Index

A person who considers himself a sociopath has developed behaviors that violate the rights of others.  These are often criminal in nature. The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition” (DSM-IV) describes some of these behaviors as not complying with the rules of society, deception, impulsiveness, reckless danger to self or others, and the lack of remorse. This behavior falls under a condition called antisocial personality disorder. Some of the causes of this disorder date back to childhood.

These types of people lack empathy and lack feelings of remorse. They only think of themselves and their benefit and do not mind causing physical or mental pain to other people. When they cause pain to others they do not feel shame or any kind of guilt, since lacking empathy they do not feel the need to repent for the acts committed.

It is important to know the causes that cause sociopaths to exist , not to understand their behavior, but to understand how a person can have this type of behavior . Can sociopathy be avoided in some cases if the causes that sometimes provoke it were avoided?

Child abuse and neglect

Children who were abused by their parents or caregivers can suffer serious consequences later in life. The possibility of becoming a sociopath increases when a child is subjected to this type of abuse. A child who has distant and indifferent parents is also at risk. 

Children in this type of care often fail to attach to their parents or caregivers, making it more difficult to form these bonds with others later in life. Parents who are unavailable often provide little supervision or rules for their children. This results in a child who has not learned the importance of following the rules , whether at home, at school, or in society.

Abusive, neglectful, or absent parents are not good role models for the child to follow into adulthood. Children who are constantly moving from house to house, such as foster care, will also not have a good parental role model to follow, something that will cause them to have severe emotional problems.

Brain chemistry

An area of ​​the brain called the prefrontal cortex is responsible for controlling judgment, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and decision-making. People who exhibit antisocial behavior are believed to have chemical imbalances that prevent this area of ​​the brain from sending the signals that dictate appropriate behaviors. The specific chemical involved is serotonin, which produces a feeling of well-being. People with sociopathic behavior can have damage to the nerve centers that regulate the release of serotonin .

Conduct disorder

The DSM-IV states that a child diagnosed with conduct disorder before age 10 has a higher chance of developing antisocial personality disorder unless the condition is treated early and effectively. 

The symptoms of conduct disorder are very similar to those of antisocial personality disorder. The criteria are intimidation and threats to others, assault on people or animals, physical cruelty, destruction of property, lies, and theft. A child who has an early-onset conduct disorder has a worse prognosis than one who develops the disorder later in childhood or adolescence.

A person with sociopathic behavior does not usually seek help because they do not think they need it of any kind. Only the people who commit crimes and the justice forces them to treat themselves are those who can seek help, or if events have happened in their lives that they have no choice but to seek professional treatment

Elle Mcdonald

I am Elle Mcdonald Specializations in Psychology . Graduated in psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2000. Diploma of Advanced Studies in the Department of Personality, Evaluation and psychological treatments with excellent results.

First Level of Master in Clinical Psychology at the Center for Behavioral Therapists (recognized with a scientific-professional nature by the College of Psychologists)

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