Hervey Cleckley’s List
In 1955, Cleckley published a list of core characteristics of the sociopathic personality in his book, Mask of Insanity. He had sixteen personality traits:
1. Superficial charm and intelligence
2. No delusions(unless concurrent with
other psychiatric disorders such as
BPD or schizophrenia)
3. No psychoneurotic behavior
4. Unreliable
5. Pathological lying
6. No remorse
7. Insufficient motivated antisocial
behavior
8. Poor judgment and doesn’t learn
from experience
9. Cannot love
10. Poor in primary experience in
feelings and emotions
11. Loss of insight
12. Not responsive in over all
interpersonal reactions
13. Obnoxious behavior when drunk
and, at times, when sober
14. Suicide threats rarely attempted
15. Sex lives impersonal
16. Fails to follow a plan of life
Treatment for Sociopathy
Sociopathy is treated in different ways, but there is no known cure and the effectiveness of the treatments is not clear and a matter of controversy. Psychopathy can co-exist with other psychiatric disorders.
The primary challenge in treating APD is that the patients usually don’t believe they have a problem. The behavior is often magnetic and charming. They also believe their behavior works and is satisfying to them.
Treatment for sociopathy is individualized and there is no one approach. Many sociopaths have a sense of superiority and think they’re smarter than mental health professionals. Many with are in treatment because they are pressured by family members or mandated by court order. Sociopaths can mimic acceptable behavior and manipulate doctors and therapists.
Different psychological therapies are available. These can be used in conjunction with psychotropic drugs and physical therapy which consists of electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, better known as shock therapy and neurosurgery, the least used and most radical.
Some sociopaths become disenchanted with their behavior and spontaneously grow out of the disorder.
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