Sociopath and psychopathy are often used interchangeably in everyday language to describe a person with a pattern of criminal or violent conduct and who has no concern for anyone else and any sense of moral responsibility for his/her actions.
The following sociopath definition was developed by the American Society of Criminology to help people understand and accept the existence of this problem.
Psychopathy is not a disorder, in general, rather it is a symptom of a more general condition known as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). As a group, ASPD patients show an aggressive disregard for and lack of concern for others and their safety. Because of this, they tend to have disregard for both rules and laws, and will engage in criminal activities in order to satisfy their ego.
In a criminal situation, a sociopath may be a victim, but will often go beyond the social context and intentionally cause harm to others. Sociopaths may be involved in crimes ranging from petty theft to homicide. There is no one single type of sociopath, although most are extremely violent and are believed to be able to commit a variety of violent crimes. Many psychologists believe that a sociopath may be a parent, brother or even a child because of the violent nature of their behaviors.
Sociopaths do not have an appropriate response to stress or trauma. They are unable to experience guilt or remorse and usually have poor self-control. A person with a sociopathic personality disorder is also lacking in empathy and lacks the ability to take responsibility for their own actions. The absence of conscience leaves sociopaths no room to control their impulses and emotions and is often described as a complete lack of emotional intelligence.
The causes of sociopath can vary from person to person, but the primary reason that these criminals are so prolific in their criminal activities is because they are unable to adjust well in social situations. For example, when the family is a victim of a crime, most sociopaths are unable to recognize the victim as having suffered, or acknowledge the pain and trauma of the crime.
Because they are unable to cope with social pressure and are unable to recognize their emotions, it is common for them to resort to violence to satisfy their ego, which usually leads to further crimes.
There are many forms of sociopath, and most of these types of criminals have multiple violent acts. In some cases, there may be no identifiable pattern, but they tend to be habitual offenders and frequently display a history of committing crimes in multiple communities.
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have a sociopath in your life, it is important to consult a professional criminal psychologist who specializes in behavioral therapy. If you are a victim of a crime that was committed by a sociopath, then seeking legal assistance to help you defend yourself or to get justice. can be helpful in helping the legal system to identify and prosecute the criminal.
A criminal defense attorney can help you make sure that your rights are protected and ensure that the guilty are brought to justice. If you are unable to find the necessary resources to adequately defend yourself, you may be able to retain an attorney to represent you. on a pro Bono basis.
If you feel that a court ordered evaluation or test has been conducted against you based on your mental health, your criminal defense attorney can help you obtain documentation that will support your innocence and provide evidence to support your claim. In many cases, if a court ordered evaluation was performed against you, then a forensic examination by a forensic psychiatrist will often prove that the results were not based on your mental health. However, if the results are in your favor, then you may be able to claim that your mental health caused the test results.
During a forensic psychiatrist exam, the forensic psychiatrist will conduct a psychological assessment to determine whether or not you have a sociopathic personality disorder. Once the testing process is completed, the forensic psychiatrist will write an official diagnosis, which is then submitted to an authorized medical authority. such as a medical doctor.
This can help the court determine whether or not you should be committed or put on supervised community supervision, depending on the level of sociopath that you have. In most cases, if you do not have a serious criminal record, then you may be eligible for community supervision under a mental health treatment program.