The 6 common signs of a sociopath: ‘They can be harder to spot than a psychopath,’ says psychotherapist

I trained personnel in the U.S. military, the FBI and the CIA, as well as studying relationships and personality disorders, as a therapist.

A term used to describe a disorder of the mind is called sociopathy. Sociopaths can wreak havoc in your life and it can be hard to spot them.

Psychopaths are less likely to engage in criminal activity. Sociopaths are more dangerous because they are more erratic and rage prone.

Some of the most common signs are listed here.

1. They know right from wrong but couldn’t care less.

What is right is simply what is in the best interests of the person. They believe their actions are justified if it helps them.

No matter who is hurt or harmed in the process, sociopaths move with little anxiety because they don't fear being disconnected.

2. Their personality is crafted to engage and enchant in order to bond and manipulate.

A range of addictive and self-destructive behaviors and habits can be suffered by some sociopaths.

The ones who are able to delay gratification are the most harmful because they are polished. They usually make a good first impression and come across as friendly and kind.

3. They don’t always seem genuinely honest.

The impression that a person creates and projects to the world is difficult to maintain because of their lack of self-awareness. There is a mask on top of that.

They may sound like a caricature of an honest person when they lie.

A person who sounds like a broken record might use phrases that are absolutes in order to sell the truth.

4. They know how to get your blood boiling.

Sociopaths know how to get control over a partner. They'll try to undermine their target's emotional stability once they achieve a degree of compliance.

Most personality disorders have this in common. Sometimes their behavior is caused by a specific disorder. Sometimes it is a tactical thing.

5. Their worst tendencies quickly surface when they feel they are losing control over you.

They will move into attack mode when they find out that you are notobedient.

It's time to say goodbye to civility. They will accuse you and about you to everyone who will listen.

6. They display false humility.

False vulnerability is one of the things that has been given away. Sociopaths may be seen as meek and humble.

The unskilled observer might think that this is a person who is not normal. It's just a mask. The tip-off is that they go too far since they don't know how to calibrate their impression management.

The indicators are not conclusive.

Keep these tips in mind if you find yourself in a relationship with a person of questionable morals.

• Avoid disagreeing with them publicly. This may lead to humiliation, and any word or action that causes them to feel shamed cuts very deep and can trigger severe reactions.
• Don’t call them out for being a sociopath. Slowly work to disengage yourself from the relationship.
• Having a sociopath in your life can be very challenging and feel isolating, so consider seeing a therapist or joining a support group. Having someone to talk to can be very helpful.

We can't always change someone's behavior, but we can set boundaries

Regardless of one's personality or disorder, our emotional well-being is tied to the quality of our relationships.

David J. Lieberman is the author of " Mindreader: The New Science of Deciphering What People Really Think, What They Really Want, and Who They Really Are" David trained people in the U.S. military, the FBI, the CIA and the National Security Agency.

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