DavidWolfe.comNot all sociopaths are the obviously deranged, twisted social outcasts you see on the big screen.
No, most sociopaths are much more subtle – and charming. Oh, so charming.
In reality, a sociopath is much more likely to be someone you fall in love with at work or a party than someone who chases you down a dark alley with a knife.
And why wouldn’t you fall in love with a sociopath? They’re intelligent, charismatic, confident and methodical. They know what they want and they know how to get it.
Of course, things don’t stay perfect for long. Cracks quickly begin to show in a relationship with a sociopath.
And what are those cracks? Let’s take a look at six of them.
#1 – ‘I Am Better Than You’
Sociopaths know how to appeal to people. When you first meet one, it might seem like they just get you. The two of you appear to see eye-to-eye on so many things.
But sooner or later, a sociopath’s superiority complex begins to kick in and it becomes clear that, in their eyes, you are nowhere near their level. They might even verbalize that and degrade you with mean remarks.
Over time, this can actually make you believe you’re inferior.
#2 – Strings
At the beginning of a relationship, a sociopath may shower you with ‘gifts.’ Make no mistake – you’ll be paying for each and everyone one of those. At least, that’s what’s expected of you.
A sociopath gives nothing away for free. Every flower, every necklace, it all seems to come back up once the honeymoon stage is over.
#3 – A Hazy Romantic Past
Now, not everyone is an angel with a completely spotless romantic record. But most people are able to discuss their romantic past with maturity. Why? Because they’ve moved past their former lovers, for whatever reason.
Sociopaths don’t move past people – they discard them.
It’s all part of their love cycle. They idealize someone, then they devalue and, finally, discard them. They speak about their past partners as if they were nothing more than a disposable good that served its purpose and then became obsolete.
You might reason that ‘Hey, maybe these people treated my partner like crap.’ But make no mistake – that’s an actual trail of destruction they’ve left behind, not a few isolated misfortunes.
#4 – I Win!
A sociopath never looses an argument. They can flip-flop their way out of even the tightest logical traps. To make matters worse, they don’t understand basic human emotions; no amount of informing them just how their actions made you feel will solve anything.
They’re like black holes. They make no sense to the outside world and anything you throw at them just gets warped into something else.
#5 – Morals?
Sociopaths have a moral capacity. In other words, they don’t quite see ‘right and wrong’ like you and I.
Cheating? Ah, no biggie. Lying about it, even when presented with evidence? No problem. Stealing from people who trust them? What’s the big deal?
If that sounds like your partner, something is seriously wrong.
#6 – Shallow Empathy
‘Wait! My partner couldn’t possibly be a sociopath! They express empathy… sort of.’
The sociopaths that exist in the world around us have done their best to fit in. They try to emulate normal behavior and, for the most part, can fool a lot of their acquaintances.
It’s when you get close and find yourself in a crisis that you realize a sociopath’s empathy isn’t all there. They might say and do the right things but something’s just… off. It doesn’t feel genuine – and it happens over and over, even when the issue is something the sociopath should care about.
Curious to learn more about signs you may be dating a sociopath – and what you should do about it? Check out this video!
Sources:
Sociopath World
RibbonFarm.com
DatingASociopath.com
Thought Catalog
Vice