It's common to wonder what causes someone to be a sociopath as we watch in disbelief as the sociopath lies, manipulates, harms, and feels no empathy for anyone (Do Sociopaths Cry or Even Have Feelings?).

As you may know, sociopaths are anti-social; they exist outside the norms of society and care nothing for its rules or its people. Why is he like this? How did she get this way? Although the answers are incomplete, researchers are beginning to discover sociopath causes.

Causes of Sociopath, Both Nature and Nurture

Call it by any of its names - antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, or sociopathy - the disorder affects all aspects of someone's life. A sociopath is antisocial, manipulative, deceitful, rule-breaking, and superficially charming so he can have his way. Where does something this severe come from?

Like all personality disorders, antisocial personality disorder is so intricately a part of every facet of a person's inner and outer worlds that it's logical that there are many things that cause someone to be a sociopath or a high-functioning sociopath. It makes sense that, like sociopathy itself, the causes come from both within a person and from their external world.

The sociopath causes are biological as well as environmental. Aspects of nature (the person's biology and genetic make-up) influence the development of sociopathy. Also, events in the nurturing of the person impact sociopathic behaviors. While it's still unknown exactly how much of the sociopath causes come from nature and how much come from nurture, researchers do know that both play an important role in the development of sociopathy Sociopathic Children: How Do They Become That Way?.

The Biological Causes of Sociopathy

What is it in someone's nature that causes him to be a sociopath? Scientists have some theories. One is that the brain of a sociopath matures at a slower rate than the brain of a non-sociopath. Further, early brain damage could lead to the development of this disorder. Damage isn't the only thing that can cause the brain to develop abnormally. Researchers are also studying biological dysfunction, or faulty wiring, as a sociopath cause.

Sociopath tests that illustrate brain functioning, such as fMRIs and EEGs, show without a doubt that there are brain-based causes of sociopathy. Biology, nature, unquestionably contributes to antisocial personality disorder. This is only part of the picture, however. The genetics or the organic brain itself must exist, but something has to trigger them.

The Environmental Causes of Sociopathy

With the right biological conditions in place, a person's background can further add to the development of sociopathy. Early life experiences or trauma, such as extreme poverty, abuse, rejection, and other adverse conditions can, if the biological nature allows, be part of the causes of sociopathy (Sociopathic Parents and Their Effects on Children).

Interestingly, when exploring what causes someone to be a sociopath, some researchers have noticed that sociopaths coming from unstable backgrounds commit more violent crimes than sociopaths from stable backgrounds (Hare, 1999). Sociopaths do indeed come from all socioeconomic backgrounds. There is some evidence that many factors influence the severity of sociopathy.

Are Sociopath Causes Seen Later in Life?

A child is born with the capacity to become a sociopath. Environmental causes of sociopathy trigger the biological disposition. In addition, there are behaviors that exist in childhood that are clues that he will be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder as an adult (My Child Is A Sociopath! Is There Anything I Can Do?). This means that someone can't just suddenly become a sociopath later in life.

There is one rare exception. Traumatic brain injury specifically to the paralimbic system can (but doesn't always) cause someone to develop a sociopathic personality. 

It appears that someone is born a sociopath. It takes triggers from the environment in childhood for the full-blown symptoms of a sociopath to develop, but the brain is primed for it from birth. It's the dance between nature and nurture that are the sociopath causes underlying the making of a sociopath.

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There are things you can do to reduce your chances of being sexually assaulted. Follow these tips from the National Crime Prevention Council.

• Be aware of your surroundings — who's out there and what's going on.
• Walk with confidence. The more confident you look, the stronger you appear.
• Don't let drugs or alcohol cloud your judgment.
• Be assertive — don't let anyone violate your space.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings, leave.
• Don't prop open self-locking doors.
• Lock your door and your windows, even if you leave for just a few minutes.
• Watch your keys. Don't lend them. Don't leave them. Don't lose them. And don't put your name and address on the key ring.
• Watch out for unwanted visitors. Know who's on the other side of the door before you open it.
• Be wary of isolated spots, like underground garages, offices after business hours, and apartment laundry rooms.
• Avoid walking or jogging alone, especially at night. Vary your route. Stay in well-traveled, well-lit areas.
• Have your key ready to use before you reach the door — home, car, or work.
• Park in well-lit areas and lock the car, even if you'll only be gone a few minutes.
• Drive on well-traveled streets, with doors and windows locked.
• Never hitchhike or pick up a hitchhiker.
• Keep your car in good shape with plenty of gas in the tank.
• In case of car trouble, call for help on your cellular phone. If you don't have a phone, put the hood up, lock the doors, and put a banner in the rear window that says, "Help. Call the police."

How can I help someone who has been sexually assaulted?

You can help someone who is abused or who has been assaulted by listening and offering comfort. Go with him or her to the police, the hospital, or to counseling. Reinforce the message that he or she is not at fault and that it is natural to feel angry and ashamed.

More Information . . .

For more information on sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE or the following organizations:

Division of Violence Prevention, NCIPC, CDC, HHS
Phone: (770) 488-4362
Internet Address: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/dvp.htm

National Center for Victims of Crime
Phone: (800) 394-2255
Internet Address: http://www.ncvc.org

National Crime Prevention Council
Phone: (202) 466-6272
Internet Address: http://www.ncpc.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: (800) 799-SAFE
Internet Address: https://www.thehotline.org/

National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Phone: (877) 739-3895
Internet Address: http://www.nsvrc.org

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Phone: (202) 544-1034
Internet Address: http://www.rainn.org

Sources:
The National Crime Prevention Council

Sociopath traits; wouldn't it be nice to know them before you run into trouble?

A sociopath can be a bit of an enigma, for he's someone who stands out in a rather obvious way or he hides deceptively, right out in the open. Despite his confusing nature, there are sociopath traits and characteristics of a sociopath that help people recognize the sociopathic personality.

Sociopathic personality traits and characteristics are sometimes subtle aspects of her character that drive what she does. Together, they form a persistent and pervasive pattern that define a sociopath. They are consistent over time and are part of all aspects of her life. A sociopath test may or may not reveal a person's true nature (take the sociopath test, Am I A Sociopath? screening to understand what traits and characteristics of a sociopath the tests measure).

Sociopath Traits Delineated

The characteristics of a sociopath make up who he is. Sociopathic traits influence what he does. A sociopath is a cold, callus, and calculating individual who has a pattern of

• Lying
• Irresponsibility
• Manipulation
• Lack of emotion

Some famous sociopaths have stories that illustrate the depravity of a sociopath in a way four bullet points cannot.

Untrustworthiness as a Sociopath Trait

Never trust a sociopath. He's a liar. He lies to get his way, he lies to hurt, and sometimes he lies just for his own amusement. A sociopath is extremely skilled at lying, so much so that it always seems as though he's telling the truth. As a pathological liar, a sociopath constantly makes up stories so captivating that people easily believe them. 

A sociopath lies with natural deftness. Stories are compelling and believable, and he tells them so very well. A sign of a sociopath is the ability to maintain eye contact. He does so even while lying. An underhanded trait of a sociopath is the ability to control people through his presence and communication style. He makes eye contact, smiles sincerely and confidently. He is magnetic and draws in his audience whether it's a crowd of one or one hundred or more. The sociopath is that charismatic. If you come across a narcissistic sociopath, beware of his sense of entitlement. If you don't worship him, you will pay.

A characteristic of a sociopath is that he is so charming, so personable, that you want to believe him. Many people do believe him, which is why he gets away with it. Don't believe him.

A Trait of a Sociopath: Irresponsibility

Sociopaths can be incredibly successful, excelling in powerful careers. A sociopath characteristic is that her motivation differs drastically from everyone else's. She can be responsible in the way that the world defines responsibility if it suits her whim; that is if it helps her or hurts someone she wants to hurt. Otherwise, a sociopath doesn't care about conforming to someone else's definition of responsibility.

This irresponsibility includes a complete refusal to take ownership of her actions. Denial and blame are prominent sociopath traits. Sociopaths can hurt someone and feel nothing. When accused of anything, the sociopath shrugs it off in cool denial. She is acutely aware of her actions and has neither shame nor remorse for what she has done. She just won't take responsibility, ever, because she genuinely believes her actions are always justified. Victims deserve what they get, thinks the sociopath.

Manipulation, No Emotion: Chilling Sociopath Traits

To a sociopath, people are toys or pawns to mess with and manipulate. The world is but a circus, and the sociopath is the ringmaster. He manipulates and controls who he wants, how he wants, and whenever he wants. He plays the game of life for fun and personal gain.

Perhaps one single trait of a sociopath allows all of the others to exist. This one trait leads to the other characteristics of a sociopath. The sociopath feels no empathy, no emotion.

The sociopath is unencumbered by feelings such as fear, anxiety, stress, depression, remorse, guilt, caring, and love (Do Sociopaths Cry or Even Have Feelings?). This allows him to move through life freely, doing what profits and amuses him. When he tires of one circus, he closes it down and, feeling nothing about the destruction he leaves behind, he sets out to create a new one.

A woman who for a long time was married to a sociopath and suffered many consequences, writes, "One of the most prominent and telling traits of many sociopaths is their fantastic ability to manipulate others and lie for profit, to avoid punishment, or simply just for fun" (Buttafuoco, 2009).

The traits of a sociopath portray someone who doesn't care what his traits and characteristics are, as long as he can use them to his advantage.

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The relationship scam artist is usually a pathological liar, a con artist, maybe a psychopath. Discover how to detect the lies and get out before it's too late.

How to detect the lies and get out before it's too late

Q: I married a scam artist and now I'm $165,000 in the hole. Right now, he's riding a $30,000 motorcycle he bought with my money. I also found out I am his sixth wife. Now he is already moving on to No. 7. I lost everything. I cannot even afford a lawyer to get a divorce and move on with my life. I hate this man. I want to get him out of my mind, but I just can't get over what has happened. He's out there running around laughing at my naivete. I do nothing but cry. How do I get over this and move on? And how can I detect a con artist in the future and prevent this from happening again?

A: "We operate under a truth bias, whereby we generally assume that someone is honest," says Sally Caldwell, a sociologist at Southwest Texas State University and author of "Romantic Deception: The Six Signs He's Lying." "We're also taught to be polite, so we're afraid to challenge someone's words for fear of appearing rude. And we need those tendencies for society to function, or else we'd be a nation of paranoid people. But slow down and take a lot of time before granting your complete trust to a potential partner. Romantic liars try to speed the pace of a relationship so that it becomes intense very quickly."

"People who con others are generally psychopaths," says Brent Turvey, forensic scientist and criminal profiler at the Academy of Behavioral Profiling in Sitka, Alaska, and author of the just-released second edition of "Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis."

Contrary to popular belief, criminality and psychopathy don't always go hand-in-hand, although they certainly often do. "Basically, psychopaths view other people as sources of gratification and act accordingly without remorse or conscience. At one end of the continuum, you have violent criminals — at the milder end, you have functioning, highly successful narcissists who do well professionally and abide by the law but wreak interpersonal havoc. We live in a culture where self-interest and instant gratification are rewarded, so it's sometimes difficult to spot the psychopaths among us."

RED FLAGS

Turvey adds: "Con artists look for people who have low self-esteem and exploit that. They are parasitic and live off of others' goodwill."

But there are signs to look out for. "Con artists and other psychopaths spend a lot of time talking about themselves in a self-aggrandizing fashion — bragging about their larger-than-life accomplishments and grand schemes, which are often completely fabricated," Turvey notes. "Also, watch out for people who constantly need to borrow money — they always have a sob story, or they've 'forgotten their wallets.'

"Another sign is someone who is amused by cruelty. If they laugh at others' suffering — not a nervous laugh, but genuine laughter at someone's pain," that's a sign that you've got a psychopath on your hands, Turvey says.

Despite the grandiose boasting, Caldwell notes, pathological liars tend to know more intimate and personal details about your life than you do about theirs. Before you plunge too deeply into a relationship, think about what you really know about the person. Is there evidence to back up the information? Have you met family and friends who can back up his tale of winning a Purple Heart? Have you seen his diploma from Harvard?

"Scam artists use what I call 'tending behaviors' and 'narrowing tactics': They often try to isolate you from family and friends — whether yours or his — in order to limit your ability to speak with people who might help you get a reality check on his stories. If they don't live with you, they'll call incessantly to keep track of your whereabouts. Unfortunately, many women misinterpret these behaviors as signs of affection. They are flattered that he always says, 'Oh, let's just have a quiet night at home — I want you all to myself.' That's OK sometimes — but if he never lets you out of sight, that's a danger sign."

CUTTING YOUR LOSSES

As for retaining a lawyer who will work with you on either a pro bono basis or at a low fee, go to a legal aid clinic in your community or consult a local law school for resources. If it's appropriate and you actually have a chance to retrieve your assets from your husband, do so, but, Turvey cautions if it's just going to be a waste of time and energy that will keep the creep in your life longer, cut your losses and just get the divorce. "Count your blessings that your losses weren't even greater," Turvey says — he's worked cases where scam artists kill their victims once they've gotten what they wanted.

Moving on emotionally may not happen for a while. Your trust has been shattered, and you are going to need a sounding board who can talk about this with you over a period of time and in front of whom you don't feel embarrassed discussing what you perceive as your gullibility. Support from friends is always helpful, but I would urge you to see a therapist who works on a sliding scale, since you have been so emotionally traumatized by this experience.

One worry among men who have been sexually assaulted as children is will they become child molesters themselves. This article addresses that and the importance of therapy for men who have been sexually assaulted.

What impact does gender socialization have upon men who have been sexually assaulted?

Because of their experience of sexual assault, some men attempt to prove their masculinity by becoming hyper-masculine. For example, some men deal with their experience of sexual assault by having multiple female sexual partners or engaging in dangerous "macho" behaviors to prove their masculinity. Parents of boys who have been sexually abused may inadvertently encourage this process.

Men who acknowledge their assault may have to struggle with feeling ignored and invalidated by others who do not recognize that men can also be victimized.

Because of ignorance and myths about sexual abuse, men sometimes fear that the sexual assault by another man will cause them to become gay. This belief is false. Sexual assault does not cause someone to have a particular sexual orientation.

Because of these various gender-related issues, men are more likely than women to feel ashamed of the assault, to not talk about it, and to not seek help from professionals.

Are men who were sexually assaulted as children more likely to become child molesters?

Another myth that male victims of sexual assault face is the assumption that they will become abusers themselves. For instance, they may have heard that survivors of sexual abuse tend to repeat the cycle of abuse by abusing children themselves. Some research has shown that men who were sexually abused by men during their childhood have a greater number of sexual thoughts and fantasies about sexual contact with male children and adolescents. However, it is important to know that most male victims of child sexual abuse do not become sex offenders.

Furthermore, many male perpetrators do not have a history of child sexual abuse. Rather, sexual offenders more often grew up in families where they suffered from several other forms of abuse, such as physical and emotional abuse. Men who assault others also have difficulty with empathy, and thus put their own needs above the needs of their victims.

Is there help for men who have been sexually assaulted?

It is important for men who have been sexually assaulted to understand the connection between sexual assault and hyper-masculine, aggressive, and self-destructive behavior. Through therapy, men often learn to resist myths about what a "real man" is and adopt a more realistic model for safe and rewarding living.

It is important for men who have been sexually assaulted and who are confused about their sexual orientation to confront misleading societal ideas about sexual assault and homosexuality.

Men who have been assaulted often feel stigmatized, which can be the most damaging aspect of the assault. It is important for men to discuss the assault with a caring and unbiased support person, whether that person is a friend, clergyman, or clinician. However, it is vital that this person be knowledgeable about sexual assault and men.

A local rape crisis center may be able to refer men to mental-health practitioners who are well-informed about the needs of male sexual assault victims.

Summary

There is a bias in our culture against viewing the sexual assault of boys and men as prevalent and abusive. Because of this bias, there is a belief that boys and men do not experience abuse and do not suffer from the same negative impact that girls and women do. However, research shows that at least 10% of boys and men are sexually assaulted and that boys and men can suffer profoundly from the experience. Because so few people have information about male sexual assault, men often suffer from a sense of being different, which can make it more difficult for men to seek help. If you are a man who has been assaulted and you suffer from any of these difficulties, please seek help from a mental health professional who has expertise working with men who have been sexually assaulted.

Recommended Books

Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse by Mike Lew, Foreword by Ellen Bass. (1990). HarperCollins

Wounded Boys, Heroic Men: A Man's Guide to Recovering from Child Abuse by Danial Jay Sonkin and Lenore E. A. Walker. (1998). Adams Media Corporations

Sources:

• Hepburn, J. M. (1994). The implications of contemporary feminist theories of development for the treatment of male victims of sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 3, 1-18.
• Lisak, D. (1994). The psychological impact of sexual abuse: Content analysis of interviews with male survivors. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 7, 525-548.
• Porter, E. (1986). Treating the young male victim of sexual assault. Syracuse, NY: Safer Society Press.

Narcissistic personality disorder treatment presents a challenge to mental health professionals because many people with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) don't believe they need treatment. Consequently, they typically only seek help after they've hit rock bottom. Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder often includes a combination of psychotherapy and medication. These approaches seek to help the individual learn to relate to others in a more compassionate way, but none of the treatment combinations stand out as particularly effective.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Treatment

Narcissistic personality disorder treatment depends on the severity of functional impairment caused by the condition. Thus, severity levels for NPD are based on the impact narcissistic personality disorder symptoms have on the individual:

Mild impairment. Self-centered, ego-driven behavior causes occasional, minor problems, but, for the most part, the person functions well in everyday life.

Moderate impairment. Self-centered, ego-driven behavior causes an individual to miss excessive time at work or school and neglect household chores. The individual also exhibits considerable performance issues at work, school, or home and frequently avoids or alienates friends and family. Finally, the person poses a considerable risk to self or others (suicidal ideation, neglect of children, abusing children or committing crimes).

Severe impairment. Self-centered, ego-driven behavior causes a person to remain in bed or in total isolation all day as well as night, completely alienates friends and family, poses a severe risk to self or others (persistent suicidal, abusive, or criminal behavior; fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene).

People whose NPD results in severe impairment may require hospitalization. The in-patient setting allows treatment for narcissistic personality disorder to focus on the immediate crisis (i.e. suicidal behavior or complete lack of impulse control). Once alleviated, the patient can continue with therapy designed to address the underlying, long-term problems caused by NPD.

Those with moderate impairment usually do not require hospitalization before they begin long-term therapy for the disorder. People with only mild impairment are high-functioning and generally do not seek professional help; although, it could prove beneficial.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Therapy

Narcissistic personality disorder therapy usually includes some type of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, or group therapy. Types of therapy include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – With CBT, the therapist helps the client identify negative and distorted thoughts and replace them with positive ones based in reality. This vidual l frequently incorporates talk therapy to bring awareness to harmful inner dialogues and repeated maladaptive behaviors. Once identified, the therapist guides the client in replacing these with healthy ones.

Psychodynamic therapy – The psychodynamic therapy vidual l focuses on unconscious thinking processes that influence an individual's behavior. The goal is to enhance the client's self-awareness of these unconscious ideations and help him make the connection between these and distorted conscious thought processes and behaviors. When used in narcissistic personality disorder therapy sessions, the doctor guides the client in examining unresolved conflicts from involvement in past dysfunctional relationships, usually beginning with the individual's parents or another primary caregiver.

Family and other group therapy – both of these therapies involve encouraging a dialogue between the therapist, NPD patient, and other participants in hopes that this will serve to resolve past conflicts and further develop the client's level of self-awareness. Therapists usually do not include family or group therapy in the NPD treatment plan until the client has made some visible improvements.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Medications

The FDA has not approved any specific narcissistic personality disorder medications. Consequently, doctors and therapists don't use medication as a treatment for narcissistic personality disorder directly. Instead, they prescribe medication to address any co-occurring mental disorders, such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Some evidence suggests that using newer antidepressant medications like Prozac® and others can exacerbate NPD behaviors and agitate symptoms. Because of this risk, therapists typically prescribe MAO inhibitors or mood stabilizers, such as lithium, for depression. These drugs do not appear to cause any noticeable exacerbation of the NPD symptoms and behaviors.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Prognosis

As with the other personality disorders, the narcissistic personality disorder prognosis depends on the severity of the condition and the client's level of commitment to treatment. For younger people with the disorder, the outlook is marginally hopeful. But for longstanding NPD, the outlook is negative.

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Many people believe that sexual assault is only committed by men against women. There are many male survivors of sexual assault. Learn about the perpetrators of male sexual assault.

At least 10% of men in our country have suffered from trauma as a result of sexual assault. Like women, men who experience sexual assault may suffer from depression, PTSD, and other emotional problems as a result. However, because men and women have different life experiences due to their different gender roles, emotional symptoms following trauma can look different in men than they do in women.

Who are the perpetrators of male sexual assault?

Those who sexually assault men or boys differ in a number of ways from those who assault only females.

Boys are more likely than girls to be sexually abused by strangers or by authority figures in organizations such as schools, the church, or athletics programs.

Those who sexually assault males usually choose young men and male adolescents (the average age is 17 years old) as their victims and are more likely to assault many victims, compared to those who sexually assault females.

Perpetrators often assault young males in isolated areas where help is not readily available. For instance, a perpetrator who assaults males may pick up a teenage hitchhiker on a remote road or find some other way to isolate his intended victim.

As is true about those who assault and sexually abuse women and girls, most perpetrators of males are men. Specifically, men are perpetrators in about 86% of male victimization cases.

Despite popular belief that only gay men would sexually assault men or boys, most male perpetrators identify themselves as heterosexuals and often have consensual sexual relationships with women.

Source: National Center for PTSD

It's hard to know what makes a psychopathic killer tick as not all psychopaths are killers, even if psychopath movies make it seem that way. Psychopathic killers may all have similar symptoms of psychopathy but they are all individuals as well. That said, there are some commonalities among psychopathic killers that become clearer when you look at what the psychopaths, themselves, have said.

"I don't feel guilty for anything. I feel sorry for people who feel guilt" – Ted Bundy, murdered at least 30 women and committed necrophilia with some.

This sentiment is typical of psychopathic killers. A lack of empathy, guilt, and remorse are cornerstones of psychopathy.

How Do You Become a Psychopathic Killer?

Psychopathic killers may come from very normal, average families, or they may not. Many psychopathic killers do have abuse and neglect in their background and this along with poor parenting of other types may increase the risk of psychopathy. Additionally, parental substance use and psychopath parents increase the risk of a psychopathic offspring.

That said, there also appears to be differences in the brain of a psychopath when compared to the average brain. For example, after more than 1,000 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans, it can be said that decreased neural activity in the paralimbic regions of the brain is common in psychopaths. It's this part of the brain that deals with moral reasoning, emotional memory and inhibition.

Do Psychopathic Killers Start Young?

Some psychopathic serial killers start young (in their teens), while others wait until their adulthood. What is clear is that the signs of psychopathy, such as lack of remorse, lack of empathy, pervasive lying, lack of regards towards others and other symptoms are there by age 15.

Edmund Kemper, for example, killed both grandparents when he was just 15.

Other psychopaths find that some people inhibit their killing others. Once they murder these people, they can freely move onto continuing their killing ways. John Christie, who murdered eight women, said of killing his wife, he ". . . removed the one obstacle which, for ten years, had apparently held me in check. After she had gone, the way was clear for me to fulfill my destiny."

List of Psychopathic Serial Killers

Most serial killers are considered to be psychopaths even if a formal psychopath test hasn't been given to them. That's due to the:

1. heinous nature of their crimes
2. what they say about their crimes
3. their attitude towards their crimes

These three things tend to make it clear that they meet the criteria for psychopathy.

The following is a list of five serial killers who are likely psychopathic:

• Ted Bundy – This psychopath serial killer was also a kidnapper, rapist and necrophile. He confessed to 30 murders from 1974-1978 across seven states. Bundy has these chilling words to say of his history of killing, "I haven't blocked out the past. I wouldn't trade the person I am, or what I've done – or the people I've known– for anything. So I do think about it. And, at times, it's a rather mellow trip to lay back and remember."
• John Christie – This British psychopathic serial killer murdered at least eight women, including his wife, by strangulation in the 1940s and early 1950s. He was convicted of his wife's murder and hanged for it. Christie talked of killing as a career: "My first murder was thrilling because I had embarked on the career I had chosen for myself, the career of murder."
• Edmund Kemper – Edmund Kemper was known as "The Co-Ed Butcher" or "The Co-Ed Killer" in California in the early 1970s when he killed and dismembered six women. He was also a necrophile and he murdered his grandparents as well as his mother and her friend. Kemper is known for his imposing stature of 6 feet 9 inches and his high intelligence quotient at 140. When asked what he thought when he saw a pretty girl walking down the street he said, "One side of me says, 'I'd like to talk to her, date her.' The other side of me says, 'I wonder how her head would look on a stick . . .'"
• Heinrich Pommerencke – German, Heinrich Pommerencke started his crimes at an early age as he stalked, accosted and raped girls while he was still in his teens. He moved onto killing after tossing one rape victim from a train, following her out, finishing the act and then stabbing her to death. Pommerencke says he thought women "were a fickle lot." He "knew" he would "have to kill."
• Peter Sutcliffe – This British psychopathic serial killer was termed "The Yorkshire Ripper" in 1981. He killed 13 women and attempted to kill seven more. Sutcliffe regularly used prostitutes and one reason he may have chosen to start killing them was because one (along with her pimp) swindled him out of some money. At times, he said he was "called by God" to kill prostitutes but in another quote he states, "Killing prostitutes had become an obsession with me. I could not stop myself. It was like a drug."

article references

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) symptoms manifest as long-standing, inflexible, and pervasive maladaptive behaviors that occur across a broad range of contexts and circumstances. Regular, as well as famous people with narcissistic personality disorder, frequently display haughty, arrogant, and patronizing attitudes and have a grandiose self-perception.

They have a tumultuous inner experience that alternates between feeling excessively superior and unfairly devalued. You'll notice people with NPD (narcissists) are highly sensitive to even the slightest rejection or criticism. Consequently, they frequently avoid any setting where they feel people might criticize them or make them feel inferior. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder either lash out angrily or withdraw into a prison of hate when criticized. Experts believe both of these responses arise from extremely low self-esteem and feeling of inferiority.

Specific Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder appear in adolescence or no later than early adulthood. These symptoms make up a large part of the narcissist's inner experience. To receive a diagnosis of NPD, a person must meet five or more of the nine criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM 5).

Narcissistic personality disorder criteria as outlined in the DSM 5:

• Grandiose sense of self-importance
• Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
• Belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people and institutions
• Need for excessive admiration
• Sense of entitlement
• Interpersonally exploitive behavior (manipulates others)
• Lack of empathy
• Envy of others or belief that others envy him or her
• Demonstration of arrogant and haughty behaviors

Many people may act out in these ways to a point, but a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder is only appropriate when these symptoms pervade all areas of an individual's life, having a significant negative social and personal impact on him or her.

Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Signs of narcissistic personality disorder are behaviors that you can see in someone through simple observation. Consider, for example, the symptom of grandiosity. You can't readily observe a person's inner feeling of grandiosity. But you can observe the behaviors that arise from it.

Grandiosity scenario: When Robert first met his wife, Amber, she told him she had attended Brown University and became the creative director of a best-selling fashion magazine soon after graduating with honors. Their relationship moved rapidly and they married less than a year after their first date. Amber quit her job to stay at home, so they could start a family. She often mentioned that she had superior breeding, culture, and background compared to people they knew.

After only a few months of marriage, Robert discovered that Amber had only worked as a paid intern at the magazine. And she didn't quit her job; she was fired because a random drug screening revealed heavy use of cocaine and amphetamines. She never attended the prestigious Brown University. Instead, she dropped out of classes at a local community college during the first year.

Interpersonally exploitive scenario: Tom, an influential medical doctor, befriended and pursued, Rachel, owner of a genetic testing company. Young, brilliant, and highly successful, Rachel felt drawn to the charming, well-known physician, especially after he poured his heart out about his cold, emotionally unavailable wife and his loneliness. When Rachel told Tom she was pregnant, he became furious, demanding that she terminate the pregnancy and threatening to ruin her reputation in the medical community.

Devastated, she went through with the pregnancy and Tom proceeded to spread vicious lies about her. He claimed she tried to seduce him and she has stalked him ever since he spurned her. He even accused her of skimming from the medical facilities who purchased her products. Essentially, Tom used Rachel to meet his physical and emotional needs and discarded her when she was no longer useful.

Sense of entitlement scenario: Michael feels entitled to unreasonably favorable treatment from others due to his exceedingly good looks, professional success, and privileged upbringing in Greenwich, Connecticut. When he doesn't get his way, he lashes out in dramatically stunning episodes of anger, abuse, and paranoia. People often give in to him just so they can avoid a scene. He also uses charm and emotional seduction on both men and women to get them to cater to his outrageous requests.

These three stories touch only on a few of the endless ways in which narcissistic personalities act out in response to their distorted thought patterns and beliefs. People with narcissistic personality traits may have:

• A scale in which they rate others in terms of usefulness
• An overwhelming need to be the focus of admiration and attention at work or social situations
• A pattern of rapidly alternating between idealization and devaluation of others
• A history of intense, but short relationships with others, showing an inability to form and maintain truly intimate bonds
• An attraction to leadership positions or high-profile careers
• An unstable self-perception that vacillates between excessive self-praise and excessive self-hate
• An excessive sensitivity to rejection or even very mild criticism from others

Diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Only a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, can give an official diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. The clinician will conduct a comprehensive psychological evaluation and ask the client a number questions about mental health history and that of immediate family members.

The doctor will compare the client's symptoms, their severity, and other mental health information to criteria in the DSM 5. The client may meet criteria for a co-occurring personality disorder or other mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety. Since people with NPD often abuse drugs or alcohol, the clinician may also order a toxicology report.

After carefully assessing all of this information, the doctor will determine the diagnosis and begin developing an individualized treatment plan.

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There are quite a few famous people with histrionic personality disorder. One of the most notable is an infamous retired Pennsylvania State University football coach and convicted child molester, Jerry Sandusky. During Sandusky's trial for multiple counts of child molestation, the judge ruled that his psychiatrist could testify that his client had histrionic personality disorder.

Regarding other famous people with confirmed histrionic personality disorder symptoms and diagnosis, there don't seem to be any who publicly admit to having the disorder or who are known to have sought treatment for histrionic personality disorder. But, by playing armchair psychologist, it's easy to pinpoint some decidedly histrionic behavior patterns among the stars.

Famous People Who May Have Histrionic Personality Disorder

Megan Fox. People have labeled Fox as both a borderline and histrionic personality. Certainly, the two disorders can occur together. Like many celebrities, Fox does seem to love being the center of attention. She also sports a tattoo of another famous person suspected of having had histrionic personality disorder: Marilyn Monroe.

Jessica Simpson. A newspaper based in India published a story by Citizen Journalist, Roberto Carlos, claiming Simpson shows all the signs of histrionic personality disorder. "While people crave attention, there are others who crave for [sic] it in excess; sometimes people in reality TV shows," quipped Carlos, "...Jessica Simpson...she received attention on the MTV Reality TV Show called "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" before she left Nick to seek better opportunities."

Kim Kardashian. Her overly seductive dress, "accidentally" released self-made porn video, drama-filled romantic life, and seemingly insatiable hunger for attention make Kardashian a likely candidate for a histrionic diagnosis. As of October 2014, Kardashian was still romantically involved with rap artist, Kanye West (see below). The drama surrounding their relationship has been keeping fans up at night since they got together.

Miley Cyrus. The once wholesome pre-teen star has become an oversexed, attention-stealing machine. Her "Wrecking Ball" music video in which she appears completely nude fits the seductive dress (or undress) behavior. She regularly appears at public events and personal social gatherings in overtly seductive attire and often behaves in a manner that can only be seen as desperately attention-seeking.

Kanye West. In a recent blog post, psychologist Rachel Kitson offers her perspective on the behavior of the rap music artist. Kitson points to West's obvious attention-seeking, observing that he gets "the biggest bang for the buck" by not limiting the scope of topics he's willing to take a strong stance on with little concern about the credibility of his platform. He doesn't seem to mind if the attention he garners is good or bad because to him, it's "all good" as long as the Internet and media stays abuzz about his antics. His drama-laden romantic life also appears to fit the histrionic personality profile. Kanye is currently (as of October 2014) involved with Kim Kardashian. Kitson suggests that West may have both narcissistic and histrionic personality disorders.

Many other celebrities exhibit behaviors associated with histrionic personality disorder. It's possible that stars like Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith (deceased), Richard Simmons, Marilyn Monroe (deceased), and many others are drawn toward careers that naturally feed their attention craving personalities.

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