What is a sociopath?

[Bio-Hazard]

I've looked all over the web for a while and I haven't been able to find an accurate defintion to explain what a real sociopath is.

 

People will attribute a lust for wealth to a sociopath but is wealth truly a sociopathic desire? Could not unconventional thinking give trait for them to quest something else such as knowledge? Wouldn't a sociopath be intelligent enough to quest for other things than money which are worth more?

 

What makes most people who are called sociopaths seek money? Isn't there a difference between greed and being a sociopath?

 

High risk sexual behavior and substance abuse are common.

http://www.9types.com/wwwboard/messages/18332.html

 

If a sociopath quests power why would they bring themselves down with drugs and sexual desire?

 

Yet, it is said that antisocial personality disorder can be an attribute of a sociopath..

 

None of this seems to actually add up to me.

 

I would think that sociopaths are actually socially conformed people who think that power is having wealth, sex, and drugs which are negatively deviant acts. How can someone who is antisocial be socially conformed and be deemed antisocial?

 

Wouldn't someone who is antisocial make their own world, where they set their own rules, and establish what they think is important?

 

What is deemed criminal activity may be caused for their lack of empathy for others and their wish to do as they want recklessly. Since most reckless activities are socially deviant people call it criminal activity.

 

So sure, criminal activity should be called socially deviant activity.

For this day and age based on christian moral, criminal activity and negative deviant activity are pretty much equivalent.

 

One need not conform to society to be deemed deviant, people do as they wish. Yet questing for things like money and possession which were created by society is conforming to society.

 

Being deviant and conforming are different. One is natural, the other is established.

 

Sex on the other hand is a primitive impulse, the nature of how the sexual activities are done is a different subject.

 

If they seem to be of social structure by cheating on someone in such a way that it would by atypical such as cheating behind a girlfriend behind their back, this would display guilt or an emotion that you need to hide something.

 

Of course the true sexual deviant would make out with any random person on the street based on impulse, which in my opinion would be totally based on an antisocial personality disorder due to the lack of socialization and understanding that such activity is considered deviant due to todays norms.

 

What is a sociopath?

I'm guessing most people out there on the web don't have a f'in clue.

[Luminous]

If a sociopath quests power why would they bring themselves down with drugs and sexual desire?

Well hell, i would love to be rich and powerful, but i still like alcohol and sex. Although the drug part doesnt apply to me i dont understand what that would have to do with wanting power.

[Nevermore]

A sociopath is someone without the ability to feel regret or remorse. Usualy caused by brain abnormalities or psycological trauma.

[Glider]

You can find a reasonably good listing of the criteria for sociopathy here

 

http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/428/428lect16.htm

[Celeste22]

Here is the DSM; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders definition and diagnostic criteria of a sociopath:

 

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/sociopathy

 

Edited to add: Great link Glider.

[Glider]

Back atcha Celeste. I'd have posted the DSM link if I could have found it in time. Thanks for doing it