Sociopath: A Memoir

Societal attitudes toward sociopaths are influenced by a mixture of fear, fascination, and misunderstanding. Sociopathy, a term commonly used interchangeably with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), is characterized by a lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and a disregard for social norms. The societal view of sociopaths is primarily shaped by their portrayal in popular culture, which tends to emphasize the most extreme and sensational aspects of sociopathic behavior. Such portrayals, while entertaining, tend to exaggerate the traits of sociopathy for dramatic effect, depicting sociopaths as serial killers or criminal masterminds. Patric Gagne highlights this unrepresentative depiction in her memoir, asserting: “Most sociopaths aren’t like the characters in movies. They don’t resemble the serial murderers in Killing Eve or Dexter, and they aren’t similar to the one-dimensional antagonists many crime novels suggest” (x).

These skewed representations lead to a generalized distrust of diagnosed sociopaths and individuals who exhibit any behaviors that might be considered sociopathic. Sociopath emphasizes how the medical disorder has been misappropriated in popular culture to describe any individual displaying a lack of remorse or ruthlessness, from criminals to politicians. The popularity of true-crime documentaries, novels, and TV shows that explore the lives and minds of sociopaths is evidence of a desire to understand individuals who operate without the emotional constraints that govern most people’s behavior.