This book by Martha Stout impacted me so much that I gave copies to all my close relatives. It’s important to me that my loved ones know one when they see one.
Is There a Sociopath Next Door?
According to Stout, about 3-5% of the population are sociopaths – that means people who lack a conscience. Fortunately, not all of them are criminals. Unfortunately, some are. Stout gave two red flags to look for:
- presents himself as a victim, and
- is charming.
Not everyone with these traits is a sociopath but they are warning signs.
An Unwitting Victim
The charming trait is obvious. It draws people in.
But why would someone want to present themselves as a victim? A prisoner that Stout was seeing told her he likes to get people to take pity on him so that he can take advantage of them. Sociopaths love to toy with people. It’s fun for them. Nice people are easy targets.
So the next time you see someone who is a charming victim, look more closely. What do they say and do? Are they empathetic? Do they really care about others?
Stout recommends avoiding sociopaths. However, sometimes we can’t. In my next article, I’ll explore what she said in her book, Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door.
Referrals Welcome.
Want to talk? Make an appointment with me – phone, teletherapy, or in person.
For more tips on living, check out the rest of my blog or follow me on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
Comments are closed.