How to Diagnose a Sociopath
By Maria Tarallo, eHow Contributor
Read more: How to Diagnose a Sociopath | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5645644_diagnose-sociopath.html#ixzz1UT85adcA
There are a number of mental disorders that affect the personality and antisocial disorders many times present similar characteristics. To diagnose a sociopath; there are a few clear behaviors, mainly, the sociopath's complete disregard for the rights of others. This disdain for others is expressed in a variety of ways throughout the person's life. To medically diagnose a sociopath, three of the following behaviors must be observed since childhood.
This is the part everyone seems to ignore -- these patterns of behavior must be observed since childhood.
Scott did not exhibit 3 of the above behaviors from childhood -- he didn't exhibit any of them from childhood. The only category, lying and deceit, involved affairs after he married -- two affairs, 5 years apart. Inexcusable. Despicable. But not evidence of being a sociopath. And certainly not evidence of murder.
Instructions
- 1
Look for signs that a person does not experience guilt. For most people it is normal to feel guilt or remorse when they have wronged someone. Sociopaths don't experience empathic feelings and therefore feel no guilt. They see their behaviors as justified and will refuse to take responsibility or apologize. During childhood, sociopaths typically engage in behaviors such as hurting helpless animals and show no remorse. Absolutely no evidence that Scott engaged in such behavior during childhood. He was not a problem child, so what occasion would there be for him to feel guilt or remorse for having wronged someone? He didn't cause Laci's disappearance, so how can he feel guilty or remorseful? I do hear guilt and remorse in the phone conversations with Amber -- guilt and remorse for having had the affair, for having lied to Amber, for having dashed her dreams of a future with a wealth, jet-setting executive! He repeatedly took responsibility with Amber for lying to her. And he is very empathic towards Amber's daughter.- 2
Look for repeated deceitful behavior. A sociopath generally has a track record of lying and being deceitful. Making up wild stories and deliberately twisting scenarios to hurt someone are also commonly observed in sociopaths. As is the case with other sociopath behaviors, lying begins in childhood. No such track record with Scott from childhood, or with anything in his adult life before Laci's disappearance with the exception of the affairs -- 2 documented affairs, 5 years apart. Sad reality is, lying and deceit are part and parcel with having an affair; not only lying to the spouse, but lying to the mistress.- 3
Look for signs of reckless behavior. Sociopaths have no concern for their own safety or for the safety of others. They commonly engage in fights and conflict repeatedly. They also tend to behave in other reckless ways such as driving at outrageous speeds purposely to put their lives and the lives of others in danger. During childhood, bullying and harassing others is common. No evidence of such behavior from Scott -- either during his childhood or adult life.- 4
Look for defiant behavior. Sociopaths have a hard time conforming to social norms and regulations. They tend to repeatedly break the law and have a history of stealing and engaging in drug use. It is estimated that eighty percent of the male inmate population has a personality disorder that manifests as antisocial behavior. No evidence of such behavior from Scott -- either during his childhood or adult life.- 5
Look for signs of extreme emotions such as anger and rage, or complete indifference. Sociopaths usually display mood swings and manipulative behavior. Anger and violence are common as are extreme frustration when they can't get what they want. Although sociopaths are generally angry people, they are also known to turn on the charm in order to manipulate people to obtain what they want. They can also be aloof and indifferent to things that would upset a normal person. People often cite using charm to manipulate people, but they fail to explain why there is no anger or rage in Scott's life -- none at all. No evidence of violence. Neither is there any evidence that he was completely indifferent to things that would upset a normal person. He wasn't a publicly emotional person, but he did show emotions in public. But we don't hear about those -- we only hear the myth perpetrated by the MPD and the family and friends who soured on Scott after they learned of the affair that Scott didn't show any emotion. Other than Amber, who claimed Scott had manipulated them? Laci certainly had no complaints to make about Scott to her family, or her friends, or her other associates. Whatever problems they had in their marriage were not sufficient for her to feel it necessary to involve other people, and there is no evidence that Laci was the type of personality to stay in a bad marriage.- 6
Look at a person's history. Although the exact cause of why an individual becomes a sociopath is not clear, there are a number of things sociopaths have in common. A history of child abuse or having a parent with substance abuse problems is common among sociopaths. Genetics seem to also play a significant role as the children of parents with antisocial personality disorder appear to be at a higher risk of developing an antisocial personality disorder. Ultimately though, this cannot be used as a sure indicator because sociopaths have also been known to come from loving homes.
This is from another Internet article -- again I've added italics, bold, and underline for emphasis.
Early behavior problems
Most psychopaths begin to exhibit serious behavioral problems at an early age. These might include persistent lying, cheating, theft, fire setting, truancy, class disruption, substance abuse, vandalism, violence, bullying, running away and precocious sexuality. Because many children exhibit some of these behaviors at one time or another, especially children raised in violent neighborhoods or in disrupted or abusive families, it is important to emphasize that the psychopaths's history of such behaviors is more extensive and serious than that of most others, even when compared with those of siblings and friends raised in similar settings.
Early cruelty to animals is usually a sign of serious emotional or behavioral problems. Cruelty to other children—including siblings—is often part of the young psychopaths's inability to experience the sort of empathy that checks normal people's impulses to inflict pain, even when enraged.
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Adult antisocial behavior
Psychopaths consider the rules and expectations of society inconvenient and unreasonable, impediments to their inclinations and wishes. They make their own rules, both as children and as adults.Many of the antisocial acts of psychopaths lead to criminal convictions. Even within prison populations psychopaths stand out, largely because their antisocial and illegal activities are more varied and frequent than are those of other criminals.
Not all psychopaths end up in jail. Many of the things they do escape detection or prosecution, or are on the "shady side of the law." For them, antisocial behavior may consist of phony stock promotions, questionable business and professional practices, spouse or child abuse, and so forth. Many others do things that, although not illegal, are unethical, immoral or harmful to others: philandering, cheating on a spouse, financial or emotional neglect of family members, irresponsible use of company resources or funds, to name but a few. The problem with behaviors of this sort is that they are difficult to document and evaluate without the active cooperation of family, friends, acquaintances and business associates.
The only thing in this list that Scott Peterson is guilty of is cheating on a spouse. No illegal or unethical behavior, no spousal or child abuse; no financial neglect or irresponsible use of company resources or funds; no questionable business or professional practices; and certainly no criminal behavior.
