The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus The Rest Of Us

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, emotional abuse, and child abuse.

ASPD (colloquially known as “sociopathy” or “psychopathy”) is a mental disorder characterized by a disregard for the rights and welfare of others; a lack of empathy, remorse, or guilt; and a total focus on one’s own needs and desires. People with ASPD exhibit shared traits of recklessness, deceitfulness, exploitation of others’ emotions and conscience, and disregard for safety, rules, and law. Stout describes them as more likely to go out of their way to make others’ lives more difficult, and she argues that they rely on constant stimulation to stave off the boredom and lack of meaning caused by their lack of emotional capacity. People with ASPD are known to avoid responsibility and fail to see their part in harming others and are more likely than the general population to fall into substance use or financial difficulties. ASPD appears first in childhood but is not diagnosed until adulthood.

The exact causes of ASPD are not known, but it is thought to be partially genetic and partially environmental (due to abuse, trauma, or exposure to crime as a child). In her book, Stout claims that ASPD is one of the major causes of misery and abuse in the world, and she insists that people must learn to protect themselves from those who have the disorder.