Book About Sociopaths By Martha Stout
I’m reading a book about sociopaths written by Martha Stout, who is somewhat of an expert on this weighty topic.
The author also wrote the bestselling book “The Sociopath Next Door.” I used to have this book as well.
Martha Stout, Ph.D. served on the faculty in psychology in the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School for more than 25 years. And she was a clinical associate at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
You may be wondering what is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopathic individual.
- Psychopaths tend to be more manipulative, charming, lead a semblance of a normal life, and minimize risk in criminal activities.
- Sociopaths tend to be more erratic and rage-prone.
What I’ve Gleaned From This Book So Far:
If you’re dealing with a sociopath, it’s like trying to engage in a fight with at least one if not two of your hands tied behind your back. The sociopath is of a completely different mindset than you are.
Such is the problem, the author says, when you’re engaged with a sociopath in a child custody battle. Or dealing with a sociopathic boss or CEO.
Clinicians can’t say that a child is sociopathic. A child’s brain is not fully formed. Instead, they say the child has a conduct disorder. Which may or may not turn into sociopathy when they reach adulthood.
The presence of a callous-unemotional child puts severe stressors on the rest of the family.
A Sociopath Has A Hole In The Psyche:
The author says that there is a hole in the psyche of these individuals.
Martha Stout: “I ask you to understand that there is no such thing as evil because, psychologically speaking, there is not.
“Wickedness is not an invasive spirit or thing, nor is it some shadowy part of the primal human brain. It is the opposite; rather than an entity that we could observe or at least feel, evil is an absence.
Antisocial Personality Disorder:
It is sometimes referred to as antisocial personality disorder.
According to the DSM-5, an antisocial personality disorder is “characterized by a pervasive pattern of poor social conformity, deceitfulness, impulsivity, criminality, and lack of remorse.”
“Instead of something, it is a hollowness where something should have been. True evil is an empty hole, nothing more – and nothing less.“
In this book, Martha Stout expounds on the neurology behind this “hole.” The hole is the unfathomed empty space that begins in neurological under-development.
“We are endlessly bewildered by the ruthless. When we hear of an especially abhorrent act, we call it “incomprehensible” and ask, “How could anyone do that? How can he stand to look at himself in the mirror?”
“And there is often a simple answer to our questions: The perpetrator is just fine around mirrors because he does not possess the inner mechanism that would reflect unendurable guilt and shame back at him.”
A Fascinating Look At The Behavior & Brain Structure Of A Sociopath:
This book is fascinating if you are interested in the human brain and the reasons there are people in the world who do not play on a level playing field when dealing with others.
Sociopaths have a much greater than normal need for excitement and stimulation. And this chronic need often results in their taking physical, financial, and socially shocking risks.
These individuals look like everyone else, which is the problem. Like wolves in sheep’s clothing, they are noted for their shallowness of emotion. And the hollow and transient nature of any affectionate feelings they claim to have.
As well as a certain breathtaking callousness.
In other words, we are rendered nearly helpless in our dealings with people who are truly conscienceless. For no one has a greater ability to deceive and manipulate than an intelligent sociopath.
Sociopaths In Our Criminal Justice System:
The sociopath individual can give Academy Award-winning performances. Thus fooling judges and moving through the correctional system relatively quickly.
And then are often granted early release more than twice as often as non-sociopathic criminals.
On average, only about 20 percent of prison inmates in the US are sociopaths. The sociopathic headcount in prisons is only about two in ten.
They know how to game the system.
Whether violent or not, sociopaths live outside of the social contract that binds the rest of us. They are uniquely destructive, and will never be able to engage in authentic personal or work relationships with anyone.
She says their sole preoccupation is to have power over other people.
Why Martha Stout Book Wrote The Book About Sociopaths:
Martha Stout wrote this book to help you learn how to deal with the bullying and remorseless person in your life if you are unfortunate enough to have one. And she gives you tools for dealing with the sociopath that sometimes you simply can’t avoid.
Research points to functional and even structural differences in the brain imaging studies of emotional processing in sociopaths.
They have led cognitive neuroscientists to conclude: The neural circuitry involved in the paralimbic system of the brain is either completely dysfunctional or drastically under-functioning in sociopathy.
The reason for this is not yet known. But it is thought to be the result of a heritable neuro-developmental difference that can be either slightly compensated or made worse by child-rearing and/or cultural factors.
If you think you are dealing with someone like this that you cannot avoid, I suggest you read and arm yourself with the knowledge set forth in this book.
“Sociopaths cannot love. By definition they do not have higher values. And they almost never feel comfortable in their own skins. They are loveless, amoral, and chronically bored. Even the few of them who become rich and powerful.” – Martha Stout
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Absolutely fascinating. Thanks for summarizing some of this book – I always learn something from your posts.
Well, I don’t know who everyone else is thinking about, but the first name that came to my mind was Hitler. Come on folks, can’t we all at least agree on one point?
I really enjoy your blog Brenda and seek it out everyday. You and I have much in common as arthritis sufferers, animal lovers, books, good food and passion for beautiful things.
However, as a conservative I often feel as if I’m not welcome in this space. I do think if we should meet, we’d become friends even though our politics may not line up. We all know who Marcee was referring to as I’m sure I could name many others in the political arena that have sociopathic tendencies, on both sides. Your blog, your decision on what gets posted. I respect that.
I agree with you, Kelley. So, I will take a break , perhaps permanently , from this blog.
Ladies…there are others here who are certainly way more conservative than many, yet Brenda tries very hard to not exclude anyone…and if she writes on things I don’t agree with, I simply do not comment. I appreciate most of what she shares…none of us will ever totally agree as we all come from different life experiences (which I feel is mainly what divides people). In spite of all that, books like she shares here could well explain some of the really crazy times life has thrown us some beyond strange people to deal with!! I appreciate hearing about helpful books!!
I agree. I’m a conservative myself and I have no issues with this blog, especially a comment made by someone else. That was not a political post. Oh well. To each his own.
Brenda, thank you for sharing your recipe! I cannot wait to make these pinto beans. I am making black bean soup tomorrow but your beans are next!
Interesting book, I am pretty sure that we have all come across both of these sorts of people in our lives.
Take care,
Elizabeth
Ahhhhh I grew up eating pinto beans! Though you aren’t eating meat, we always put a hambone in with the beans and some pepper. Slow cooker all day. Diced some potatoes and cooked on stovetop in a skillet to brown. Serve beans over potatoes. Yum!!!
Not sure what you have protecting your ankle while you sleep, but as a massage therapist, I would caution you about leaving it resting on a heated pad all night. Heat, over too much time, can add to inflammation. Perhaps something to discuss with your doctor/physical therapist.
I just have the heat set on 1, which is barely warm. And I sleep on my side. Thanks for telling me this.
My husband and I sure agree full well with Marcee’s comment about the one that immediately came to my mind.
We also sleep on a heated mattress pad to help our achey bones.
Thanks so much for telling us how you did the pinto beans in the crock pot. I will be trying it soon.
I like the heated mattress pad on low to help my arthritic joints.
That’s really scary!!! I’m not even sure what else to say on that subject…
The pinto beans sound delicious! I have a bag of black eyed peas. Does anyone have a good recipe for cooking those? Are you making corn bread to go with it Brenda? Ivy will like that. 🙂
I have cornbread in the freezer that Ivy and I had leftover from last week.
It is dangerous for your colon to sleep on your back with a heating pad.
She said it was a mattress pad not a heating pad. But what makes sleeping on your back on a heating pad dangerous for your colon? Just curious. I’ve never heard of that.
U could look on Pinterest Laura bc they have tons of recipes for everything! I hope this helps u. I’ve never cooked black eyed peas before.
I love soup but never use beans as I like my soup to be smooth without any ‘bits’ in it. (Did I say I was a fussy eater!!!) Everything goes in my Ninja so the contents of the soup can be blasted!
I love all kinds of soup. The other day I fixed a grilled cheese sandwich and had lentil bean soup. That one can of bean soup made two meals.
Very interesting. I really never knew the difference between Psychopaths or Sociopaths. I’m making pinto beans and cornbread tomorrow!
I have the pinto beans, and pieces of cornbread from last week frozen in a baggie in the freezer.
I always use only chicken broth when I make beans,
Well, I’ve managed to get to age 65 before I thought to put chicken broth in beans.
Interesting…in sad way…having had some of these sorts to deal with in life!!
Pinto beans sound good!!
I grew up eating pinto beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread.
We ate a fair amount of those things as well…especially potatoes!! My grandpa grew THE BEST potatoes (russets) I have ever eaten to this day…yep, Idaho has the perfect climate for potatoes…hot days and chilly nights!! How I miss those potatoes…very hard to find ones grown in Idaho…I think the restaurants and frozen food gets the most of them.
Adding chicken broth to beans, rice and even chicken gives whatever u make alot more flavor! I’m glad your feeling better Brenda, enough to start cooking again! Yay!
I heard two flocks of geese go over my house so I know the cold weather is coming! The leaves are falling from the trees too. Soon that white stuff will be falling from the sky! That’s and four letter dirty word to me! Lol I’m not looking forward to the cold bitter winter ahead of us! Only decorating!
The beans came out delicious!
Off the top of my head, easy to think (and know) of #1 sociopath we are all (still) dealing with in 2022.
Trying to be careful here by not mentioning any names.
Scary. 😨
If I’m thinking of who you’re thinking of, the author mentions him in her book.
Brenda, I love your blog and I’m not going anywhere. I read your writing every day and what I love is that you always give me something to think about. I don’t have to like or agree with everything you say or do nor do you attempt to require that… just another reason I love your blog. Keep writing; I’ll keep reading !
I tend to read book reviews even the negative ones. Actually I start with those because some people will write excellent and thoughtful critiques (rare I know). I’ve found that people will refer to the work and books of others in those critiques if they feel they are more comprehensive or the quality is superior–the writing or the research and I appreciate them citing other sources. You have to wade through a lot of unnecessary and petty comments too, since anyone can write a useless review. For instance Michael Pollan who wrote, The Omnivore’s Dilemma was lauded for his book, although I located an in depth critique which lead to side discussions about it that in turn lead to other interesting discussions. Unfortunately they took those off. If you are open to hearing an opposing view from an industry insider or just an opposing viewpoint one can learn a lot. That seems to be a problem though–people willing to hear an opposing viewpoint.
Ever hear of the book, Without Conscience by Robert D. Hare. He is a Canadian forensic psychologist, known for his research in the field of criminal psychology. He has won numerous awards for his research, lectures widely on psychopathy, and consults with law enforcement organizations, including the FBI. It’s an older book, but it’s been updated.
I hear you. They are frightening and incapable of ever changing because of their different brain structure.