Ditto "low-functioning." These adjectives simply describe how good of a sociopath someone is. The term "high-functioning" is a descriptor rather than a diagnosis and isn't part of the diagnostic label for antisocial personality disorder (the official name for what is popularly called sociopathy). Those exceptionally skilled are often dubbed high-functioning sociopaths. Some sociopaths are more effective at being who they are than are others. As with everything else in life, there are individual differences. They all have the same clinical diagnosis: antisocial personality disorder.ĭespite these commonalities, not every sociopath is created equal.
Cold, callus, and calculating, they stop at nothing to get what they want, and they are impervious to consequences and punishment.
All are antisocial they ignore the rules and laws of society so they can live by their own norms.
High-functioning or not, all lack empathy. Some of them are high-functioning sociopaths. Can a sociopath love back? Yes, but only by his own definition of love, a manipulative, uncaring, unemotional kind of love.There are sociopaths in our midst. It is absolutely possible to be in love with a sociopath. This can happen suddenly, leaving the victim, who thought she/he was in love, shocked, hurt, and confused. Constantly needing thrills and stimulation, he drops the charade and moves on. The sociopath gets whatever he was after in the first place, and then he rapidly becomes bored. Says Mary Jo Buttafuoco (2009), ".I stuck it out during the bad times, because the good times were fantastic."Įventually, the honeymoon comes to an end.
To be in love with a sociopath can be full of laughter and fun, so much so that ignoring the odd personality traits that pop up from time to time becomes second nature. Because a sociopath shapes her persona to match that of her prey of the moment, loving a sociopath can feel like finding a soulmate. Loving a sociopath has been described as wonderful and exhilarating (Buttafuoco, 2009). The best way to receive love is to give love, and the sociopath sets out to give and receive. He cares nothing for the feelings of love but instead wants love as a manipulative tool. He pretends to love because he wants love in return. To win trust and ensure naïveté, he begins a courtship. He slithers his way in because he has a greater purpose he senses the opportunity for personal gain. The sociopath is a social predator who charms his way into people's lives. When love is a deep and complex emotion, a feeling of fondness, tenderness, bonding, and connection between human beings, no, a sociopath cannot love. She can gush and express her love and devotion. He can pretend to love and to care, and you have no idea that he's constantly assessing which of your buttons to push and when to push them. playing and winning his/her version of the game of life.Ī sociopath can put on a great show and act in loving ways.When love involves pretending, playing a role to gain something for yourself, then sociopaths can love. When love is a word rather than a feeling, sociopaths can love. When love is synonymous with sex and sex is nothing other than momentary and meaningless physical pleasure, then sociopaths can love. When love is a shallow lie told for personal gain rather than an expression of connection, sociopaths can love. When love is a feeling of fascination or power rather than an emotion, sociopaths can love. When love is said easily by the lips but not felt by the heart, sociopaths can love. When love is a tool to be used to trap and manipulate someone, sociopaths can love. Don't worry, we can act like a sociopath and redefine it to our liking anytime we so desire. To truly make this claim, though, we have to give love a definition that suits us in this moment. If we manipulate the definition of love the way sociopaths manipulate people, then sure, sociopaths can love. Upon closer examination, though, it makes perfect sense to ask, "Can a sociopath fall in love?" Can Sociopaths Love? Sociopaths are nothing if not confusing, partly because sociopathic traits and characteristics contradict each other at times. Given that a definition of a sociopath is a person who lacks empathy and has antisocial personality disorder, apart from others and separate from the rules and norms of society, it's odd that someone like this can look like they're truly in love. To the outside world, it looks like they love. Sociopaths often act like they are in love. Can sociopaths love? Can sociopaths fall in love? If you truly know and understand the sociopath, then you know these questions are almost laughable.