The prevailing view in the mental health field is that sociopaths “burn out” in their 40s and engage in less antisocial behavior. It’s not true. In her myth-busting new book, Senior Sociopaths — How to Recognize and Escape Lifelong Abusers, Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud.com, says 14 million Americans over age 50 have serious exploitative personality disorders, and they’re abusive until the day they die. In the Senior Sociopaths Youtube Series, Donna presents highlights of her findings (details below).
Donna surveyed 2,377 Lovefraud.com readers about their experiences with individuals over age 50 whom they believed were sociopaths. Forty percent knew the disordered individuals both before and after 50. Asked if the sociopaths engaged in less manipulation, deceit and antisocial behavior as they aged, 91% said no. Their behavior was just as bad — or worse.
Research findings
Donna’s research was originally presented to the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, and then published by the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.
As reported in the scientific paper, 935 individuals showed levels of disordered traits considered indicative of antisocial personality disorder/psychopathy. While these individuals were over age 50, survey respondents reported, 99% were manipulative, 94% engaged in antisocial behavior, 93% were emotionally abusive, 89% were psychologically abusive, 58% were financially abusive and 47% were violent.
New book for the public
Senior Sociopaths — How to Recognize and Escape Lifelong Abusers, explains in detail how older individuals with antisocial, narcissistic, borderline or histrionic personality disorders, or psychopathy, affect those around them. Senior Sociopaths is written for the millions of survivors who are desperately trying to comprehend a partner, family member or colleague who never grows up and never calms down.
The point of the book, Donna says, is to help people recognize disordered behavior so that they can make an informed decision about how to move forward. “If someone is over age 50 and is still making your life miserable, you may be dealing with a senior sociopath,” she says. “There’s no point waiting for them to mellow out, because they won’t. The best thing you can do is get the person out of your life.”
For more information about the book, visit the Senior Sociopaths page on Lovefraud.com.
Senior Sociopaths Youtube Series
Join Donna Andersen for the Senior Sociopaths Youtube Series, presented live every Tuesday at 8 pm ET. She’ll answer your questions.
- April 5, 2022: Senior Sociopaths as romantic partners
- April 12, 2022: Senior Sociopaths as husbands and wives
- April 26, 2022: Senior Sociopaths as parents — the harm never stops
- May 3, 2022: Male and female Senior Sociopaths
- May 10, 2022: Senior Sociopaths as siblings, relatives and in-laws
- May 17, 2022: Senior Sociopaths never stop their abusive behavior
- May 24, 2022: Senior Sociopaths in the workplace