Example of a Sociopath/Pyschopath (sociopaths, criminal, consequences, psychopath)

[jasper12]

Tow-truck driver called scam artist - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/03/2307340/tow-truck-driver-called-scam-artist.html - broken link)

This guy is a great example of a sociopath, and he is not in prison! He drives around in his tow truck to "help" people broken down on the freeway. He lies, and tells them he is from AAA, or tells them he was called by the police to take their car off the freeway for safety. Then, he charges them outrageous sums of money to get their car back, he does not care if it is the rent money.

I personally don't agree with the current DSM criteria for a Sociopath, meaning that they have an Anti-Social personality disorder, and to meet that criteria, has to have had a conduct disorder prior to age 15. I think that the Hare Psychopathy Checklist is more comprehensive Hare Psychopathy Checklist - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If anyone else has examples they would like to post, or more information, maybe we can request this to be a sticky note.

An interesting book about sociopaths/psychopaths at work is called Snakes in Suits, Amazon.com: Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work (9780060837723): Paul Babiak, Robert D. Hare: Books

[Cliffie]

The whole problem with treating sociopathic behavior as a mental illness is that every one of us is born with free will. If you choose to be a creep for reasons I would not go along with, how is that a mental illness? If you have something to hide, how is that a mental illness? Most people who qualify for the diagnosis are alcoholics or drug addicts and become chronic liars/thieves/career criminals to support their habits and protect them from consequences. As soon as they get clean and start living honestly, the behavior starts to disappear. Can schizophrenics do that?

AND if you read the DSM, you'll see that you can be a sociopathic person all your life and never acquire a single criminal charge or hurt anyone. Though it's unlikely that you'll have a close and loving support network.