Sociopath Definition

Many people know sociopaths through media and the news. Most citizens don’t know the extent of sociopathy, let alone most details at all. According to Harvard psychologist Dr. Martha Stout, “roughly 1 in every 25 Americans is estimated to fit the diagnostic criteria of a sociopath.”( Edwards,16 questions that might tell you whether you’re a sociopath). A sociopath is determined through a list of criteria. Many of these criteria include a lack of emotions that makes them regret nothing. Lacking those emotions makes the person feel no sympathy for the situation or the person involved. Sociopaths don’t have the ability to feel love for another person. Their lack of emotions will justify what they do because in their eyes, they have done nothing
Psychopathy is a disorder that is an imbalance in the brain. Medical studies can be conducted to see the extent of psychopathy. For sociopathy, the testing is more personal. Asking someone how attached they become with something or the extent of their love for something is how sociopathy is tested. Sociopathy has been confirmed to begin during the patient’s young age. Having a bad childhood that scars the patient gives them a larger chance of being a sociopath. Things like childhood abuse, the death of a parent or close relative, or a rough divorce can strengthen the sociopathy in a person. Sociopathy strengthening in a person overtime can lead to a break, which can bring violent tendencies to the
These genetics come out in a sociopath when they are younger. “One is that the brain of a sociopath matures at a slower rate than the brain of a non-sociopath.”(Peterson, Sociopath causes: the making of a sociopath). The child is born with a chemical imbalance in their brain, which changes how they deal with their feelings. For example, they have a harder time controlling their anger, causing violent outburst. This can depend on the parents as well. Children with parents that are addicts or abusive tend to have a greater chance of becoming a sociopath. According to an article written by Julie Peirano “The research shows as much as 50% of causes are based on genetics. The remaining percentage, then, is left up to environmental effects we don’t really understand. What is certain, though, is that being dealt genes that lend themselves to sociopathy really can make a difference.” (Julie Peirano, Sociopaths: are they born or does a person become one). Childhood for a sociopath is the most crucial time in their life. Until the age of twenty five, the brain in a human is still developing. As a child, or even a teenager, going into therapy is crucial. Getting the help while the brain is still developing can strengthen the social skills easier than an adult going to therapy at an older