How You Can Tell If that Charming Man is a Sociopath

Let's be honest. Television and Internet media are replete with stories about missing or deceased women and sociopathic men. Either there are more sociopaths in the world or the media is covering it more. Either way, it's unsettling, especially to single women.

Single women (especially previously-married ones) are prime pickin's for married men and sociopaths. As a not-unattractive female who's divorced, and a person who minored in psychology and earned two degrees, I have gathered enough education and personal experience to know what I'm saying is true. And as a former counselor, counseling mostly females, I've heard enough stories to fill a book.

Just in case you're thinking, "Hey, wait! Not all married men are sociopaths!" let me concur. But do you know which ones are? That is the point of this article! What is a sociopath?

Using the official diagnostic version from The DSM-IV-TR® and The American Journal of Psychiatry (diagnostic manuals) and my own training and experience, here's some help in understanding the sociopath.

Essentially, a sociopath will glibly lie, charm and use others, without a moment's remorse over hurting anyone.

They're often, but not always, more charismatic, charming and sexy than the average person.

Sociopaths can feign every kind of emotion; yet they know only "feral" [wild, savage, deadly] pleasures.

Sociopaths find rewards in the hunt. After the catch, they are repulsed by what they caught!

Their joys are in conquest and in winning.

They understand love, know how to manipulate it, but can not feel either love or empathy.

Grandiose Sense of Self: They feel entitled to certain things as "their right."

Shallow Emotions are all they have!

When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. They are outraged by insignificant matters, yet remain unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises!