Have you ever come across a Sociopath / Psychopath?

[Bursarymum]

I've been reading 'The Sociopath Next Door'. And it got me thinking. Psychopathic killers are rare but it seems those without any conscience are not so rare.

[LadySybilLikesSloeGin]

No, your post isn't offensive at all, MrsFring A lot of people struggle socially. Some people pick social skills up through osmosis, they just 'get them', other's don't and it takes longer or they need to be taught. I really don't think these people are Sociopaths or Psychopaths, these are a completely different kettle of fish. People with ASD wouldn't hurt people in the way that Sociopaths do.

[Galrick]

I also think some people with diagnosed ASDs are actually sociopathic. But that's not a medical opinion either!

[somethingmorepositive]

Brain structure idea is very interesting but not sure we really know enough about how the brain works to draw firm conclusions. Ppl with ASD struggle to understand others' motivations, whereas sociopaths are adept at seeing and ruthlessly manipulating them.

[MrsFring]

[LadySybilLikesSloeGin]

Most health conditions are involved with messages and chemicals from the brain to be honest, tis the control centre isn't it! It's a bit meaningless to compare the paths with ASD. You can also compare blindness to the paths because they both occur in different parts of the brain, or dyspraxia for example. I don't think medicine is advanced enough to work out all of the brain is capable of, it's still in its infancy as far as this is concerned.

[Frostycake]

Yes, I've known several over the years. Don't know any now as I can spot them and swerve.

First one, a boyfriend (early twenties), very manipulative, charming, fantastic at weighing people up instantly and seeing how they could be used to his own ends. Very money-focused as was his father and never appologised even if caught and shown evidence. Would steal, lie, cheat and belittle for personal gain or just amusement. Met his match I believe in late 30's following a run-in with a female psychopath who completely wiped the floor with him. I met her once. She was terrifying but very glamorous/attractive.

Second one, I worked for briefly (8 months) he was CEO of a corporation and lived to belittle people and would rub his hands with glee at the prospect of making people cry, sacking them (this was early 80s) pitching one against a colleague and being a general shit. Treated his wife and sons terribly and enjoyed their hurt (kept them in line you see). If I'd known before I got the job I would have bolted. When I left, I heard on the grape-vine that he'd told people I had a drink problem. People thankfully know me well enough to know that's not true (I hope). He also forced suppliers I had hired in my new job to stop working with me. He's retired now thank god.

Third one was a woman I worked with. Very beautiful, life and soul etc.. very manipulative and would gather information on everyone and use it against you to cause drama. Would lie, steal, cheat and deliberately wreck people's careers, chances of promotion (think destroyed work, forcing an 'accident' or 'incident' with hold information etc).all for the joy of hurting people and getting ahead. She's moved around so much it's hard to keep track of her but I believe she's in Milton Keynes now with a new boyfriend.

The problem with these people is that they are so charismatic/attractive. It's only once you get to know them that you see the full horror.

[Bursarymum]

Exactly, something morerepositive. I am sorry I started this thread now that some posters are using it as an opportunity to hurt parents who have a child with ASD, including me.

People with ASD are not even comparable with psychopaths.

[MrsFring]

Quite, OP. Not your fault though.

[Bursarymum]

Let's not forget that there are a lot of posters who use MN who also have ASD.

[JoanHickson]

I didn't say that. I may not be easy to understand, please read again. ASD and anti social are opposites Like poles in the earth. I think you misunderstood me and got needlessly hurt.

[Galrick]

NightsOfGethsemane, how does a psychopath get committed to a secure mental unit? What's the difference between them and the many who are convicted for long prison sentences?

Bursary and something, I really hope my posts haven't been among those that offended you If I have, please accept my apologies and that I had no intention to suggest bad things about ASD children!

[funnyossity]

ASD people I know are lovely and honest to a fault. Not at all like the sociopath type.

[Bursarymum]

I have dated a N and a P. I noticed that both of them copied others and would literally lift my words and turns of phrase. But the odd thing was that they often got these words of phrases wrong and out of context. One of them was a very successful doctor. Very strange.

[Bursarymum]

Also most of them seem to have sexual deviances. That was certainly my experience (shudder)

[YikesFeelingScared]

I have a son with ASD, he is 25 years old and has a diagnosis of Classic Kanners Autism which is autism at the most severe end of the spectrum. He also has a diagnosis of Tourette's, Psychosis and Delusions and he is medicated for the latter two. He is on Haliperidol and Lithium which also helps with his Tourette's

Im a regular poster to the forum under another name and only posted today with this one after posting regarding a personal problem I have. I forgot to change back to my original name

I refuse to apologise for having life/family experiences that means I now query lots of things as part of a bigger picture.

[Galrick]

would literally lift my words and turns of phrase. But the odd thing was that they often got these words of phrases wrong and out of context.

Yes! Yes, that! It can be so odd, it causes a kind of reality glitch for a moment.

[YikesFeelingScared]

Joan, I welcomed your comments re the Amygdala.

Its a part of the brain thats of great interest to me given how it plays such a huge role in my sons life with regards to his anxieties.

[Galrick]

Yikes. Sounds very challenging ...

[Bursarymum]

But Yikes - you should consider the feelings of the rest of us and also those posters on MN that have ASD. My daughter also has classic Kanners autism by the way. That doesn't meam I don't sympathise with problems that you may post about.

There is nothing whatsoever to suggest that autism and psychopathy are in any way linked and I recall that a thread started on the SN thread some years ago in the same vein was deleted.

[JoanHickson]

Yikes, there is more research ongoing into it in Brighton.

The the two types remind me of the film unbreakable. Though I think the brain scans would show someone with OI to have the larger amygdala and not a small or non existent one like the Antisocials.

[Bursarymum]

Someone above mentioned the silent treatment when they have you where they want you. This is what happened to me! You end up thinking that you are going crazy with these people. They simply do not respond the way that other people do. To this guy, everything was a game. He would say I had to do something perverted for him for him to show me any respect. He wanted proof of my trust in him. He also wanted me to promise I would always have sex with him, even if I ended up with someone else in the future. i found him on dating websites, asking for 60+ year old women (he was early 20s) . A friend of mine was concerned that he might be grooming 15 year olds. Omg he was terrifying. But also had this sort of sexuak magnetism.

[YikesFeelingScared]

Joan, thank you for that. It was really only when I got to grips with the amygdala that I was able to separate certain things that were going on with my son which in return helped me talk to the Drs about what my suspicions were. It really is a fascination part of the brain.


Galrick, thank you, its challenging in the respect that it makes working out what's going on at times a bit more difficult than usual but to be frank I was relieved when we got the diagnosis of Paranoia and Delusions because so many others things then fell into place.

Anyway, Im going to leave this thread now. If I say anymore under this username I will be easily identifiable and given a health problem I have just now I'd rather be anonymous.

[PurpleShoes69]

Another fan of Jon Ronson, the Psychopath Test is fascinating.
Pterodactyl, your post strikes a nerve with me. A relative of mine was involved with an abusive man. DH (who has knowledge of this area) certainly thinks he's a diagnosable psychopath. She has been suicidal and an inpatient too. He also doesn't care. He presents to everyone as an innocent victim of a bunny-boiler crazy bitter ex. As PP said, psychopaths are the ones who get away with all sorts of bad (and often criminal) behaviour as they are so charming.

[TopOfTheCliff]

I recognise that two doctors I have worked with are probably psychopaths. Both are very goodlooking and charming and articulate. They are used to getting what they want by sweet talking people into doing things for them. One for example is always booking last minute holidays at maximum inconvenience to the team, or cancelling days off at the last minute. He cannot see why that is annoying and expensive and when I have stood up to him and refused to let him have his way he is frankly an aggressive bully.

I have learned over the years to ignore the talk and watch their actions. They will say whatever is needed to get their way, lie or promise or grovel, then carry on exactly as before. There is an implied threat of violence that means people are wary of standing up to them both. Thank goodness we have managed to ease them out of the team now!

Interestingly both are very popular with patients despite their complete lack of empathy. I think they can fake the emotional response they deem necessary to appear genuinely caring. Scary stuff! This is how Shipman operated.