Editor’s note: The American Psychiatric Association is in the process of updating its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, which is the main reference book used by mental health professionals. Back in February, Lovefraud invited you, our readers, to complete a survey on issues related to the new DSM-5.
We will be preparing a full scientific paper on the results of the survey. In the meantime, following is Lovefraud’s comment to the DSM-5 committee, which includes the basic survey results.
To read the revised definition of antisocial personality disorder in the draft of the DSM-5, click the following link. (The working group has recommended changing the name of the disorder to “Antisocial/Psychopathic Type” personality disorder.) Also, feel free to submit your own comments to the committee. The deadline for comments is April 20, 2010.
COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED DSM-5 DEFINITION OF ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER CONTRIBUTED BY LOVEFRAUD.COM
Lovefraud.com is a website that teaches people how to recognize and recover from people with antisocial personality disorder — we use the term “sociopaths.” Lovefraud was launched in 2005 and now averages 3,000 visits per day. Our writers include a journalist, a psychiatrist and a marriage and family counselor. Readers are also invited to tell us their stories of entanglements with sociopaths. We have collected nearly 1,900 cases related to sociopaths in the community, only a small minority of whom have extensive criminal records. Most of our readers were victimized by “professional” con artists who use “love” to prey on victims and who have evaded prosecution.
Lovefraud readers have all learned about sociopaths the hard way—through being deceived and destroyed by them. Many of our readers believe that knowledge of antisocial personality disorder and the existence of people who are “without conscience” could have helped prevent their victimization. The biggest reason our readers fell into the relationships is ignorance of the personality disorder and its symptoms. Therefore, Lovefraud’s primary goal is public education.
The proposed DSM-5 definition for antisocial personality disorder is, in our view, a vast improvement over the language in DSM-IV. However, we have three concerns with the new definition. They are:
1. Although the traits described in the first paragraph—arrogance, entitlement, manipulation, superficial charm, etc.—are accurate, these traits are frequently not apparent upon meeting a sociopathic individual or early in a relationship. In a community setting, the only way a clinician would find out about the traits is through interviewing the people around the sociopath. Many of our readers tell us that sociopaths successfully con mental health professionals and the legal system.
2. The second paragraph of the definition includes the following sentence: “Their emotional expression is mostly limited to irritability, anger, and hostility; acknowledgement and articulation of other emotions, such as love and anxiety, are rare.” This is incorrect. The vast majority of Lovefraud readers have experienced sociopaths professing their love and devotion, quite convincingly. We’ve seen them cry at the thought of losing us. It is only when the sociopaths have drained us of everything they could and discarded us, that we learned it was all an act.
3. The public is extremely confused about the name and definition of this disorder. The suggested name, “Antisocial/Psychopathic Type,” only muddies the water further. From a communications perspective, it is unsuitable for educating the public about this disorder. And education is the only way of preventing more people from falling victim to these individuals.
Lovefraud conducted an online survey of our readers in order to provide evidence and documentation for our point of view. We received 1,378 responses. Readers were questioned regarding their observations of the abusive individual—78% of them identified the individual as a romantic partner or spouse. Respondents were also asked questions related to the emotional expression issue, and their understanding of the terms used to describe this personality disorder.
We are writing a scientific research paper to describe the complete survey results, which we will send to the DSM-5 committee when it is finished. However, for the purposes of this comment, we include the following highlights.
WERE OUR RESPONDENTS INVOLVED WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO FIT THE SOCIOPATHIC PROFILE?
We know from the many narrative stories we receive that our readers have been involved with highly antisocial individuals who enter relationships with the aim of predation. Respondents were asked to rate how closely the individual they were involved with matched the scale in the new DSM-5 criteria for antisocial personality disorder. Here are the results:
1. Antagonism: Callousness
Very little or mildly like that: 3.7%
Moderately like that: 14.5%
Extremely like that: 81.9%
2. Antagonism: Aggression
Very little or mildly like that: 18.1%
Moderately like that: 24.7%
Extremely like that: 57.3%
3. Antagonism: Manipulativeness
Very little or mildly like that: 2.2%
Moderately like that: 8.7%
Extremely like that: 89.0%
4. Antagonism: Hostility
Very little or mildly like that: 18.4%
Moderately like that: 24.0%
Extremely like that: 57.6%
5. Antagonism: Deceitfulness
Very little or mildly like that: 2.5%
Moderately like that: 11.0%
Extremely like that: 86.5%
6. Antagonism: Narcissism
Very little or mildly like that: 8.4%
Moderately like that: 17.4%
Extremely like that: 74.3%
7. Disinhibition: Irresponsibility
Very little or mildly like that: 15.0%
Moderately like that: 18.0%
Extremely like that: 67.0%
8. Disinhibition: Recklessness
Very little or mildly like that: 21.2%
Moderately like that: 23.5%
Extremely like that: 55.3%
9. Disinhibition: Impulsivity
Very little or mildly like that: 17.2%
Moderately like that: 22.7%
Extremely like that: 60.1%
Respondents were asked when they first noticed each of the above traits in the individual. The choices were: right away, within the first month, within the first six months, within the first year and after one year. For every single trait above, the timeframe selected most often was “after one year.”
Conclusion: Lovefraud readers were indeed involved with individuals who seem to possess the characteristics of the antisocial/psychopathic type. However, these individuals were almost always able to keep their true natures disguised until the relationship was well-established.
WAS THE ARTICULATION OF EMOTIONS SUCH AS LOVE AND ANXIETY RARE?
Following are survey questions related to the issue of love and anxiety, and the answers.
Did the individual you were involved with verbally express love or caring for you?
Yes: 85.1%
No: 11.9%
If the person verbally expressed love or caring to you, how often?
Daily: 44.1%
Weekly: 14.7%
From time to time: 24.9%
Rarely: 16.3%
After a period of time, was the person’s emotional expression mostly limited to irritability, anger and hostility, and acknowledgement and articulation of other emotions, such as love or anxiety, became rare?
Yes: 72.0%
No: 21.1%
Did the person you were involved with display charm and concern in public, but hostility and anger in private?
Yes: 84.8%
No: 12.8%
Did the person you were involved with express fear or anxiety?
Yes: 47.9%
No: 50.7%
Conclusion: Antisocial individuals do indeed express love, although they are acting. Unfortunately, it is an extremely convincing act. When asked to describe how the person expressed love, comments from the survey included:
“He used expressions of loving and caring to lure me into a relationship with him and to keep me from leaving the relationship. Therefore, he did express love and/or caring throughout the relationship, although in hindsight I know that these were calculated performances designed to fit my own needs.”
“It was the greatest game for him totally adoring, expressing love in every way imaginable until he had ”˜conquered’ and was sure of me which took some time to get me into the trap completely, but once that happened, he changed and as I became more aware of his lies, his imagination, he then found another.”
“A convincing way of expressing love, such that I was 100% sure she experienced it.”
“He would say, ”˜I only do and say these things because I love you.’ I became confused about what love really means.”
Recent news stories have included con artists like “Clark Rockefeller” who was evaluated by a psychiatrist, found to be antisocial and yet claimed to “love” his family. The judge in this case acknowledged the defendant’s “love for” his daughter, whom he kidnapped. It is our concern that if this statement remains in the DSM, the presence of professed love will be interpreted as “ruling out” this personality type.
Lovefraud recommends that the sentence, “Their emotional expression is mostly limited to irritability, anger, and hostility; acknowledgement and articulation of other emotions, such as love and anxiety, are rare,” be ELIMINATED FROM THE DEFINITION. We are concerned that if it remains, a clinician, hearing a sociopath talk about his/her love for partner or family, or his/her fear and anxieties, will fail to diagnose the personality disorder when, in fact, this diagnosis is appropriate.
In fact, people with this disorder negatively, and often tragically, affect their spouses, romantic partners and other family members. Perhaps this fact should be included in the description of the disorder.
WHAT SHOULD THIS DISORDER BE CALLED?
The public does not understand antisocial personality disorder. This is an extremely dangerous situation. Antisocial individuals are social predators at worst, and parasites at best, who live by exploiting others. We find that once a person becomes entangled with a sociopath, there is virtually no support from institutions such as law enforcement and the courts. Therefore the only way to protect the public from sociopaths in the community is to teach people what this disorder is all about, so that if they start seeing the signs, they can escape before serious damage is done.
The survey asked the following questions:
Before your involvement with this disordered individual, what did you understand the term “sociopath” to mean?
Criminal: 19.2%
Serial killer: 19.4%
Someone who was delusional: 6.4%
Person without empathy or a conscience: 19.7%
I didn’t know what it meant: 35.3%
Before your involvement with this disordered individual, what did you understand the term “psychopath” to mean?
Criminal: 15.0%
Serial killer: 51.2%
Someone who was delusional: 13.4%
Person without empathy or a conscience: 8.9%
I didn’t know what it meant: 11.5%
In your view, what term should be used to describe this disorder?
Antisocial personality disorder: 10.9%
Sociopath: 34.9%
Psychopath: 11.3%
Antisocial/Psychopathic Type personality disorder: 43.0%
Conclusion: If we are going to educate the public about this disorder, we cannot use the term “psychopath.” Probably due to mass media, most people believe that a psychopath is a serial killer. This cultural bias is simply too strong to overcome.
People are confused about the term “antisocial—”people tend to believe it refers to someone who doesn’t want to be around others, like a hermit. This is certainly not the case with the individuals we are discussing—they love being around people, although they view every social interaction as a feeding opportunity.
Although 43% of our survey respondents approved of the term “antisocial/psychopathic type personality disorder,” from a communications perspective, this terminology is a disaster. In order to educate, we need to be able to identify the individual. What do we call this person? An “antisocial slash psychopathic type personality disordered person”? The suggested term obfuscates the definition. We need clarity.
Lovefraud recommends using the second-place term”—sociopath.” The word is already in the lexicon, but it doesn’t have the cultural baggage of “psychopath” and the misunderstanding of “antisocial.” The fact that most people are unsure of what “sociopath” means gives us an opportunity to teach them. “Sociopath” is one word—a word that can be defined. Remember, in 1930, Dr. Partridge made very strong arguments against the use of the term “psychopath.” His arguments remain valid today.
This is perhaps the only disorder in the DSM where the very criteria imply victimization of others. Therefore, the need for victim and public education should be taken into consideration as the disorder is renamed and described. Perhaps professional societies such as the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy should be consulted to arrive at a consensus name for this disorder. Then, once the disorder is officially renamed, issue a press release and actively discourage the use of other terms. Confusion was created when mainstream psychiatry had valid reasons for changing the name of the disorder from psychopathy to sociopathy, but since there was no real consensus, many continued to use the term “psychopath.” The use of multiple terms has thwarted efforts to educate people about this disorder. These many terms also give the false impression that there is more than one categorical disorder, one that is largely genetic and another that is entirely environmental in origin.
If any member of the DSM-5 committee would like to discuss Lovefraud’s findings, the needs of victims and family members, and our recommendations further, we are available.
Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud.com
Liane J. Leedom, M.D., contributing author to the Lovefraud Blog
How to recognize and recover from the sociopaths – narcissists in your life
https://lovefraud.com/blog/
I wonder if two classes are required. The “psychopath” displaying all the classic traits and characteristics including violence/criminal activity, and the “sociopath,” the nonviolent psychopath.
After some thought, I now believe I was victimized twice by “sociopaths”, excluding childhood sexual abuse by my older male cousin, who is very much a “psychopath.”
The profile of both sociopaths is remarkably similar, albeit the first “Paul”, was a bit more honest than Jamie. Nevertheless, both were manipulative, callous and did not display any sense of guilt or empathy. Paul, a bisexual, was also seemingly more entitled than Jamie. Other than that, both were charming but quiet and unassuming. Neither exhibited any violence or from what I know had any record of criminal activity.
Of course in both cases I saw many red flags but ignored them all due to their charming and pursuit of me…
Behindblueeyes,
“Of course in both cases I saw many red flags but ignored them all due to their charming and pursuit of me””
Yep…thats what happened to so many of us. NOW, though, we will NEVER IGNORE the RED FLAGS WE SEE. It works . It really works.
One and done. It gets easier and better as we learn how to protect ourselves and no longer be their supply!!!!
The amount of violence in the disordered individual as well as some of the other characteristics is like a “sliding scale” of from BAD to HORRIBLE or a 1-10 scale but they are really all on the same scale just maybe not as high up. The terms “socio- and psycho-path” are not two distinct types of individual. There is still a great deal of disagreement between even professionals about what to call this disorder.
Many people think a “psycho-path” is a serial killer and a “socio-path” just Bernie Maddoff and steals your money etc. But the point is that NONE OF THEM have any empathy, care, concern, repentence or remorse for any of the deeds they do whether they take your life or life-savings. NO CONSCIENCE. They know what society thinks is “right or wrong” but they decide that those rules do not apply to THEM.
“Pathological liars” are psychopaths as well. Maybe the never commit a crime the law says they should go to prison for, but they disrupt lives and hearts and souls. They are “soul killers” and for this we have no laws on the books except people who are not psychopaths have a moral compass that points us in the direction of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The motto of the psychopath is “do unto others before they get a chance to do unto you what you intend to do unto them.” They assume that everyone is as evil as they or, or so “stupid” they are “fair game” for psychopaths. Either way, it is okay to do whatever they want to do–for them.
But telll THEM A LIE and watch them scream “UNFAIR!!!!” LOL
This is where it is! That suvey we were invited to complete? I wondered where the results were. Sorry I gave 10 paragraph answers :O\
pb, if you subscribe to LF, the survey would have been emailed to you twice to participate.
justus5 These people destroy lives even if they don’t kill anyone
They commit crimes of humanity. A crime is not a only an act that results in charge, conviction.
Following our house burglary the police recovered much; the criminals convicted.
A crime against fellow humans is an act of taking away our right to humanity and respect.
The second appeals to paedophiles, rapists, sociopaths, psychopaths, abusers, con artists. All under the same umbrella called “control, power”
Donna and Liane:
Brava! I look forward to reading the ultimate article.
I agree with your point about eliminating the sentence regarding their exhibited irritability, etc. The fact that should be emphasized is not only that a sociopath can express love, but their MO in the initial phase is not only exhibiting charm, but in fact they “love bomb” their intended targets. The public has to get the concept that what they see up front and what they get later on are two entirely different sides of the same coin. As everyone on this site can attest, nothing prepares your average man/woman on the street for the onslaught of lovebombing.
I was born 16 weeks too early, causing a brain injury called periventricular leukoencephalopathy, a destruction of the white matter connections in my brain,, including the ones in my frontal lobe.
So, I’m a sociopath, or at least have sociopathic tendencies. I am disgusted with everyone acting like we aren’t human, and we’re bad, horrible people. So I view people like possessions, and I have no empathy, what’s wrong with that? So do autistic people, and they get all kinds of wonderfully positive attention, but we’re left out in the cold.
I don’t like people for themselves, I like them for what they give me, physically or emotionally. If they’re entertaining, or help me out with my problems, I’ll associate with them. If not or they stop, I leave them. Basically, I see people like you “normal” people would see a shiny new Lexus.
And empathy just gets in the way of me…why would I want to experience someone else’s suffering? If their displays of suffering are irritating me, I’ll attempt to help them so they’ll stop irritating me; if that doesn’t work, I walk away.
So I care only about myself…doesn’t everyone, deep down?
My goal is to become an interventional cardiologist. So my reasons are because I want the excitement, drama, power, money, and I enjoy the challenge of diagnosing and treating devastating cardiovascular diseases, at least I’m doing something constructive by helping people.
Wish me luck in my life, that I’ll be happy and successful.
Lovefrauds home page:
Learn to recognize and AVOID Sociopaths. Sociopaths are hazardous to your emotional health, your finances, even your physical safety. Learn to recognize the symptoms of a sociopath, and if you suspect you are dealing with one, get him or her out of your life.
Not sure this site will be of service to you Douglas.
BTW your diagnosis of pvl is defined as follows:
Periventricular leukomalasia (PVL) is a type of brain injury involving an ischemic infarction (inadequate blood circulation) of the white matter of the brain adjacent to the lateral ventricles. Peri means near; ventricular refers to the ventricles or fluid spaces of the brain, leukomalasia is softening of the white matter of the brain. The softening occurs because brain tissue in this area has died. Since PVL results in the loss of vital areas of neural tissue, particularly motor fibers that control muscle movements, cerebral palsy (CP) develops in most cases. It is likely to be of a moderate to severe degree and either spastic diplegia or spastic quadriplegia, with the legs more involved than the upper extremities. Mild to severe mental retardation may occur, but some children with PVL and spastic CP have normal intelligence. Visual impairment is also possible if the injury involves the occipital region. Seizure disorders may occur, but are not always associated with PVL.
There is no connection thus far to this diagnosis being linked to Sociopathy.
Douglas:
I wish you luck for your life…..for happiness. This is something WE ALL deserve if we seek it.
I am unfamiliar with your medical ‘condition’, but I am very familiar with sociopathic tendencies.
YOu seem to be well aware of your own ‘workings’ and emotions…..this tells me you have the capacity to at least view others in this same way.
You have choices….as you state on empathy….it just gets in your way.
THIS IS A CHOICE. You choose to let empathy get in your way.
Yes, we all care about ourselves….but it doesn’t stop there….
I believe if you care about yourself…..you can CHOOSE to care about someone else…or others.
It is my experience with Sociopaths in my life….NO the behaviors are NOT human. The behaviors are not mainstream…..they are covert, manipulative and destructive…..
Yes, human in the sense sociopaths eat, drink and poop….and breath enough air to hurt others….but horridly In humain in their actions….
Sorry this disgusts you…..but live on the other side with an open mind and heart……and THIS is disgusting! Children are destroyed, families are hurt……when the whole damn car lot is destroyed……KIA OR LEXUS!!!
NOT a good position, because it it voluntarily done….it was a CHOICE.
Obviously your thought process has ‘worked’ for you, because you have the capacity to defend it, and until it doesn’t…..you will continue to poseess new ‘lexus;s’, and get YOUR needs met only.
I see a lot of excuses in your post and a lot of enlightening words……of defense.
I see you looking for empathy from others with your very first sentence……the ‘crowd’ gathering sentence.
This is manipulative….and very well written……for manipulation.
Kudos for you for your educational aspirations…..but my impression is, you will not be fulfilled.
Looking for the 4 things you seek in a career…..excitement, drama, power, money and a side effect of treating a disease….with a minimized mention of the patients (at least)
upfront…….will make it an uphill battle in your journey.
I wish you again….happiness and enlightenment…..success is not something we are all entitled to.
I find it interesting you found LF? What was the research that brought you here?
Thanks for posting.
EB
Well, according to this article, there is a link between sociopathy and white matter damage: http://neurologicalcorrelates.com/wordpress/2009/06/29/psychopaths-sociopaths-white-matter-unplugged/
And, there is a disease called “pseudopsychopathy”, which is strongly correlated with damage to the right frontal lobe, especially the orbitofrontal cortex.
I saw a psychologist who sad I had PDD-NOS, but she then went back on that diagnosis as I didn’t really fit it, as I had none of the socialization problems, nor obsessive interests. She now believes I may have shizoid personality disorder.