Sociopathic tendencies is a phrase that automatically evokes emotions that can leave you lost. They tend to be negative views of what we have preconceived as someone who is on the verge of killing or who just isn’t right in the head. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. Hearing that you have sociopathic tendencies doesn’t mean that you are going to kill people. It only means that you have tendencies that you don’t view society the way most people do. Don’t see it as doom, see it as an opportunity.

What is a Sociopath?

Sociopathic tendencies are when a person has certain traits that are associated with sociopaths and in numbers that don’t quite make them a sociopath, themselves. Sociopaths tend to be people who do not feel or view society as others do. There is usually a lack of moral or legal standards, but also an inability to get along with others and abide by social rules. The word sociopath tends to have a negative connotation and make us think about killers and criminals. However, this doesn’t have to be the case and often times is not. There are plenty of high functioning sociopaths who have integrated into society, to become successful and happy.

Sociopathic Tendencies

Having sociopathic tendencies doesn’t mean that you are a sociopath, only that you share some traits o one. This usually means that there is something in you that does not conform to society or fear it’s constructed. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and in some cases can actually be good. Understanding what makes someone a sociopath is a key to realizing that. Traits of a sociopath include:

• Being impulsive or failure to plan.
• Aggressiveness and irritability.
• Reckless disregard for safety, either for themselves or others.
• Irresponsibility, repeated and consistent failure to honor obligations.
• Lack of remorse, regardless or rationalization.
• Mistreating, hurting and stealing from others.
• Failure to conform to legal requirements and behaviors which are grounds for arrest.
• Deceit; such as using aliases, lying and conning others.

You will notice that not all of these are necessarily horrible traits. They are just ones that do not conform to society and its norms. Sure, breaking the law and lack of empathy are not good things. Neither is aggression or disregard for people and the law. However, having a different view of society is no crime, and neither is the inability to plan. Some people just prefer being impulsive and view that as enjoying life. Others might think that society needs change or that people aren’t something they need in their lives. This isn’t something that will make you a criminal or a killer. It just makes you someone with a different view. You can read more about sociopaths here.

Benefits of Sociopathic Tendencies

Some believe that sociopathic tendencies can actually be an advantage. If you have the ability to operate on these levels of deceit, you likely have a high intelligence. However, you don’t have to use these tendencies in a negative way. Lack of remorse is something that can be worked on but can also help compartmentalize emotions from work. Being impulsive can be seen as a way to enjoy life, you just want to make sure that you meet your responsibilities and have some structure in your life as well. These are all traits that can be channeled into something constructive and even positive. They just need to be controlled and directed.

What Do Sociopathic Tendencies Mean For You?

If you have sociopathic tendencies, it isn’t something to dread or worry about. It is simply a different way of functioning and thinking from the views of society. How they affect you is entirely dependent on you. You can be a productive and happy member of society, or you can follow a path that leads to arrests and aggression. There are different ways for you to control and direct these traits, through counseling. If your case is a little more severe, you might need medication to keep you heading down the right path.

Having sociopathic tendencies is similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder or bipolar disorder in that they are mental health issues that can be negative or they can be positive. They can be channeled into something positive, with a little help. But, without any help, they will just run rampant, and there is no telling how it will play out. You just need to learn how to control yourself and reign in your mind. It sounds a lot harder than it actually is and finding someone to help you isn’t as hard a task as it may seem. You just need to find someone who has experience in this field and can assess you to find the method that will yield you the strongest results. You can start your search here.