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Tres Contratos Sociales:
Un Viaje por la Sociotropía, la Sociopatía y la Psicopatía
**
Hace un par de días leí la publicación del amigo @emiliorios titulada Mi vecino es tan bueno y servicial… ¡Cuidado! Puede estar sufriendo de Sociotropía -Autoevaluándonos-, y sentí la necesidad de complementar el tema, ya que hay condiciones culturales donde la diversidad de terminología es importante aclarar, sobre todo, para aquellos lectores que sedientos de conocimiento.
La psique humana es para mi entender, un vasto teatro; donde todos somos actores interpretando un guion que, en parte, escribimos nosotros mismos y, en parte, nos es impuesto por la sociedad. La forma en que interactuamos con los demás, la manera en que valoramos sus opiniones y el peso que le damos a sus emociones definen nuestro personaje en ese teatro de la vida. Los aspectos culturales son otro punto a considerar, ya que un latino actúa muy diferente a un asiático o a un europeo, por ello, en este sentido, no todos leemos el mismo libreto y si lo hacemos, lo interpretamos a nuestra conveniencia. Algunos lo siguen con devoción desesperada, otros lo rompen en un arrebato de ira y unos pocos lo estudian fríamente solo para manipular al resto del elenco y apoderarse de la trama. En este escenario habitan tres figuras que a menudo confundimos: “el sociótropo, el sociópata y el psicópata”. No son tres actos de la misma obra, sino tres obras completamente distintas que se representan, por error, en el mismo escenario, y todo lo que haga referencia a psicólogo-psiquiatra, no es muy bien visto por la media humana. Veamos.
Studio IA
El Primer Acto:
El Sociótropo y el Eco del Aplauso Ajeno
Comencemos por el más luminoso y, paradójicamente, el más frágil de los tres, “el sociótropo”. La sociotropía no es un trastorno, sino un rasgo de la personalidad. Es una brújula interna que, en lugar de apuntar al norte de los propios deseos, apunta constantemente hacia la aprobación de los demás. El sociótropo es un individuo cuya autoestima y sentido de identidad están intrínsecamente ligados a la conexión y aceptación social.
Pensemos en el fallecido Robin Williams, pues yo amo sus películas. Aunque nunca se le diagnosticó formalmente con este rasgo (pues no es un diagnóstico clínico del DSM-5), su vida pública y sus luchas internas ofrecen un arquetipo casi perfecto que se adapta a esta escena. En el escenario, era un torbellino de energía, un genio de la improvisación cuyo objetivo primordial era arrancar una risa, generar una conexión, sentir el calor del aplauso. Se ha dicho que su necesidad de hacer felices a los demás era casi compulsiva. Esta es la esencia de la Sociotropía, una inversión masiva de energía en mantener relaciones interpersonales positivas, a menudo a costa del propio bienestar. Particularmente, no me gustó su partida.
Bing IA
El psicólogo Aaron T. Beck, citado por mi amigo @emiliorios en su publicación, fue pionero de la terapia cognitiva, fue quien desarrolló el concepto de sociotropía en contraposición a la autonomía (la necesidad de independencia y control). Beck postuló en sus trabajos sobre la depresión que una persona con alta sociotropía es “excesivamente dependiente de la retroalimentación positiva de los demás para mantener un sentido de valía personal”. El miedo al rechazo o la desaprobación no es una simple molestia; es una amenaza existencial. De joven, pasé varios años de mi vida buscando esa aprobación, buscando mejorar la vida de los demás.
Ahora, ¿Sabes cómo detectarlo?, a ver:
En los demás: Observa a personas que evitan el conflicto a toda costa, que se disculpan en exceso, que sacrifican sus propias necesidades para complacer a otros y que se sienten visiblemente devastados por la crítica o la indiferencia. Suelen ser amigos leales y personas muy empáticas, pero su amabilidad a menudo esconde un profundo temor al abandono.
En uno mismo: Pregúntate: ¿Siento un vacío o una ansiedad profunda si no estoy en contacto constante con mis seres queridos? ¿Mido mi valor por la cantidad de “me gusta” o comentarios positivos que recibo? ¿Digo “sí” cuando quiero decir “no” para evitar decepcionar a alguien? Si las respuestas son afirmativas y causan angustia, podrías tener una tendencia sociotrópica.
La frontera aquí es clara: el sociótropo sufre por un exceso de conexión con la norma social y las emociones ajenas. Su contrato social está firmado con tinta de ansiedad, con la cláusula de “seré lo que tú necesites que sea”.
**El Segundo Acto:
El Sociópata y el Contrato Roto
Ahora, demos un giro de 180 grados y entremos en el territorio de la oscuridad, así es como lo describe la mayoría, pues, aquí es donde la confusión comienza. Tanto la sociopatía como la psicopatía están agrupadas bajo el paraguas del Trastorno de Personalidad Antisocial (TPA) en el manual diagnóstico actual, lo conozco perfectamente porque mi sobrina Gilda estudia Derecho y esto es parte de su día a día. Sin embargo, muchos criminólogos y psicólogos, como el Dr. Robert Hare, insisten en una distinción crucial que radica en su origen y manifestación. Por un lado, el sociópata es, a menudo, un producto de su entorno (la misma sociedad lo crea…). Su desdén por las reglas sociales nace de un trauma, de una infancia de abandono, abuso o caos. Su contrato social no fue estudiado para ser manipulado; fue roto y pisoteado en sus primeros años de vida, y él o ella aprendió que las reglas no aplican, que el mundo es un lugar hostil donde solo sobreviven los que no sienten. Si amigos, esto es una realidad.
Bing IA
A diferencia del psicópata, el sociópata es impulsivo, errático y de “sangre caliente”. Es el estafador que improvisa, el ladrón que actúa por un arrebato, la persona que es incapaz de mantener un trabajo o una relación estable porque su ira y su frustración explotan sin previo aviso. Puede formar apegos, aunque suelen ser desordenados y poco saludables. Incluso puede sentir destellos de culpa o remordimiento, pero estos son rápidamente ahogados por la justificación de sus actos.
Ahora, ¿Sabes cómo detectarlo?
En los demás: Busca un patrón crónico de inestabilidad. Mentiras constantes, impulsividad, irresponsabilidad financiera y laboral, y una clara falta de planificación a futuro. Suelen tener un historial de problemas legales y relaciones turbulentas. Suelen ser más obvios en su desprecio por las normas.
En uno mismo: Este es un terreno complejo, pues la falta de introspección es un rasgo clave. Sin embargo, una señal podría ser una historia personal de culpar siempre a los demás por los propios fracasos, sentir una rabia constante hacia la “sociedad” o las “reglas” y una incapacidad para aprender de los castigos o consecuencias negativas.
El Tercer Acto:
El Psicópata y el Manual de Instrucciones del Ser Humano
Si el sociópata rompió el contrato, el psicópata nunca creyó que fuera real, de estos hay mucho en La Escena del Crimen. Para él, el contrato social —las normas de empatía, culpa y reciprocidad— es simplemente un manual de instrucciones sobre cómo funcionan los demás, un conjunto de debilidades a explotar —los demás están errados, yo estoy en lo correcto—, argumenta. La psicopatía se considera, en gran medida de origen genético o biológico, una falla en el cableado cerebral (específicamente en áreas como la amígdala, responsable del miedo y la empatía) que los hace incapaces de procesar las emociones.
El/la psicópata es de “sangre fría”. Es el arquitecto meticuloso del engaño. Puede ser encantador, elocuente y exitoso. Es el CEO que despide a 5000 personas sin pestañear para aumentar el valor de las acciones, el líder de una secta que manipula a sus seguidores con una sonrisa, el cirujano con un ego grandioso que no siente nada por el paciente bajo su bisturí. Su falta de empatía es profunda, abismal. No finge emociones para encajar; las emula como un actor que ha estudiado su papel a la perfección. Personalmente, conocí a uno de estos individuos.
BBC
El Dr. Robert Hare, creador de la influyente Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), describe este fenómeno como una "pobreza emocional" profunda. No tienen miedo, no sienten remordimiento y ven a las personas como peones en su tablero personal de ajedrez. El concepto de la "máscara de la cordura", acuñado por el psiquiatra Hervey Cleckley en su libro The Mask of Sanity (1941), captura esta esencia: una fachada de normalidad perfectamente construida que oculta un vacío interior. Recomiendo su lectura.
Ahora, ¿Sabes cómo detectarlo?
En los demás: Es extremadamente difícil. La clave está en las contradicciones a largo plazo entre sus palabras encantadoras y sus acciones frías y calculadoras. Busca una grandiosidad patológica, una necesidad de estímulo constante (se aburren fácilmente), un estilo de vida parasitario y una total incapacidad para aceptar la responsabilidad de sus actos.
En uno mismo: Es virtualmente imposible que un verdadero psicópata se autoidentifique, ya que su condición le impide ver que hay algo “mal” en su forma de ser. Para ellos, el resto del mundo es el que está equivocado, ahogado en emociones inútiles.
La Frontera Final
A ver si me hago entender, imaginemos el “sentimiento por el otro” como un dial de volumen de un equipo de sonido, entonces:
•El sociótropo tiene el dial girado al máximo (aturdido), hasta el punto de la distorsión. El ruido de las emociones ajenas ahoga su propia voz.
•El sociópata tiene un dial defectuoso. A veces capta una señal, una interferencia de culpa o afecto, pero la mayor parte del tiempo solo emite estática y rabia.
•El psicópata no tiene dial. No hay receptor. El canal de la empatía está muerto. Solo existe el silencio, un vacío que le da una ventaja estratégica y aterradora sobre el resto de nosotros.
Comprender estas diferencias no es un ejercicio académico, es una herramienta de supervivencia emocional y social que nos permite entender por qué algunas personas nos elevan, por qué otras nos arrastran a su caos y por qué algunas, con la más dulce de las sonrisas, solo buscan usarnos como un escalón más en su ascenso hacia la nada.
Hace un par de días leí la publicación del amigo @emiliorios titulada Mi vecino es tan bueno y servicial… ¡Cuidado! Puede estar sufriendo de Sociotropía -Autoevaluándonos-, y sentí la necesidad de complementar el tema, ya que hay condiciones culturales donde la diversidad de terminología es importante aclarar, sobre todo, para aquellos lectores que sedientos de conocimiento.
La psique humana es para mi entender, un vasto teatro; donde todos somos actores interpretando un guion que, en parte, escribimos nosotros mismos y, en parte, nos es impuesto por la sociedad. La forma en que interactuamos con los demás, la manera en que valoramos sus opiniones y el peso que le damos a sus emociones definen nuestro personaje en ese teatro de la vida. Los aspectos culturales son otro punto a considerar, ya que un latino actúa muy diferente a un asiático o a un europeo, por ello, en este sentido, no todos leemos el mismo libreto y si lo hacemos, lo interpretamos a nuestra conveniencia. Algunos lo siguen con devoción desesperada, otros lo rompen en un arrebato de ira y unos pocos lo estudian fríamente solo para manipular al resto del elenco y apoderarse de la trama. En este escenario habitan tres figuras que a menudo confundimos: “el sociótropo, el sociópata y el psicópata”. No son tres actos de la misma obra, sino tres obras completamente distintas que se representan, por error, en el mismo escenario, y todo lo que haga referencia a psicólogo-psiquiatra, no es muy bien visto por la media humana. Veamos.
Studio IA
El Primer Acto:
El Sociótropo y el Eco del Aplauso Ajeno
Comencemos por el más luminoso y, paradójicamente, el más frágil de los tres, “el sociótropo”. La sociotropía no es un trastorno, sino un rasgo de la personalidad. Es una brújula interna que, en lugar de apuntar al norte de los propios deseos, apunta constantemente hacia la aprobación de los demás. El sociótropo es un individuo cuya autoestima y sentido de identidad están intrínsecamente ligados a la conexión y aceptación social.
Pensemos en el fallecido Robin Williams, pues yo amo sus películas. Aunque nunca se le diagnosticó formalmente con este rasgo (pues no es un diagnóstico clínico del DSM-5), su vida pública y sus luchas internas ofrecen un arquetipo casi perfecto que se adapta a esta escena. En el escenario, era un torbellino de energía, un genio de la improvisación cuyo objetivo primordial era arrancar una risa, generar una conexión, sentir el calor del aplauso. Se ha dicho que su necesidad de hacer felices a los demás era casi compulsiva. Esta es la esencia de la Sociotropía, una inversión masiva de energía en mantener relaciones interpersonales positivas, a menudo a costa del propio bienestar. Particularmente, no me gustó su partida.
Bing IA
El psicólogo Aaron T. Beck, citado por mi amigo @emiliorios en su publicación, fue pionero de la terapia cognitiva, fue quien desarrolló el concepto de sociotropía en contraposición a la autonomía (la necesidad de independencia y control). Beck postuló en sus trabajos sobre la depresión que una persona con alta sociotropía es “excesivamente dependiente de la retroalimentación positiva de los demás para mantener un sentido de valía personal”. El miedo al rechazo o la desaprobación no es una simple molestia; es una amenaza existencial. De joven, pasé varios años de mi vida buscando esa aprobación, buscando mejorar la vida de los demás.
Ahora, ¿Sabes cómo detectarlo?, a ver:
En los demás: Observa a personas que evitan el conflicto a toda costa, que se disculpan en exceso, que sacrifican sus propias necesidades para complacer a otros y que se sienten visiblemente devastados por la crítica o la indiferencia. Suelen ser amigos leales y personas muy empáticas, pero su amabilidad a menudo esconde un profundo temor al abandono.
En uno mismo: Pregúntate: ¿Siento un vacío o una ansiedad profunda si no estoy en contacto constante con mis seres queridos? ¿Mido mi valor por la cantidad de “me gusta” o comentarios positivos que recibo? ¿Digo “sí” cuando quiero decir “no” para evitar decepcionar a alguien? Si las respuestas son afirmativas y causan angustia, podrías tener una tendencia sociotrópica.
La frontera aquí es clara: el sociótropo sufre por un exceso de conexión con la norma social y las emociones ajenas. Su contrato social está firmado con tinta de ansiedad, con la cláusula de “seré lo que tú necesites que sea”.
**El Segundo Acto:
El Sociópata y el Contrato Roto
Ahora, demos un giro de 180 grados y entremos en el territorio de la oscuridad, así es como lo describe la mayoría, pues, aquí es donde la confusión comienza. Tanto la sociopatía como la psicopatía están agrupadas bajo el paraguas del Trastorno de Personalidad Antisocial (TPA) en el manual diagnóstico actual, lo conozco perfectamente porque mi sobrina Gilda estudia Derecho y esto es parte de su día a día. Sin embargo, muchos criminólogos y psicólogos, como el Dr. Robert Hare, insisten en una distinción crucial que radica en su origen y manifestación. Por un lado, el sociópata es, a menudo, un producto de su entorno (la misma sociedad lo crea…). Su desdén por las reglas sociales nace de un trauma, de una infancia de abandono, abuso o caos. Su contrato social no fue estudiado para ser manipulado; fue roto y pisoteado en sus primeros años de vida, y él o ella aprendió que las reglas no aplican, que el mundo es un lugar hostil donde solo sobreviven los que no sienten. Si amigos, esto es una realidad.
Bing IA
A diferencia del psicópata, el sociópata es impulsivo, errático y de “sangre caliente”. Es el estafador que improvisa, el ladrón que actúa por un arrebato, la persona que es incapaz de mantener un trabajo o una relación estable porque su ira y su frustración explotan sin previo aviso. Puede formar apegos, aunque suelen ser desordenados y poco saludables. Incluso puede sentir destellos de culpa o remordimiento, pero estos son rápidamente ahogados por la justificación de sus actos.
Ahora, ¿Sabes cómo detectarlo?
En los demás: Busca un patrón crónico de inestabilidad. Mentiras constantes, impulsividad, irresponsabilidad financiera y laboral, y una clara falta de planificación a futuro. Suelen tener un historial de problemas legales y relaciones turbulentas. Suelen ser más obvios en su desprecio por las normas.
En uno mismo: Este es un terreno complejo, pues la falta de introspección es un rasgo clave. Sin embargo, una señal podría ser una historia personal de culpar siempre a los demás por los propios fracasos, sentir una rabia constante hacia la “sociedad” o las “reglas” y una incapacidad para aprender de los castigos o consecuencias negativas.
El Tercer Acto:
El Psicópata y el Manual de Instrucciones del Ser Humano
Si el sociópata rompió el contrato, el psicópata nunca creyó que fuera real, de estos hay mucho en La Escena del Crimen. Para él, el contrato social —las normas de empatía, culpa y reciprocidad— es simplemente un manual de instrucciones sobre cómo funcionan los demás, un conjunto de debilidades a explotar —los demás están errados, yo estoy en lo correcto—, argumenta. La psicopatía se considera, en gran medida de origen genético o biológico, una falla en el cableado cerebral (específicamente en áreas como la amígdala, responsable del miedo y la empatía) que los hace incapaces de procesar las emociones.
El/la psicópata es de “sangre fría”. Es el arquitecto meticuloso del engaño. Puede ser encantador, elocuente y exitoso. Es el CEO que despide a 5000 personas sin pestañear para aumentar el valor de las acciones, el líder de una secta que manipula a sus seguidores con una sonrisa, el cirujano con un ego grandioso que no siente nada por el paciente bajo su bisturí. Su falta de empatía es profunda, abismal. No finge emociones para encajar; las emula como un actor que ha estudiado su papel a la perfección. Personalmente, conocí a uno de estos individuos.
BBC
El Dr. Robert Hare, creador de la influyente Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), describe este fenómeno como una "pobreza emocional" profunda. No tienen miedo, no sienten remordimiento y ven a las personas como peones en su tablero personal de ajedrez. El concepto de la "máscara de la cordura", acuñado por el psiquiatra Hervey Cleckley en su libro The Mask of Sanity (1941), captura esta esencia: una fachada de normalidad perfectamente construida que oculta un vacío interior. Recomiendo su lectura.
Ahora, ¿Sabes cómo detectarlo?
En los demás: Es extremadamente difícil. La clave está en las contradicciones a largo plazo entre sus palabras encantadoras y sus acciones frías y calculadoras. Busca una grandiosidad patológica, una necesidad de estímulo constante (se aburren fácilmente), un estilo de vida parasitario y una total incapacidad para aceptar la responsabilidad de sus actos.
En uno mismo: Es virtualmente imposible que un verdadero psicópata se autoidentifique, ya que su condición le impide ver que hay algo “mal” en su forma de ser. Para ellos, el resto del mundo es el que está equivocado, ahogado en emociones inútiles.
La Frontera Final
A ver si me hago entender, imaginemos el “sentimiento por el otro” como un dial de volumen de un equipo de sonido, entonces:
•El sociótropo tiene el dial girado al máximo (aturdido), hasta el punto de la distorsión. El ruido de las emociones ajenas ahoga su propia voz.
•El sociópata tiene un dial defectuoso. A veces capta una señal, una interferencia de culpa o afecto, pero la mayor parte del tiempo solo emite estática y rabia.
•El psicópata no tiene dial. No hay receptor. El canal de la empatía está muerto. Solo existe el silencio, un vacío que le da una ventaja estratégica y aterradora sobre el resto de nosotros.
Comprender estas diferencias no es un ejercicio académico, es una herramienta de supervivencia emocional y social que nos permite entender por qué algunas personas nos elevan, por qué otras nos arrastran a su caos y por qué algunas, con la más dulce de las sonrisas, solo buscan usarnos como un escalón más en su ascenso hacia la nada.
Algunas veces somos invitados, pero en otras oportunidades nos topamos con una publicación como Mi vecino es tan bueno y servicial… ¡Cuidado! Puede estar sufriendo de Sociotropía -Autoevaluándonos- y sencillamente uno se siente tentado a dejar su granito de arena, tal cual lo he hecho.
Pues bien, no me queda de otra, sino de aprovechar e invitar al amigo @silher y a la amiga @sacra97, me gustaría conocer sus puntos de vista sobre este amplio tema de nunca acabar.
Portada de la publicación del amigo @emiliorios
Creciendo como persona, busca y encuentra lo que necesitas para ser un mejor humano en la Comunidad Holos&Lotus. De seguro, hay un tema que te llamará la atención.
Infografía propia de la Comunidad Holos&Lotus
Dedicado a todos aquellos que, día a día, hacen del mundo un lugar mejor.
Three Social Contracts:
A Journey through Sociopathy, Sociopathy, and Psychopathy
A couple of days ago, I read a post by my friend @emiliorios entitled [My neighbour is so kind and helpful... Beware! He may be suffering from sociotropy - Self-assessment] (https://peakd.com/hive -131951/@emiliorios/mi-vecino-es-tan-bueno-y-servicial-cuidado-puede-estar-sufriendo-de-sociotropia-autoevaluandonos-esen), and I felt the need to expand on the topic, as there are cultural conditions where it is important to clarify the diversity of terminology, especially for those readers who are thirsty for knowledge.
The human psyche is, in my understanding, a vast theatre where we are all actors performing a script that we have partly written ourselves and partly had imposed on us by society. The way we interact with others, the way we value their opinions and the weight we give to their emotions define our character in this theatre of life. Cultural aspects are another point to consider, as a Latin American acts very differently from an Asian or a European. In this sense, we do not all read the same script, and if we do, we interpret it to our own convenience. Some follow it with desperate devotion, others tear it up in a fit of rage, and a few study it coldly just to manipulate the rest of the cast and take over the plot. In this scenario, there are three figures that we often confuse: ‘the sociotrope, the sociopath, and the psychopath.’ These are not three acts of the same play, but three completely different plays that are mistakenly performed on the same stage, and anything that refers to a psychologist-psychiatrist is not very well regarded by the average person. Let's take a look.
AI Studio
Act One:
The Sociotrope and the Echo of Others' Applause
Let us begin with the most luminous and, paradoxically, the most fragile of the three, ‘the sociotrope.’ Sociotropy is not a disorder, but a personality trait. It is an internal compass that, instead of pointing north toward one's own desires, constantly points toward the approval of others. The sociotrope is an individual whose self-esteem and sense of identity are intrinsically linked to social connection and acceptance.
Let us consider the late Robin Williams, as I adore his films. Although he was never formally diagnosed with this trait (as it is not a clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5), his public life and internal struggles offer an almost perfect archetype that fits this scenario. On stage, he was a whirlwind of energy, a genius of improvisation whose primary goal was to elicit laughter, generate connection, and feel the warmth of applause. It has been said that his need to make others happy was almost compulsive. This is the essence of sociotropy, a massive investment of energy in maintaining positive interpersonal relationships, often at the expense of one's own well-being. Personally, I did not like his departure.
AI Bing
Psychologist Aaron T. Beck, quoted by my friend @emiliorios in his post, was a pioneer of cognitive therapy and developed the concept of sociotropy as opposed to autonomy (the need for independence and control). Beck postulated in his work on depression that a person with high sociotropy is ‘excessively dependent on positive feedback from others to maintain a sense of self-worth.’ The fear of rejection or disapproval is not a mere annoyance; it is an existential threat. As a young man, I spent several years of my life seeking that approval, seeking to improve the lives of others.
Do you know how to spot it? Let's see:
In others: Look for people who avoid conflict at all costs, apologise excessively, sacrifice their own needs to please others, and are visibly devastated by criticism or indifference. They tend to be loyal friends and very empathetic people, but their kindness often hides a deep fear of abandonment.
In yourself: Ask yourself: Do I feel a void or deep anxiety if I am not in constant contact with my loved ones? Do I measure my worth by the number of “likes” or positive comments I receive? Do I say “yes” when I mean “no” to avoid disappointing someone? If the answers are yes and cause you distress, you may have a sociotropic tendency.
The boundary here is clear: the sociotropic suffers from an excess of connection to social norms and the emotions of others. Their social contract is signed with ink of anxiety, with the clause ‘I will be whatever you need me to be’.
Act Two:
The Sociopath and the Broken Contract
Now, let's do a complete 180 and enter the realm of darkness, as most people describe it, because this is where the confusion begins. Both sociopathy and psychopathy are grouped under the umbrella of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) in the current diagnostic manual. I know this very well because my niece Gilda is studying law, and this is part of her daily life. However, many criminologists and psychologists, such as Dr Robert Hare, insist on a crucial distinction that lies in their origin and manifestation. On the one hand, the sociopath is often a product of their environment (society itself creates them...). Their disdain for social rules stems from trauma, from a childhood of neglect, abuse or chaos. Their social contract was not designed to be manipulated; it was broken and trampled on in their early years, and they learned that rules do not apply, that the world is a hostile place where only those who do not feel survive. Yes, friends, this is a reality.
AI Bing
Unlike the psychopath, the sociopath is impulsive, erratic, and ‘hot-blooded’. They are the con artist who improvises, the thief who acts on impulse, the person who is unable to hold down a job or maintain a stable relationship because their anger and frustration explode without warning. They can form attachments, although these tend to be messy and unhealthy. They may even feel flashes of guilt or remorse, but these are quickly drowned out by the justification of their actions.
Now, do you know how to spot it?
In others: Look for a chronic pattern of instability. Constant lying, impulsiveness, financial and work irresponsibility, and a clear lack of future planning. They often have a history of legal problems and turbulent relationships. They tend to be more obvious in their disregard for rules.
In yourself: This is complex territory, as a lack of introspection is a key trait. However, one sign could be a personal history of always blaming others for your own failures, feeling constant anger towards “society” or “the rules”, and an inability to learn from punishments or negative consequences.
Act Three:
The Psychopath and the Human Being Instruction Manual
If the sociopath broke the contract, the psychopath never believed it was real, and there are many of these at the crime scene. For him, the social contract—the norms of empathy, guilt, and reciprocity—is simply an instruction manual on how others work, a set of weaknesses to exploit—others are wrong, I am right—he argues. Psychopathy is considered, to a large extent, to be genetic or biological in origin, a fault in the brain's wiring (specifically in areas such as the amygdala, responsible for fear and empathy) that makes them incapable of processing emotions.
The psychopath is “cold-blooded”. He is the meticulous architect of deception. They can be charming, eloquent, and successful. They are the CEO who fires 5,000 people without batting an eyelid to increase the value of the shares, the leader of a sect who manipulates his followers with a smile, the surgeon with a grandiose ego who feels nothing for the patient under his scalpel. Their lack of empathy is profound, abysmal. He does not feign emotions to fit in; he emulates them like an actor who has studied his role to perfection. Personally, I have met one of these individuals.
BBC
Dr Robert Hare, creator of the influential Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), describes this phenomenon as profound “emotional poverty”. They feel no fear, no remorse, and see people as pawns on their personal chessboard. The concept of the ‘mask of sanity,’ coined by psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley in his book The Mask of Sanity (1941), captures this essence: a perfectly constructed façade of normality that hides an inner void. I recommend reading it.
Now, do you know how to spot it?
In others: It is extremely difficult. The key lies in the long-term contradictions between their charming words and their cold, calculating actions. Look for pathological grandiosity, a need for constant stimulation (they get bored easily), a parasitic lifestyle, and a total inability to accept responsibility for their actions.
In oneself: It is virtually impossible for a true psychopath to self-identify, as their condition prevents them from seeing that there is anything “wrong” with the way they are. For them, it is the rest of the world that is wrong, drowning in useless emotions.
The Final Frontier
Let me see if I can explain this clearly. Imagine ‘empathy’ as a volume dial on a stereo system. Then:
• The sociotrope has the dial turned up to the maximum (dazed), to the point of distortion. The noise of other people's emotions drowns out their own voice.
• The sociopath has a faulty dial. Sometimes they pick up a signal, an interference of guilt or affection, but most of the time they only emit static and rage.
• The psychopath has no dial. There is no receiver. The empathy channel is dead. There is only silence, a void that gives them a strategic and terrifying advantage over the rest of us.
Understanding these differences is not an academic exercise; it is a tool for emotional and social survival that allows us to understand why some people lift us up, why others drag us into their chaos, and why some, with the sweetest of smiles, only seek to use us as another stepping stone in their ascent to nowhere.
Sometimes we are invited, but other times we come across a post like [My neighbour is so nice and helpful... Be careful! He may be suffering from sociopathy - Self-assessment -] (https://peakd.com/hive-131951/@emiliorios/mi-vecino-es-tan-bueno-y-servicial-cuidado-puede-estar-sufriendo-de-sociotropia-autoevaluandonos-esen) and one is simply tempted to do one's bit, as I have done.
Well, I have no choice but to take advantage of this opportunity and invite my friends @josegilberto and @beaescribe. I would like to hear their views on this broad and never-ending topic.
Cover of the publication by my friend @emiliorios
Growing as a person, seek and find what you need to be a better person in the Holos&Lotus Community. Surely, there's a topic that will catch your attention.
Community's own infographic Holos&Lotus
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Dedicated to all those who, day after day, make the world a better place.
Dedicado a todos aquellos que, día a día, hacen del mundo un lugar mejor.
Three Social Contracts:
A Journey through Sociopathy, Sociopathy, and Psychopathy
A couple of days ago, I read a post by my friend @emiliorios entitled [My neighbour is so kind and helpful... Beware! He may be suffering from sociotropy - Self-assessment] (https://peakd.com/hive -131951/@emiliorios/mi-vecino-es-tan-bueno-y-servicial-cuidado-puede-estar-sufriendo-de-sociotropia-autoevaluandonos-esen), and I felt the need to expand on the topic, as there are cultural conditions where it is important to clarify the diversity of terminology, especially for those readers who are thirsty for knowledge.
The human psyche is, in my understanding, a vast theatre where we are all actors performing a script that we have partly written ourselves and partly had imposed on us by society. The way we interact with others, the way we value their opinions and the weight we give to their emotions define our character in this theatre of life. Cultural aspects are another point to consider, as a Latin American acts very differently from an Asian or a European. In this sense, we do not all read the same script, and if we do, we interpret it to our own convenience. Some follow it with desperate devotion, others tear it up in a fit of rage, and a few study it coldly just to manipulate the rest of the cast and take over the plot. In this scenario, there are three figures that we often confuse: ‘the sociotrope, the sociopath, and the psychopath.’ These are not three acts of the same play, but three completely different plays that are mistakenly performed on the same stage, and anything that refers to a psychologist-psychiatrist is not very well regarded by the average person. Let's take a look.
AI Studio
Act One:
The Sociotrope and the Echo of Others' Applause
Let us begin with the most luminous and, paradoxically, the most fragile of the three, ‘the sociotrope.’ Sociotropy is not a disorder, but a personality trait. It is an internal compass that, instead of pointing north toward one's own desires, constantly points toward the approval of others. The sociotrope is an individual whose self-esteem and sense of identity are intrinsically linked to social connection and acceptance.
Let us consider the late Robin Williams, as I adore his films. Although he was never formally diagnosed with this trait (as it is not a clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5), his public life and internal struggles offer an almost perfect archetype that fits this scenario. On stage, he was a whirlwind of energy, a genius of improvisation whose primary goal was to elicit laughter, generate connection, and feel the warmth of applause. It has been said that his need to make others happy was almost compulsive. This is the essence of sociotropy, a massive investment of energy in maintaining positive interpersonal relationships, often at the expense of one's own well-being. Personally, I did not like his departure.
AI Bing
Psychologist Aaron T. Beck, quoted by my friend @emiliorios in his post, was a pioneer of cognitive therapy and developed the concept of sociotropy as opposed to autonomy (the need for independence and control). Beck postulated in his work on depression that a person with high sociotropy is ‘excessively dependent on positive feedback from others to maintain a sense of self-worth.’ The fear of rejection or disapproval is not a mere annoyance; it is an existential threat. As a young man, I spent several years of my life seeking that approval, seeking to improve the lives of others.
Do you know how to spot it? Let's see:
In others: Look for people who avoid conflict at all costs, apologise excessively, sacrifice their own needs to please others, and are visibly devastated by criticism or indifference. They tend to be loyal friends and very empathetic people, but their kindness often hides a deep fear of abandonment.
In yourself: Ask yourself: Do I feel a void or deep anxiety if I am not in constant contact with my loved ones? Do I measure my worth by the number of “likes” or positive comments I receive? Do I say “yes” when I mean “no” to avoid disappointing someone? If the answers are yes and cause you distress, you may have a sociotropic tendency.
The boundary here is clear: the sociotropic suffers from an excess of connection to social norms and the emotions of others. Their social contract is signed with ink of anxiety, with the clause ‘I will be whatever you need me to be’.
Act Two:
The Sociopath and the Broken Contract
Now, let's do a complete 180 and enter the realm of darkness, as most people describe it, because this is where the confusion begins. Both sociopathy and psychopathy are grouped under the umbrella of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) in the current diagnostic manual. I know this very well because my niece Gilda is studying law, and this is part of her daily life. However, many criminologists and psychologists, such as Dr Robert Hare, insist on a crucial distinction that lies in their origin and manifestation. On the one hand, the sociopath is often a product of their environment (society itself creates them...). Their disdain for social rules stems from trauma, from a childhood of neglect, abuse or chaos. Their social contract was not designed to be manipulated; it was broken and trampled on in their early years, and they learned that rules do not apply, that the world is a hostile place where only those who do not feel survive. Yes, friends, this is a reality.
AI Bing
Unlike the psychopath, the sociopath is impulsive, erratic, and ‘hot-blooded’. They are the con artist who improvises, the thief who acts on impulse, the person who is unable to hold down a job or maintain a stable relationship because their anger and frustration explode without warning. They can form attachments, although these tend to be messy and unhealthy. They may even feel flashes of guilt or remorse, but these are quickly drowned out by the justification of their actions.
Now, do you know how to spot it?
In others: Look for a chronic pattern of instability. Constant lying, impulsiveness, financial and work irresponsibility, and a clear lack of future planning. They often have a history of legal problems and turbulent relationships. They tend to be more obvious in their disregard for rules.
In yourself: This is complex territory, as a lack of introspection is a key trait. However, one sign could be a personal history of always blaming others for your own failures, feeling constant anger towards “society” or “the rules”, and an inability to learn from punishments or negative consequences.
Act Three:
The Psychopath and the Human Being Instruction Manual
If the sociopath broke the contract, the psychopath never believed it was real, and there are many of these at the crime scene. For him, the social contract—the norms of empathy, guilt, and reciprocity—is simply an instruction manual on how others work, a set of weaknesses to exploit—others are wrong, I am right—he argues. Psychopathy is considered, to a large extent, to be genetic or biological in origin, a fault in the brain's wiring (specifically in areas such as the amygdala, responsible for fear and empathy) that makes them incapable of processing emotions.
The psychopath is “cold-blooded”. He is the meticulous architect of deception. They can be charming, eloquent, and successful. They are the CEO who fires 5,000 people without batting an eyelid to increase the value of the shares, the leader of a sect who manipulates his followers with a smile, the surgeon with a grandiose ego who feels nothing for the patient under his scalpel. Their lack of empathy is profound, abysmal. He does not feign emotions to fit in; he emulates them like an actor who has studied his role to perfection. Personally, I have met one of these individuals.
BBC
Dr Robert Hare, creator of the influential Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), describes this phenomenon as profound “emotional poverty”. They feel no fear, no remorse, and see people as pawns on their personal chessboard. The concept of the ‘mask of sanity,’ coined by psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley in his book The Mask of Sanity (1941), captures this essence: a perfectly constructed façade of normality that hides an inner void. I recommend reading it.
Now, do you know how to spot it?
In others: It is extremely difficult. The key lies in the long-term contradictions between their charming words and their cold, calculating actions. Look for pathological grandiosity, a need for constant stimulation (they get bored easily), a parasitic lifestyle, and a total inability to accept responsibility for their actions.
In oneself: It is virtually impossible for a true psychopath to self-identify, as their condition prevents them from seeing that there is anything “wrong” with the way they are. For them, it is the rest of the world that is wrong, drowning in useless emotions.
The Final Frontier
Let me see if I can explain this clearly. Imagine ‘empathy’ as a volume dial on a stereo system. Then:
• The sociotrope has the dial turned up to the maximum (dazed), to the point of distortion. The noise of other people's emotions drowns out their own voice.
• The sociopath has a faulty dial. Sometimes they pick up a signal, an interference of guilt or affection, but most of the time they only emit static and rage.
• The psychopath has no dial. There is no receiver. The empathy channel is dead. There is only silence, a void that gives them a strategic and terrifying advantage over the rest of us.
Understanding these differences is not an academic exercise; it is a tool for emotional and social survival that allows us to understand why some people lift us up, why others drag us into their chaos, and why some, with the sweetest of smiles, only seek to use us as another stepping stone in their ascent to nowhere.
A couple of days ago, I read a post by my friend @emiliorios entitled [My neighbour is so kind and helpful... Beware! He may be suffering from sociotropy - Self-assessment] (https://peakd.com/hive -131951/@emiliorios/mi-vecino-es-tan-bueno-y-servicial-cuidado-puede-estar-sufriendo-de-sociotropia-autoevaluandonos-esen), and I felt the need to expand on the topic, as there are cultural conditions where it is important to clarify the diversity of terminology, especially for those readers who are thirsty for knowledge.
The human psyche is, in my understanding, a vast theatre where we are all actors performing a script that we have partly written ourselves and partly had imposed on us by society. The way we interact with others, the way we value their opinions and the weight we give to their emotions define our character in this theatre of life. Cultural aspects are another point to consider, as a Latin American acts very differently from an Asian or a European. In this sense, we do not all read the same script, and if we do, we interpret it to our own convenience. Some follow it with desperate devotion, others tear it up in a fit of rage, and a few study it coldly just to manipulate the rest of the cast and take over the plot. In this scenario, there are three figures that we often confuse: ‘the sociotrope, the sociopath, and the psychopath.’ These are not three acts of the same play, but three completely different plays that are mistakenly performed on the same stage, and anything that refers to a psychologist-psychiatrist is not very well regarded by the average person. Let's take a look.
AI Studio
Act One:
The Sociotrope and the Echo of Others' Applause
Let us begin with the most luminous and, paradoxically, the most fragile of the three, ‘the sociotrope.’ Sociotropy is not a disorder, but a personality trait. It is an internal compass that, instead of pointing north toward one's own desires, constantly points toward the approval of others. The sociotrope is an individual whose self-esteem and sense of identity are intrinsically linked to social connection and acceptance.
Let us consider the late Robin Williams, as I adore his films. Although he was never formally diagnosed with this trait (as it is not a clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5), his public life and internal struggles offer an almost perfect archetype that fits this scenario. On stage, he was a whirlwind of energy, a genius of improvisation whose primary goal was to elicit laughter, generate connection, and feel the warmth of applause. It has been said that his need to make others happy was almost compulsive. This is the essence of sociotropy, a massive investment of energy in maintaining positive interpersonal relationships, often at the expense of one's own well-being. Personally, I did not like his departure.
AI Bing
Psychologist Aaron T. Beck, quoted by my friend @emiliorios in his post, was a pioneer of cognitive therapy and developed the concept of sociotropy as opposed to autonomy (the need for independence and control). Beck postulated in his work on depression that a person with high sociotropy is ‘excessively dependent on positive feedback from others to maintain a sense of self-worth.’ The fear of rejection or disapproval is not a mere annoyance; it is an existential threat. As a young man, I spent several years of my life seeking that approval, seeking to improve the lives of others.
Do you know how to spot it? Let's see:
In others: Look for people who avoid conflict at all costs, apologise excessively, sacrifice their own needs to please others, and are visibly devastated by criticism or indifference. They tend to be loyal friends and very empathetic people, but their kindness often hides a deep fear of abandonment.
In yourself: Ask yourself: Do I feel a void or deep anxiety if I am not in constant contact with my loved ones? Do I measure my worth by the number of “likes” or positive comments I receive? Do I say “yes” when I mean “no” to avoid disappointing someone? If the answers are yes and cause you distress, you may have a sociotropic tendency.
The boundary here is clear: the sociotropic suffers from an excess of connection to social norms and the emotions of others. Their social contract is signed with ink of anxiety, with the clause ‘I will be whatever you need me to be’.
Act Two:
The Sociopath and the Broken Contract
Now, let's do a complete 180 and enter the realm of darkness, as most people describe it, because this is where the confusion begins. Both sociopathy and psychopathy are grouped under the umbrella of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) in the current diagnostic manual. I know this very well because my niece Gilda is studying law, and this is part of her daily life. However, many criminologists and psychologists, such as Dr Robert Hare, insist on a crucial distinction that lies in their origin and manifestation. On the one hand, the sociopath is often a product of their environment (society itself creates them...). Their disdain for social rules stems from trauma, from a childhood of neglect, abuse or chaos. Their social contract was not designed to be manipulated; it was broken and trampled on in their early years, and they learned that rules do not apply, that the world is a hostile place where only those who do not feel survive. Yes, friends, this is a reality.
AI Bing
Unlike the psychopath, the sociopath is impulsive, erratic, and ‘hot-blooded’. They are the con artist who improvises, the thief who acts on impulse, the person who is unable to hold down a job or maintain a stable relationship because their anger and frustration explode without warning. They can form attachments, although these tend to be messy and unhealthy. They may even feel flashes of guilt or remorse, but these are quickly drowned out by the justification of their actions.
Now, do you know how to spot it?
In others: Look for a chronic pattern of instability. Constant lying, impulsiveness, financial and work irresponsibility, and a clear lack of future planning. They often have a history of legal problems and turbulent relationships. They tend to be more obvious in their disregard for rules.
In yourself: This is complex territory, as a lack of introspection is a key trait. However, one sign could be a personal history of always blaming others for your own failures, feeling constant anger towards “society” or “the rules”, and an inability to learn from punishments or negative consequences.
Act Three:
The Psychopath and the Human Being Instruction Manual
If the sociopath broke the contract, the psychopath never believed it was real, and there are many of these at the crime scene. For him, the social contract—the norms of empathy, guilt, and reciprocity—is simply an instruction manual on how others work, a set of weaknesses to exploit—others are wrong, I am right—he argues. Psychopathy is considered, to a large extent, to be genetic or biological in origin, a fault in the brain's wiring (specifically in areas such as the amygdala, responsible for fear and empathy) that makes them incapable of processing emotions.
The psychopath is “cold-blooded”. He is the meticulous architect of deception. They can be charming, eloquent, and successful. They are the CEO who fires 5,000 people without batting an eyelid to increase the value of the shares, the leader of a sect who manipulates his followers with a smile, the surgeon with a grandiose ego who feels nothing for the patient under his scalpel. Their lack of empathy is profound, abysmal. He does not feign emotions to fit in; he emulates them like an actor who has studied his role to perfection. Personally, I have met one of these individuals.
BBC
Dr Robert Hare, creator of the influential Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), describes this phenomenon as profound “emotional poverty”. They feel no fear, no remorse, and see people as pawns on their personal chessboard. The concept of the ‘mask of sanity,’ coined by psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley in his book The Mask of Sanity (1941), captures this essence: a perfectly constructed façade of normality that hides an inner void. I recommend reading it.
Now, do you know how to spot it?
In others: It is extremely difficult. The key lies in the long-term contradictions between their charming words and their cold, calculating actions. Look for pathological grandiosity, a need for constant stimulation (they get bored easily), a parasitic lifestyle, and a total inability to accept responsibility for their actions.
In oneself: It is virtually impossible for a true psychopath to self-identify, as their condition prevents them from seeing that there is anything “wrong” with the way they are. For them, it is the rest of the world that is wrong, drowning in useless emotions.
The Final Frontier
Let me see if I can explain this clearly. Imagine ‘empathy’ as a volume dial on a stereo system. Then:
• The sociotrope has the dial turned up to the maximum (dazed), to the point of distortion. The noise of other people's emotions drowns out their own voice.
• The sociopath has a faulty dial. Sometimes they pick up a signal, an interference of guilt or affection, but most of the time they only emit static and rage.
• The psychopath has no dial. There is no receiver. The empathy channel is dead. There is only silence, a void that gives them a strategic and terrifying advantage over the rest of us.
Understanding these differences is not an academic exercise; it is a tool for emotional and social survival that allows us to understand why some people lift us up, why others drag us into their chaos, and why some, with the sweetest of smiles, only seek to use us as another stepping stone in their ascent to nowhere.
Sometimes we are invited, but other times we come across a post like [My neighbour is so nice and helpful... Be careful! He may be suffering from sociopathy - Self-assessment -] (https://peakd.com/hive-131951/@emiliorios/mi-vecino-es-tan-bueno-y-servicial-cuidado-puede-estar-sufriendo-de-sociotropia-autoevaluandonos-esen) and one is simply tempted to do one's bit, as I have done.
Well, I have no choice but to take advantage of this opportunity and invite my friends @josegilberto and @beaescribe. I would like to hear their views on this broad and never-ending topic.
Cover of the publication by my friend @emiliorios
Growing as a person, seek and find what you need to be a better person in the Holos&Lotus Community. Surely, there's a topic that will catch your attention.
Community's own infographic Holos&Lotus
Dedicated to all those who, day after day, make the world a better place.
Dedicated to all those who, day after day, make the world a better place.
Un artículo muy interesante e informativo. Me acabas de sacar de algunos errores de concepto respecto al sociópata y al psicópata, aunque admito que me sorprendió muchísimo el concepto del sociópata; a esas personas las consideraba siempre como gente que fácilmente pueden imitar los sentimientos de otros al igual que el psicópata. Hoy aprendí que no es tanto que puedan imitar, sino que simplemente despliegan una rabia bastante fuerte hacia la sociedad. ¡Saludos, @amigoponc, y que tengas una excelente semana!
¡Qué artículo tan excelente, amigo!
Voy a resaltar esto porque nos podemos confundir con el hecho de que son términos médicos y que para muchos no es necesario manejarlos así de bien, pero no es correcto, hay que manejarlos.
Bien dices tú que:
"Comprender estas diferencias no es un ejercicio académico, es una herramienta de supervivencia emocional y social..."
Por eso me ha gustado tanto.
Gracias, @amigoponc por el aporte, por ampliar y complementar.
Un gusto leerte siempre.