Why do people say ''sociopath'' like it's a bad thing?

Question

Most sociopath are extremely intelligent being who can execute the logical choice, and not the emotional one.

Why do people say ''sociopath'' like it's a bad thing?

Answer 1

Well, it just so happens I am doing a research paper right now for my abnormal psych class on the "psychopath." (Sociopath is another term used for the same thing.) These are people who yes, do not have delusions or signs of irrational thinking. They do not exhibit signs of anxiety (physiological or psychological) when involved in situations that would cause anxiety in the "normal" person. (He could pass a lie detector test and yet be as guilty as sin!) Though this may appear to be a good thing on the surface (debatable), the sociopath displays other symptoms that in fact, when combined with rational thinking and absence of anxiety, make the sociopath/psychopath in fact, rather dangerous. Symptoms include: inability to be loyal, inability to empathize, inability to love, unreliability, untruthfulness and insincerity, lack of remorse or shame, inadequately motivated anti-social behavior (i.e. he lies, cheats, fights, etc. without "understandable" cause: engaging in risky behavior that does not have a reward or benefit that outweighs the harm he would cause to himself if he were caught). This sort of individual fails to learn by experience, committing the same errors in judgment over again, despite how unpleasant the consequences might be. This person may be able to rationally judge problems in an abstract way- but when it comes to his actions, this judgment appears to be absent. The sociopath is egocentric (self-centered, completely). The closest thing he knows about love borders on narcissism. But even he is not capable of "self-love." Sociopaths lack the ability to feel ANYTHING very deeply. His emotional reactions are merely immature reactions as opposed to deeply felt emotions that move him. He is usually capable of "pretending" emotions: acting like he has them. This is generally to achieve something that is gainful to him in some self-centered way. The sociopath blames everyone but himself for his problems, his actions (when they harm others). He takes no responsibility for his own deeds. He projects his shortcomings onto others. He lacks insight into his own life. (Example: a sociopath might ask for a recommendation from an employer that has fired him...he doesn't seem to grasp at all the way others might see him. He does not see himself the way others see him.) The sociopath does not show any ordinary responsiveness to consideration, kindness, or trust that he gets from other people. (Example: he will see nothing wrong with betraying a deep trust as long as he gains something by it- and that "something" usually isn't worth the betrayal.) A sociopath is prone to deviant sorts of behavior, particularly behavior that is degrading to others. He sees "fun and excitement" in treating others with real or symbolic degradation. He is cold, calculating, and callous toward others. He has a tendency toward aggression. He is predatory in nature. He manipulates. He lies. He feels no shame. His sex life is promiscuous, and his sexual activity also marked by the need to degrade his partner(s) in some fashion. He has no problems violating the rights of others. He has no conscience. His behavior is also self-defeating. He is generally quite intelligent, skilled, charming, and seems to have good potential, yet he will always do SOMETHING to keep himself from reaching this potential. (For every step forward, he takes three steps back.) Usually just before he is to achieve success. He also seeks immediate self-gratification. He has impulse-control problems. He wants what he wants, and he wants it NOW. Often this will cause him to to take risks that the "normal" person would never dream to take.

With all of that in mind, when you consider the fact that a sociopath is capable of making calculated decisions that are free of delusional thinking, you will see that although he is sane, he indeed poses a danger to others. He is not always a serial killer. He may be an office manager. He may be a world leader, a cult leader...or the guy next door. It's hard to know a sociopath when you first meet one. But the longer you know one, the easier it will be to tell...but by then, you may already have become his next "victim"- sociopaths drain people dry if they do nothing else. They will adversely affect everyone they come into contact with. And what's more, there is no effective psychological treatment known to "cure" a sociopath, despite all of the research that's done (and being done) on this subject. He will be a menace to society until the day he dies. I pity the sociopath. I lived with one for many years. Although he caused me great harm (emotionally, physically, psychologically, socially and spiritually), I loved him. But it is not because I loved him that I pity him. I pity him because I know that he will never know one day of happiness, not one ounce of real joy, as long as he lives. He's as good as dead inside. And there's nothing that can change that. Can you imagine living a life devoid of all real human emotion? Having no real sense of worth, no identity, nothing that means anything to you? It is tragic. He didn't ask to be this way. Psychologists don't know why sociopaths are the way they are. There are many theories. None of which by themselves makes total sense. Sociopaths are still a mystery, in that regard. We don't know if they are born that way, or if they became that way through trauma, through lack of parental guidance...we have theories. But the fact is, we just don't know. What we do know is the sociopath lives a hollow life. He strives to feel excitement and takes risks (committing often deviant behavior) to feel a momentary thrill. It's all he knows about really feeling. That's it. A momentary thrill and then it's gone. And this thrill does not bring him joy, nor does it satisfy- but it raises his nervous system arousal (the "fight or flight response in the sympathetic nervous system)- just enough so that he experiences an adrenalin rush: the closest thing he has to emotion.

Now knowing all of this, does this sound like a good thing to you?

Answer 2

Mmm...Tera has an 'Abnormal psych class', do we conclude that the class itself is abnormal?
The problem with a sociopath (or a psychopath) is that it isn't a specific mental disorder. It refers only to the symptoms; then it would have to be shown if such a person has a mental disease or not. If nothing specific is diagnosed, then medicine feels as though it has failed and society has an anti-social individual on its hands (with all the negative and positive attributes).

Long story short: The general public thinks all sociopaths are murderers and the medical world doesn't like what it can't cure.

Answer 3

Because sociopaths have no consciouses. They enjoy the game. Most domestic abuse is committed by sociopaths. That includes female abusers. Most sex crimes are committed by sociopaths. Most embezzlement and fiscal theft are the acts of sociopaths. The only person in their life they care about is their self. They are like the wolf in "Little Red Riding Hood".

Answer 4

Until very recently, sociopaths were considered to be people who know absolutely nothing emotionally other than what they learn to emulate from others. They were actually defined by an inability to understand or express "true" emotions; rather, they imitated what they saw from the reactions of others. They apparently could not feel any of the emotions they expressed and were so good at mimicing the behaviour of others that their true skill was in manipulation. Tedy Bundy is cited as a classic sociopath in that he couldn't understand the pain he inflicted on others. In other words, sociopaths are missing something in terms of empathy and consciences.

Recently, some theorists in the area have been dismissing the term and are classifying such people as psychopaths. This is in part because there is no way to codify such things as conscience. There are indicators for this behaviour such as youthful violence toward animals and/or people who are vulnerable, and this eventually turns into a fascination with hurting more people.

Researchers are also becoming convinced that this is a biological and genetic issue...that the reason these people are incapable of truly bonding with people is because of a need to spread this psychosis to as many children as possible. So-called sociopaths are often violent rapists, and, according to the new theory, are raping as many women as possible in order to impregnate women with their twisted DNA. This is theory...there are a lot of people working on this to establish why people who do not have traumatic backgrounds (such as Ted Bundy) do the things they do. The research is indicating that there appears to be a genetic component. It appears that they are not emotional, but they are logical and highly intelligent in specific ways.

Why is this a bad thing? Because they feel nothing and, therefore, have no compunction about hurting others in extremely sadistic ways. I would call them narcissists because they cannot see anything outside of their own pleasure, but the scientific community working on such people (in order to see if they can channel young people exhibiting such behaviours) is now leaning toward psychopathy rather than sociopathy.

Answer 5

Cuz it definitely not a good thing because of these kinds of traits:

Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them

Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them

Authoritarian

Secretive

Paranoid

Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired

Conventional appearance

Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)

Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life

Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)

Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim

Incapable of real human attachment to another

Unable to feel remorse or guilt

Extreme narcissism and grandiose

May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

Pathological Lying

Answer 6

'cause sociopaths in certain circumstances have proven not only to be VERY intelligent, but also to have no boundries. not all but some tend to live life looking for something or anything that will make them feel or be 'normal'. wether its self destructive or worse, they don't feel guilt, so nothing is an issue for them. its not always negative, but it is unhealthy to feel nothing. its abnormal....and 'normal' is how sanity is measured....often they become bitter, because life has no joy for them....so people over the years have seen many of these people become murderers or rapists, so the fear of these super intelligent people whom are void of emotion, is natural. they aren't governed by a conscious, so they can go either way. but some choose to go with the flow....and pretend to be normal.

Answer 7

Because people equate lack of guilt, remorse, and empathy as being equivalent to being a mass murderer. Which is not true. Most sociopaths live stable, semi-normal lives.

Answer 8

Supposedly, a 'sociopath' is someone who doesn't follow the rules, doesn't respect anyone, and acts above everyone else. Theres more info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociopath

Answer 9

Because the "path" in sociopath stands for pathology. See definition #2.
pa·thol·o·gy (p-thl-j) KEY
NOUN:
pl. pa·thol·o·gies
1. The scientific study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences. Also called pathobiology .
2. The anatomic or functional manifestations of a disease: the pathology of cancer.
3. A departure or deviation from a normal condition: "Neighborhoods plagued by a self-perpetuating pathology of joblessness, welfare dependency, crime" (Time).

Answer 10

Because most people are too lazy to do their research before they draw conclusions. You could say anything with "opath" on the end of it and the average idiot would assume that you're talking about a lunatic.

Answer 11

Not all sociopaths are intelligent but all lack care and empathy. that makes them dangerous.