Adolf Hitler, Hannibal Lector, Ted Bundy, the Joker, John Wayne Gasey. Even though some of the names I just said are fictional, they all have something in common. All could easily be defined as a sociopath. Also commonly referred to as a psychopath. In this paper I intend to discuss what causes a person to become a sociopath, what the signs that someone is a sociopath, what some of the possible treatments are (if any), and what I learned through the process of studying about this disease. .
First off, a sociopath/psychopath is defined in the dictionary as a person suffering from a severe mental disorder with aggressive antisocial behavior. If someone is truly a sociopath/psychopath, then they are diagnosed with Anti-Social Personality Disorder. It's a disease that affects 3% of the male population and 1% of the female population. However, the diagnosis is not used for people under 18 and there really is no drug or cure to control it, so treatment is not very successful. The diagnosis is based on a "pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since the age of fifteen, as indicated by at least three of the following, 1. failure to conform to the social norms for lawful behavior, as indicated by repeatedly performing illegal acts that are grounds for arrest 2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure 3. impulsivity 4. failure to plan ahead 5. irritability and aggressive, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults 6. reckless disregard for safety of self and others 7. lack of remorse, as indicated by indifference or rationalizations for having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from others." ("Anti-Social Behavior" ) The causes of this disorder can be traced all the way back to childhood. It's really a combination of mental illnesses as a result of heredity, trauma, and the lack of emotional development needed in childhood that gives a person understanding for other people's feelings.
