SURVIVING AMONG PSYCHOPATHS AND SOCIOPATHS
Yahya Ülkershared an article on psychopaths and sociopaths, I reposted it with this comment: “Psychopaths and sociopaths aren’t confined to social media; they could well be in the workplace, too. Kudos to Mr. Ülker for highlighting emotional manipulations that can even verge on abuse or bullying! Coming up next in my reviews is P.T. Elliot’s The Sociopath’s Guide to Getting Ahead at Work.” (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mulker_i%CC%87%C5%9F-yerinde-duygusal-manip%C3%BClasyona-maruz-kal%C4%B1yor-activity-7232620666435342336-hbJD/). Well, it’s finally time to dive into that post.
The terms “sociopath” and “psychopath” get thrown around frequently, without a full grasp of their meanings. In the workplace, too, people are quick to label others with these terms—sociopath or psychopath. Psychiatrists explain that individuals exhibiting traits of Antisocial Personality Disorder—characterized by a disregard for others’ rights and feelings—do show distinctions between these terms, even if they’re sometimes used interchangeably. (*)
Psychopathy is a psychological disorder clustered with maladaptive personality traits. It features inadequate emotional responses, a deficiency in empathy, poor control over behavior, and occasionally criminal actions, classifying it as a neuropsychiatric disorder.
Psychopaths are claimed to be behind a significant portion of crimes. Their maniplative interpersonal style can create chaos in the lives, careers, and relationships of those in their orbit. Typically, they excel at manipulating people and toying with the emotions of those in the immediate circle. In essence, psychopathy revolves around a self-centered personality marked by a lack of remorse, absence of empathy, and criminal inclinations. Experts believe that elements such as genetics, environment, life experiences, and even brain damage can play a role in shaping psychopathic traits.
Sociopathy, on the other hand, is essentially Antisocial Personality Disorder. Sociopaths often find it hard to grasp others’ emotions and rarely feel guilt for the damage they inflict. They tend to break rules on impulse and may use “mind games” to manipulate others, often appearing quite charismatic. Specialists suggest that challenging or traumatic experiences during early life can trigger sociopathy or antisocial behaviors.
Why the introduction? Because this time, we’ll delve into P.T. Elliot’s “The Sociopath’s Guide to Getting Ahead”. Elliot’s guide is perfect for anyone intrigued by the hidden dynamics of these personalities, as it explores how sociopaths manipulate social dynamics to climb the ladder. His philosophical background and status as a prominent Hollywood screenwriter also contribute to making the book an engaging read.
(*) https://www.kemalarikan.com/psikopati-ve-sosyopati.html
Claiming that sociopaths thrive on restlessness, P.T. Elliot elaborates on the methods they employ to achieve their goals and the challenges they encounter in daily life. Interestingly, he sometimes blurs the lines between sociopaths and psychopaths. Not only does he introduce readers to the world of sociopaths, but he also illustrates how they can apply preventative measures in their own lives. Isn’t that exciting?
One in every hundred people is estimated to be a sociopath, with a higher percentage among men. Reports indicate that around 20% of CEOs may exhibit psychopathic tendencies. According to experts analyzing statistical data from the U.S., about 16% of justice system practitioners in prisons are believed to be sociopaths.
The definition of psychopathy is grounded in its Greek roots, combining “mind” and “suffering.” French doctor Philippe Pinel referred to it as “madness without delusion,” indicating a lack of sound mental health.
Why does this matter? Perhaps you are one of them!
The book discusses how to identify such individuals, and from that, you might infer how to avoid them. But the book is written for individuals labeled as psychopaths, to help them normalize their behavior…
As the famous joke goes, who’s the crazy one—those inside or those outside?
Robert D. Hare defines psychopathy using six core social/emotional traits and six social deviation characteristics.
Self-centeredness, lack of empathy, impulsivity, and irresponsibility are among the traits identified by Hare. His checklist is recognized as a tool for assessing the degree of psychopathy.
Beliefs and Cognitive Bias
The author then explores how people form beliefs and how these beliefs can be manipulated. From the origins of beliefs to cognitive biases, various subjects are examined, focusing on the methods of influencing others’ thoughts.
The Power of Belief: Individuals frequently base their decisions on their beliefs, even when those beliefs are flawed. To be effective, it’s essential to grasp and influence the beliefs of others rather than solely focusing on managing your own.
Sources of Beliefs: Beliefs can stem from direct experiences or learned from authorities. What a reliable and consistent authority claims sets the foundation for these beliefs, which can be triggered and influenced as needed.
Cognitive Bias: Cognitive bias is the inclination to depend on certain types of information when shaping our beliefs. While these biases may skew our perception of reality, they act as mental shortcuts for safety and survival.
Types and Examples of Biases
- Confirmation Bias: The tendency to seek information that aligns with existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.
- Attribution Bias: The inclination to credit personal successes to oneself and attribute failures to external circumstances.
- Unrealistic Optimism: The tendency to overestimate positive outcomes and underestimate negative ones.
- Halo Effect: The phenomenon where one positive trait leads to assumptions about additional positive qualities.
- Illusory Truth Effect: The principle that repeating a statement increases its perceived truthfulness.
- Hindsight Bias: The notion that one would have foreseen the outcome of an event once it has unfolded.
Manipulation and Belief: Beliefs can be manipulated through frequent repetition and appropriate evidence. People often stick to their beliefs despite encountering opposing arguments. A lack of empathy is a significant factor in the success of such manipulation.
Careers Paths for Sociopaths
The author proposes career options that may be well-suited for sociopaths and offers insights on how they can excel in these areas.
Gambler Types: If you enjoy taking risks and thrive in a fast-paced environment, high-risk jobs like stock investment are suitable for you. Structured environments with minimal chaos offer the best opportunities for you. In the exciting atmosphere of cities, it’s easy to blend in and succeed.
Technologist Types: Engaging in innovative ventures within the rapidly evolving tech world is ideal for sociopaths. By focusing on jobs with potential for progress and differentiation, you can invest in future leading companies.
Becoming a Surgeon or Chef: Surgeons and chefs possess spatial awareness, skills, and a methodical work style. These professions emphasize mental processing and logical analysis, guiding your actions spatially and helping you make unemotional decisions. While surgeons focus on precision in the operating room, chefs thrive in the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. These skills can also lead to success in fields such as hunting or sports. However, excessive competitiveness and impulsivity can pose risks in certain roles, such as hazardous tasks in bomb disposal teams—just to name a few!
Media Producer: A career in the entertainment industry offers a variety of challenging and exciting projects. With charisma, charm, or talent, you can find significant success in the media landscape.
Religious Leadership: This is a field rich with intense beliefs, where the spotlight is on you. Such a position is ideal for showcasing your authority and leadership skills.
P.T. Elliot also offers tips for sociopaths to succeed in job interviews:
- Offer responses that reflect psychological consistency and showcase your appreciation for others.
- Steer clear of patronizing comments and extraneous details.
- Answer questions confidently and avoid sounding paranoid.
- Strive for moderate results on personality assessments.
Demonstrate Positive Traits:
- Responsibility: Convey trustworthiness and diligence.
- Openness: Be receptive to new ideas and imagination.
- Extroversion: Exhibit energy and self-confidence.
- Agreeableness: Be cooperative and friendly.
Avoid negative traits such as:
- Neuroticism: Emotional instability and negative feelings.
Creating a strong impression of fitting into the job culture during interviews is essential and, in fact, a key to success in the interview process.
The author engagingly continues the book…
In the section titled “Personalities,” he emphasizes the importance of understanding power dynamics between coworkers and superiors when embarking on a new job, while also guiding employees on how to categorize individuals and navigate relationships: classifying people as TARGETS, OBSTACLES, and FURNITURE paves the way for success. Targets refer to individuals intended for influence; obstacles are those who impede progress; and furniture encompasses everyone else in the environment.
In the section titled “Power,” he underscores the essential role of power in human relationships and the workplace, adding that “identifying who holds power and knowing how to navigate those dynamics is crucial for a successful career.” Focusing on power dynamics and the behavior of those in power enables a better understanding and effective management of the surrounding power balances.
His suggestions continue:
Informal power is often more effective than formal hierarchy. Observe who participates in significant decision-making meetings and note the relationships between individuals. It’s essential to respect these key players and grasp the power dynamics at work. Additionally, consider the inter-organizational power structures; understanding who influences whom and who holds the authority can be pivotal for success in your career.
Power holders tend to be obedient, accurate, rule-oriented, assertive, and intelligent. Imitating these behaviors can enhance your perceived strength and effectiveness among your peers. However, it’s important to apply these tactics judiciously and only in appropriate contexts.
Understanding power dynamics correctly and imitating the behavior of power holders can significantly contribute to your career success. Nonetheless, it’s essential to employ these behaviors in a balanced and judicious manner. Effectively managing your relationships with power holders can provide a substantial advantage in your career.
In the section titled “Creating an Effective Character,” the author explores how individuals can influence their environment through their character. The challenges of expressing internal emotions naturally, beyond societal expectations, are highlighted:
- People accused of pretending rather than being genuine have mastered hiding their emotions, making them quite effective at it. But this approach means they have to act out their feelings.
- Once you hit your targets for authenticity, it’s important to keep that mindset and integrate it into your life. Essentially, this means outperforming the average person.
- Some people believe that revealing their vulnerabilities is the best way to build trust and evoke empathy.
- Everyone plays their part and wears different masks, meaning that individuals adopt various personas.
- Inauthenticity can serve as a strategy for shaping one’s character. Being ordinary and predictable in social settings can foster trust among others.
- People generally appreciate authenticity, but genuineness requires considerable effort.
Tactics suggested by the author:
- Practice different expressions and gestures using a mirror.
- Draw inspiration from outstanding examples of authenticity.
Creating an impressive character demands meaningful expression of your inner emotions. Authenticity and inauthenticity are among the keys to effective character creation.
As I mentioned before, the author humorously guides readers on how to adopt sociopathic traits while also sharing tips for identifying sociopaths and safeguarding oneself against them.
The insights shared in the “Masking and Energy Conservation” section are intriguing as well. Sociopaths reportedly employ various tactics to conserve energy and remain competitive:
- Energy Conservation Strategies: Sociopaths minimize energy expenditure by maintaining power dynamics and keeping relationships secret. They favor a relaxed approach and going with the flow as a way to reduce stress in unpredictable situations.
- Personal Space and Boundaries: They establish a personal space for comfort, shielding themselves from outside influences and aiding in energy conservation.
- Distraction and Deception Tactics: Sociopaths are adept at diverting attention and misleading others. These tactics help them conceal their true intentions and actions.
In the section titled “Easy Bites,” P.T. Elliott directly examines how sociopathic individuals employ the imposter syndrome and various manipulation strategies:
Imposter Syndrome: Sociopaths often present themselves as superior, exaggerating their achievements and manipulating others through deception.
Self-Glorification: By overstating their skills and constantly seeking praise, these individuals influence and control those around them.
Holding Tight: They skillfully manipulate their targets by presenting seemingly acceptable options, thereby making their preferred choice appear more appealing.
Planning Fallacy: Exploiting the targets’ weaknesses, they orchestrate crises to capitalize on circumstances for personal benefit.
Creating Crises: When projects face potential failure, they generate significant problems to distract from the actual issues at hand.
Fanning the Flames of Fear: By leveraging the fears of others, they gain control and manipulate their targets effectively.
Using a Strategic Position: In a position of power, they leverage it to maintain dominance.
Let Them Self-Destruct in Public: They cast the target person in a negative light, damaging their reputation while strengthening their position.
Harnessing the Power of the Herd: Leaving the target person weak and unsteady, creates opportunities for manipulation.
Intimidation: They exploit the target person’s weaknesses to instill fear and gain control.
Creating Unease: By highlighting wage disparities, they stir unrest in the workplace, using the situation to their advantage.
The author goes on to explain how sociopathic individuals can cultivate alliances in the workplace to strategically advance their interests. “When applied appropriately, sociopathic traits can enhance one’s popularity and effectiveness,” he says. The strategies he suggests in this regard are, this time, indirect:
Be Expansionist: Cultivate loyalty in the team by leveraging the weaknesses of those who are less courageous. Remember, even if you exhibit reckless behavior, it can generate enthusiasm and dedication among your colleagues.
Create a Crisis: If your project is at risk of failure, generate a significant problem to distract attention and conceal the real failure. People may panic during this process, but when the ultimate failure arrives, it will seem less significant.
Foolishness: Gain admirers by engaging in risky or humorous behaviors to entertain others. People enjoy the combination of fun and danger, making you more popular.
Decisiveness: Take on challenging tasks and succeed in earning trust. Staying composed in challenging or perilous situations earns you the respect and appreciation of others.
Boldness: Be entertaining and effective by voicing what others hesitate to express. This not only lightens the mood but also fosters greater trust among your peers.
Titles and Awards: Honor and reward people to gain their loyalty and affection. Symbolic awards and titles satisfy people’s egos and enhance your popularity.
The author highlights how sociopaths grasp the distinction between winning an argument and being right, often going to great lengths to secure a debate victory. Here are some of their tactics:
- Pose Questions and Instill Doubt:
In a complex conversation, foster uncertainty to undermine the other party’s confidence and redirect the discussion. Challenge their opinions and seek clarifications; often, they may lack a solid foundation. Make a statement that could go either way, then demand proof from them.
- Distract and Confuse:
You can gain the upper hand in a debate by diverting it to unrelated matters. Use crude humor to shift the focus and frequently change the subject.
- Gradually Undermine Their Power:
If your opponent dismisses your assertion, reiterate it in a more complicated way using double negatives.
- Use Irony and Incite:
Begin with a compelling anecdote and build from there. Highlight flaws in your opponent’s logic and assert that their conclusions are misguided.
- Push Them to the Edge:
Use circular arguments to make your opponent uneasy. Present confusing questions that raise suspicion about their credibility.
- Attack:
Label your opponent’s argument as absurd or nonsensical. Question their claims with a condescending and mocking attitude. Undermine their intelligence and resort to personal attacks. Use tactical threats to force them into agreement. Apply pressure like a salesperson, crafting compelling narratives to make an undesirable offer seem attractive. Utilize the technique of creating Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt by spreading negative rumors about your competitors’ products to sow doubt.
The author then shifts to the topic of “Enemies,” expertly illustrating how sociopaths can fabricate adversaries even in environments where none exist. According to him, most so-called enemies are not genuine threats but simply competitors. He emphasizes the need to avoid unwarranted dramatization, as true enemies are infrequent and pose actual risks.
How to Deal with Enemies
Avoid Making Enemies: The best approach is to steer clear of creating enemies. If someone is trying to harm you, respond calmly and realistically.
Manage Your Enemies: Turn your enemies into tools for personal growth.
The author also summarizes sociopathic strategies and tactics:
Close Relationships with Enemies: The proverb “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer” is useful for monitoring your enemies and extracting useful information from them.
Disregarding: Diminish your enemy’s impact by ignoring their significance.
Active Measures: Destroy enemies through covert operations, spread disinformation, and manipulate public opinion.
Kompromat: Collect and use specific materials to discredit rivals.
Gaslighting: Manipulate your enemies into doubting their sanity.
A Sociopath Conceals Their Weapon Upon Encountering Another Sociopath!
Hide Your Skills: Gain insight into your opponent’s tactics while remaining inconspicuous and portraying yourself as unimportant.
Show Determination: Stay vigilant and do not let your guard down, no matter what.
Dance with the Devil: If you cannot maintain your distance, find a compliant partner, and avoid direct competition.
Avoidance: Leave the situation immediately.
Aggression: Push them away from yourself.
Collaboration: Engage in careful collaboration.
Conflict with another sociopath can be extremely dangerous; the only way to avoid negative consequences is to employ thoughtful and strategic methods.
Here comes the one last suggestion: Be a Winner
The author emphasizes that winning involves reaching one’s self-defined goals and explores the essence of winning and the path to becoming a winner. In reality, he aims to teach us how to temper our ambitions and manipulative tendencies—essentially, the psychopath and sociopath within us. You must be honest with yourself and set your goals accordingly.
In today’s society, truth and logic have fallen out of favor, with rhetoric taking center stage. Reading is often viewed as old-fashioned; history is overlooked and misrepresented, and narcissism and bias dominate the conversation. People are constrained by neuroticism, relativity, and feelings of fear. It’s precisely the right time to leverage our sociopathy to feed off unrest and get ahead. But that’s a matter of your morals. :)) 😉
Note: This open-source article does not require copyright and can be quoted by citing the author.
