Is there such a thing as a sociopath test?
Pop culture can be said to have developed a bit of an obsession with the idea of the “sociopath,” which, in some people’s minds, can refer to a charming, intelligent, amoral predator. As a result, hundreds of online quizzes may claim to tell you whether you could be sociopathic. You may wonder whether these tests have any psychological basis, though. First, it may be worth noting that “sociopath” is no longer considered an official mental health diagnosis. At one time, the term was used as a label for what we now call antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This is generally a complex mental health condition that can’t usually be diagnosed with a five-minute personality quiz. However, by familiarizing yourself with the signs of ASPD, you may be better able to determine whether you should consult a therapist, who can provide further professional insight through online or in-person therapy sessions.
What is a sociopath?
The term “sociopath” is usually considered to be outdated in the mental health profession. It was popularized in the 1930s as a descriptor for someone who consistently violated societal standards of behavior. In contemporary research and clinical practice, this condition is now primarily known as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
Still, the concept of the sociopath may have retained a hold on our collective imagination. When some people hear the word, they may picture a super-criminal like Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs or perhaps an amoral political mastermind like Frank Underwood from House of Cards.
This popular image of sociopathy might not have much in common with the reality of ASPD, though. For example, despite the popularity of TV criminal geniuses, antisocial personality disorder appears to be correlated with a lower IQ. Individuals with this condition are not necessarily more likely to be successful in business, politics, or the social sphere, either. Instead, many have challenges maintaining steady employment and consistent relationships.
While sociopaths are commonly portrayed as coolly rational, erratic behavior and poor impulse control tend to be common symptoms of ASPD. Moreover, some people with this disorder may show low levels of emotionality. Others may be prone to unpredictable mood swings, persistent rage, and petty grudges.
How is a sociopath diagnosed?
A mental health professional can diagnose antisocial personality disorder by assessing an individual’s behavior and personal history. According to the American Psychiatric Association, diagnosis normally requires an ongoing pattern of disregarding and violating the rights of others beginning in adolescence.
A clinician may look for a few key features to determine whether an individual has ASPD, including the following:
- Distorted self-concept: A person with antisocial personality disorder may have a limited capacity for self-reflection, evaluating themselves only on whether they’re able to get what they want. As a result, they may have difficulty motivating themselves to pursue goals that aren’t directly related to acquiring pleasure or status.
- Difficulties relating to others: People with ASPD tend to have a limited capacity to imagine how other people think and feel. They may care little about the needs, desires, and values of the people in their lives. As a result, their personal relationships could be little more than shallow attempts to exploit people for personal gain.
- Antagonistic personality traits: Antisocial personality disorder may involve personal characteristics that lead to conflict or harm, such as dishonesty, manipulation, and aggression. People with ASPD may find the suffering of other people inconsequential, including those harmed by their actions.
- Reckless and erratic personality traits: An individual with ASPD may act on impulse, without planning ahead or worrying about the risks to themselves or others. Personal responsibility may be limited, and there could be a tendency to break promises, neglect obligations, and default on debts.
Can a sociopathy test tell you anything useful?
Only mental health professionals can formally diagnose antisocial personality disorder. Thus, you don’t usually get the benefit of formal training and clinical experience when you take an online quiz to detect a “sociopath.”
However, the right test might give you some idea of whether you should seek a more in-depth evaluation.
- Do you often commit major violations of rules or laws?
- If so, do you feel a low level of concern about getting caught?
- Did this pattern of rule violations begin when you were a child or young adolescent?
- Were you disciplined often as a child?
- Have you had numerous run-ins with the police?
- Do you often lie without fear of being discovered?
- Do you frequently manipulate other people for personal gain?
- When something you’ve done causes pain or distress to someone else, are you able to easily shrug it off?
- Are you unconcerned with whether you’re a good person?
- Do you engage in drastic or risky behavior to relieve boredom?
- Do you often act on the spur of the moment?
- When you do something dangerous, are you unconcerned about the idea that you might get hurt?
- Are other people frequently upset with you due to broken promises or neglected duties?
- Do you lose interest in spending time with people when you can’t gain something from them?
- Does hearing about other people’s problems make you feel bored, annoyed, or indifferent?
- If someone insults you or inconveniences you in a minor way, do you often feel intensely angry about it or try to get back at them?
- Have you had very few long-term friendships or romantic relationships?
If you answered “yes” to many of the questions above, it could indicate some typical features of antisocial personality disorder. This might not represent a diagnosis of “sociopathy,” but it could be worth consulting a licensed therapist for insight.
Psychopath checklist vs. Sociopath test
Common usage of the word “sociopath” may actually be closer in meaning to what psychologists describe as a “psychopath.” Some of the symptoms of psychopathy can overlap with those of antisocial personality disorder, but others may more closely resemble other personality disorders, such as narcissism. There’s often still considerable debate in the research community about whether psychopathy is a subset of ASPD or a separate disorder altogether.
Psychopathy is often assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R), a screening tool originally designed by researcher Robert Hare. Studies suggest that the PCL-R describes a recognizable cluster of traits that are often found in common (even across cultures) and strongly predict antisocial behavior.
According to this checklist, potential signs of psychopathy may include the following:
- Superficial, insincere charm: Psychopaths may come across as very friendly, interesting, and approachable, with a knack for ingratiating themselves to others. However, this impression may fade with time as people discover their friendliness is insincere.
- Shallow emotionality: People with psychopathy may have a limited emotional range. While ASPD can involve persistent rage and mood swings, psychopaths often show little response to situations that would make other people feel strongly.
- Lack of empathy and remorse: The absence of distress at other people’s suffering or a lack of guilt over mistreating them may be seen as a key sign of psychopathy.
- Pathological lying: Psychopaths may lie readily, even in situations where there’s little to gain from it. Moreover, they may not care whether their lies are discovered.
- Inflated ego: Individuals with psychopathy may have an unrealistic sense of their own importance and skill. They may want to be seen as impressive, sometimes lying for this purpose.
- Manipulative, parasitic tendencies: A person with psychopathic traits might see little value in hard work. They may prefer to find ways to live off others or get something for nothing.
- Unstable romantic life: Some psychopaths may have frequent sexual encounters, but their relationships rarely last long. They may get married and divorced repeatedly or have a history of antagonistic breakups.
What should you do if you score high on a “sociopath test”?
It may be best not to draw too many conclusions about your personality from online quizzes. Still, if the descriptions of ASPD or psychopathy above sound familiar, you may have some behavioral challenges that could be worth discussing with a mental health professional. If you do meet the criteria for antisocial personality disorder, studies indicate that therapy may help you reduce the negative impacts of this condition on your life and personal relationships.
Perhaps you’ve been trying to determine whether someone close to you might have ASPD. Talking to a therapist might help with this situation as well. The callous, manipulative, and predatory behavior often associated with this condition may have placed a strain on your mental health. Therapy can be helpful in processing these events and regaining a sense of stability.
Benefits of online therapy
Discussing the possibility that you or someone you know might have antisocial personality disorder may not be easy. It could involve talking about decisions you’re not proud of or discussing experiences that have had serious personal and emotional consequences. You may feel more comfortable having this conversation via online therapy, and you can even choose between videoconference, phone call, and online chat.
Effectiveness of online therapy
Though it’s generally considered to be a newer approach compared to in-person therapy, web-based mental health care can be effective. A 2022 meta-analysis concluded that in-person and online therapy tend to work equally well for a wide range of conditions. Talking with a licensed therapist online could be a valuable step toward addressing the impact of antisocial behavior on your life.
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