Can a person have levels of being a sociopath?  Or is is always "full blown"?
598358
although the incidence, severity, and frequency of symptoms of antisocial personality disorder can vary infinitely depending on the individual and his/her interaction with their environment, an individual must meet the minimum criteria to recieve an accurate diagnosis. patients may have some symptoms of the disorder but too few, less frequent, or not severe enough to warrant the diagnosis. also the diagnosis of behavioral disorders in general require that the individual experience impairment in daily functioning as the direct result of the disorder. the problem is that people that meet all the differential criteria for diagnosis may not experience phenomenological impairment unless they are charged with a crime or commit violent or dangerous acts; even then the impairment criteria is met because of environmental impact, not personal experience of impairment. the defining feature of antisocial personality disorder is indeed the lack of regard for social consequences of behavior.
489901
Your right there is NO cure for the socio path. They are master manipulators who are liars, cons, intelligent, and can be quite charming. The scarest part is that they truly have NO conscience, they do not care when they hurt someone physically or mentally. They are out to get what they want out of life doing what they have to do to get it. They don't look at the world the same way you and I do. They don't fit into society so they lie, skeem, manipulate their way through it the best that they can. They even actually believe their own lies after awhile. Your friend is going to have a hard time being convinced to leave the power of this woman. Have you heard of Jim Jones? (Guyana Tragedy). Look it up on the net.. Very interesting info on a socio path running a cult.. I wish you luck.. your going to need it..
279770
Walk into a room full of Addicts, or Alcloholics.  For every person there, the profile of dependance and addiction will be different. In a room full of 100 of these peope, there will be 100 different forms of disease. There is no such thing as classifying someone as being a "prospective" drug abuser.  \n\nAre there risk factors, yes. Are there genetic pre-dispositions, yes.  Are there personality traits, or disorders that can relate to potential for abuse or addiction, yes.  \n\nCan all of these issues be dealt with successfully, sometimes.  \n\nMy parents are both alcoholics. They also raised three successfull kids, never lied, cheated, stole, allways paid their bills, belong to a church, volunteer, and had very successfull careers.  Some of the greatest minds in history, as well as today, had problems of this nature.  \n\nSometimes the insanity that can come from abuse and a clouded mind leads people to do what we would consider outrageous or unacceptable things.  Those people need help, and have to learn how to be painfully honest with themselves.  It can be done, there is a way.  \n\nIt takes a lot of savy, reading, education, experience, etc, etc, to even begin to understand.  I say this because in reading responses to this question I have already seen how people can talk/act like an expert and in reality be completely ignorant, not realizing how much damage they can do with their words and false information.  \n\nIf you really want to learn more go to an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narotics Anonymous (NA), Alanon, Alateen.
1135205
He is a Psychopath.  Psychopaths use extreme charm and persuasiveness to con people.   They have no conscience. Psychopaths are very cunning and appear to be very sincere and honest.  That is why people trust them.
824232
i'm about as real as you can get.  Y!A is good for letting your "inner freak" come out cause you dont know these people.  and i may give some pretty "out there" answers, but i'm really a very level headed individual.  i'm genuine, but i dont have a problem telling the truth.  and it's physically impossible for me to be mean to people!  i'm nice to people i don't even like...and there's noone that i actually hate.  hate is a wasted emotion.  so fear not, there are "real" people out here!!  :-)
281435
I'm not sure, but i would suggest you check under Pshychology for this is a term that belongs under that categorization.
986119
Yes my friend Honesty is very much alive in this selfish world !!\n   A bit difficult to understand this fact....i am not being hyperbolic but to tell u v all live different lives and our lives r so busy and ignorant, we are accustomed to listening to people speak  lies almost every day, yes we sometimes also do speak lies, now at this moment of time, if u meet a person who tells u the truth u always start spying on that person !!I because its all our mindsets that sets us to think that there is no honesty in this world and that no one is honest!!\nwe fail to recognize that person through observation, behavior,speech eye contact, body Language and other such aspects which show the level of honesty in that person!!\nSo ...I think its time to look around I think u should find people who are quite Honest!!
730381
My boss has narcissictic personality disorder and he is dangerous.  People run away from him.....and he pushes people around.\n\nIn general it means that they are full of themselves \n\nUsually murders are diagnosed as psychopaths...or sociopaths
800854
If the murdered person was an abuser, or murderer themselves, yes. Ordinary people no, can they not be the people they are, live the way they desire without being killed by a psyco?
747478
Don't know where Indy T got his information, but in Modern Psychiatry Psychopathy is usually diagnosed according to Robert D. Hare's Psychopathy Checklist:  Intraspecies predators who use charm, manipulation, intimidation, and violence to control others and satisfy their own needs, lacking in conscience and feelings for others, they violate social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret.  The mother of my daughter was such a person, she ran off with another man when our daughter was 5 months old and left her behind.  Then she tried to get our daughter back so I would have to give her money, she even offered to let me keep custody as long as the money came in.  She took me to court and I won, I ended up with a daughter any father could be proud of.  That is how this one person dealt with it.
1107208
Everything is perception. \n\nI came to this way of being when I realized after having my son that things are only as busy and drama-full as I made it.  I ran little tests. If I stayed completely silent the whole day, how much in my life actually changed. In the evening, wouldn't the people I know percieve me in the same way as if I were busy?\n\nI am a type INFJ. I am equally inroverted and extroverted, favoring introvert whenever possible.\n\nI think if a person has it in them to be the "Cool-headed"-type observer, then this could be a gift.  Just because they choose to not display the emotion and drama externally, doesn't mean in every case that thy don't feel the drama internally, they just choose, or are naturally gifted to not drag other into the mire.\n\nChoosing to working on a more neutral approach, a wiser approach as to how we initiate/participate in drama can help the longevitey of our sanity as well as our lives.  So....perhaps. This is just my perception of the question you have asked.
973223
In general, that is true.  But there are people that just analyze any situation to death and never act upon it.  Figure it out the best you can an get on with it.\n\nToo many details can also just muddy up the equation.
173023
I think that we all have the capability to choose... and that we also tend to choose the easiest option.\nOur choices depend upon our perceptions, where we live, and socieoeconomic status, among other things. \n\nI believe that some people have learned better coping skills than others, but still may not use them because it's easier to choose the "more unhealthy" actions. \n\nI once worked with a 4 year old who had "antisocial personality disorder". This is a pretty serious diagnosis for such a young kid! He had poor impulse control, and violent outbursts. He was a great kid. He really intended to do good. Sometimes he just got out of control. With the help of the teacher and his parents, we were able to minimize his "violent outbursts". It basically boiled down to his choice- which he understood. By the end of the year he was able to come and tell someone that he was feeling out of control.\n\nOverall, people tend to do the best and easiest thing that they know how to in the moment.... if one is a "good" or "bad" person is probably up to god or karma or someone else but me to judge :)
366392
yes,but it differs from the  way your looking for a personality,like behaviour,body,attitude & knowledge.\nif your intersted to more about the person,you must have to know, that person must have these qualities.but i am  not clear about what kind of personalities you mean
161474
imup4unow is right about high IQs and social disorders but schizophrenia tops the list. Also people with high IQs tend to have poor communication skills when it comes to verbalizing their feelings.  Extreme talent often seems to have a price. We see this all the time in artists, musicians, scientists and philosophers. I think failures in life is a harsh term. You need to look at what a persons goals in life are before they are deemed a failure. A truely lazy person may want to do nothing more than lie around all day. If they are truely happy is that failing?
286651
Anybody can become psychotic under the right circumstances, whether it is stress, drugs, brainwashing, or upbringing.  Some have better control than others.  There are probably as many answers as there are psychotic people.  And.....some people are just mean (mean people suck)!
1092582
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: "The essential feature of Narcissistic PD is a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts." "Individuals in this disorder have a grandiose sense of self-importance....they believe they are superior, special, unique and expect others to recognize them as such....individuals in this disorder require excessive admiration...Their self-esteem is almost invariably very fragile."\nundue dwelling on one's own self or attainments, love of or sexual desire for one's own body\n\nPsychopath/Antisocial Personality Disorder: "The essential feature of Antisocial PD is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood."\n"a mentally ill or unstable person; especially: one who has a poorly balanced personality and does not feel guilty about not living up to normal moral and social responsibilities". \nNote: the term psychopath is not generally used in the Mental Health Field - it is a layman's term- Most psychopaths are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder- a good portion of your serial killers/mass murders are Psychopaths/antisocial.