8 Signs Your Partner is a Sociopath

A person involved with a sociopath (also termed psychopath) is in for a bewildering, painful experience. While sociopaths are often thought of as serial killers or other criminal elements, there is a large segment of individuals that may exhibits sociopathic tendencies, but cause their harm on a subcriminal, less violent or extreme scale.

However, the basic mental wiring of a sociopath is the same whether crimes are committed or not, and this will lead to confusing, hurtful, and destructive behavior damaging to personal relationships. While only a mental health professional can diagnose a sociopath, here are 8 signs characteristic of sociopaths:

1. Lack of remorse or guilt. Sociopaths do not feel the same conscience restraints that the rest of us have. Even if they feign remorse, it is not from a true emotional source, but a calculated effort designed to manipulate your emotional reactions.

2. Failure to conform to social norms. Sociopaths feel that the regular laws of society, morality, etc, do not apply to them. This can lead to criminal behavior, or at very least unethical activities.

3. Compulsive lying and manipulation. Your partner may continuously lie, sometimes without apparent rhyme or reason. Generally, however, the lies are used to manipulate others into serving their need.

4. Glib superficiality and shallow emotional affect. The sociopath may be quite charming and charismatic, but there may be a hollow sense to it and a feeling that there is a lack of true depth and emotional connection.

5. Poor impulse control and a need for instant gratification. This coupled with frequent boredom often leads to risky and destructive behaviors such as addiction, and sexual promiscuity.

6. Aggressive behavior. Many sociopaths can become violent, though not all sociopaths use physical violence to achieve their ends.

7. Consistent lack of responsibility. Sociopaths may not hold down a job and instead choose to live a parasitic lifestyle, living by manipulating others. They are less likely to honor commitments, pay bills on time, or stay faithful in marriage.

8. A sense of exaggerated or extreme self-worth. The sociopath often believes he or she is a superior human being, and entitled to special treatment, or to take advantage of the "weak."