hannibal Lecter-type demented deviant as representative of a sociopath.

Reality, though, is quite different.

Bernard Madoff was highly respected in the world financial market, so respected that when there was suspicion about his firm, those who raised the suspicions were almost laughed at. No real investigations were ever conducted.

But all during that time, Bernard Madoff was stealing the life savings of friends, business associates, corporate fund investments, and even from his own immediate familly, to the tune of fifty-billion dollars ($50,000,000,000.00). How? With his skillfully-executed, completely malicious public persona.

The malicious public persona of just one ‘nice’ old man.

The only reason he was caught was that the recession created a domino effect of withdrawals — withdrawals of money which actually did not exist. He even stole the life savings of his own children. No remorse. No guilt. Any apology would just be another lie.

So where do I turn?

If you truly want to know just how devious, transparent, and evil the inner workings of a true sociopath really is, you must be willing to take the time to read … and begin with a credible source. The only accurate accounts I’ve read are written by actual sociopath victims who have dedicated an enormous amount of time by creating their own blogs to document the details, from before discovery, to being thrown into hell as a victim.

And virtually every one of them states the same basic purpose: to shed light on the real dangers, to dispel the misinformation, and hopefully help others avoid what they didn’t. Many of those sites, such as this one, include a short bio of the writer. Two of my siblings are sociopaths, so my bio begins before I was born.

Conclusion: if anyone could learn to spot a sociopath in five or ten easy steps, how did Bernard Madoff fool the brightest financial and money managers, around the world, for decades?

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