High Functioning Sociopath: A sociopath refers to a person with an antisocial personality disorder. When one hears the term sociopath, visions of serial killers, assassins, and criminals immediately come to mind. This frame of reference can be linked to media portrayal and pop culture, as movies and television have long portrayed sociopaths as killers, thugs, and criminals. Although some sociopaths do have the potential to be lethal, most are not destined to become convicted felons. In fact, a high-functioning sociopath may initially present like an average person and can be relatively successful in life.
They tend to have strong family backgrounds, careers, relationships, and children. They will appear to have average personality traits and ordinary appearance. It is only during stress, transitions, or pressure-filled situations that a sociopath’s true colors become visible.
What Is A High Functioning Sociopath
A high-functioning sociopath has above-average intelligence and a more advanced IQ than lower-functioning sociopaths or people without a personality disorder. Their superior intelligence and motivation allow them to scheme, control, and misuse others. They tend to have a narcissistic quality and a pretentious view of themselves. This narcissism tends to result from delusional beliefs.
A high-functioning sociopath will primarily present as delightful and charismatic and will have a likable quality about them. They are skillful at changing themselves into what people expect and desire and have flawless social skills. However, when people get to know them better, they often cannot tolerate them and tend to distance themselves.
High Functioning Sociopath Test
Sociopaths are secretive and covert and rarely give anybody the opportunity to get to know the true them. A sociopath is not trustworthy or dependable and has few friends and hollow relationships. Sociopaths can be incredibly deceptive and have the tendency to be disloyal to their mates.
Sociopaths enjoy hurting, pestering, and controlling others in a self-serving fashion. A sociopath portrays great patience and will wait until they are ready to make their move.
High-Functioning Sociopath Traits
A sociopath may steal from close friends and enjoys making up stories to garner compassion from others. Sociopaths fail to accept responsibility and are calculating and scheming, often turning things around on others. If something does not go according to plan, a sociopath will relish playing the victim role.
Despite their lack of sympathy and compassion, high-functioning sociopaths can be vulnerable to criticism. Sociopaths intensely desire admiration and praise from others and feel that they are entitled to it. Thus, when a sociopath is criticized, they will become outraged and infuriated. A high-functioning sociopath needs constant attention and stimulation, as they grow tired of things easily.
High-functioning sociopaths believe that they are above the rules and have no respect for authority figures. Their flippant attitude can lead them towards criminal activity and breaking the law. Sociopaths take pleasure in playing with fire and enjoy animal cruelty.
A sociopath has a general understanding between right and wrong, but will often minimize its significance. Sociopaths will rarely apologize to others, but if they do, their apologies are not genuine or heartfelt.
A high-functioning sociopath often displays a high level of impulsivity and takes action without thinking. A sociopath lives in the present and will focus solely on their immediate objective. A sociopath fails to take into account potential consequences or adverse reactions.
If a consequence is received, a sociopath will show minimal remorse, as they infrequently feel guilty. They usually have poor boundaries and organizational skills and never seem to be able to create any short or long-term goals.
A high-functioning sociopath is most likely the type that you have seen in movies and on television. Their traits are both impressive and daunting at the same time, as they always seem to be several paces ahead of everyone else without anybody even realizing it.
Is Sherlock A High Functioning Sociopath?
How Do You Know If You’re A High-Functioning Sociopath?
- Superior intelligence. Those who are high functioning are often incredibly smart, with very high IQs which can help them read, manipulate, and control scenarios.
- Lack of empathy.
- Calculating behaviors.
- Secretive tendencies.
- Charm.
- Sensitivity.
- Addictive behaviors.
What Are The 7 Traits Of A Sociopath?
- Superficial charm and good intelligence.
- Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking.
- Absence of nervousness or neurotic manifestations.
- Unreliability.
- Untruthfulness and insincerity.
- Lack of remorse and shame.
- Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior.
- Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience.