Sociopaths and Psychopaths

Sociopaths and Psychopaths are born, not made, right? And how do they relate to Narcissists.

This is a complex question. Narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths are common terms that are now listed under the title of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition 5. APD may represent a type of continuum in terms of individuals being dangerous. Sociopaths and psychopaths tend to be narcissistic; while not everyone who is a narcissist (fortunately) is either a sociopath or psychopath. In some individuals, the brain seems more susceptible for developing an APD. There may be a genetic component, as the child of a parent with this disorder has a higher risk of developing APD themselves. However, it also appears there needs to be an environmental cofactor or trigger to result in a dangerous Antisocial Personality Disorder. The most common trigger in those with a higher risk is childhood abuse. There is evidence that a narcissistic adult (whose brain did not learn to move toward more balanced behaviors) may eventually exhibit an Antisocial Personality Disorder with sociopathic characteristics, and can become extremely dangerous. The most dangerous APD (psychopaths) may be “born.” Recent studies have shown that the brain of someone who would be defined as a psychopath (so called) differs from the brains of most others, especially in areas that control aggression and empathy. For example, when seeing blood, some individuals become nervous or anxious. Their heart rate and breathing can become faster. The opposite happens in a psychopathic individual. The incidence of severe Antisocial Personality Disorder is fairly rare, about 1 percent of the population. 

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Sociopath or Psychopath

What are characteristics of a sociopath or a psychopath? First, be clear that both of these words are informal terms. The sociopath has a mental disorder that may be less severe than someone who is considered a psychopath. Those characterized as narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths are listed in the DSM-5 under the category of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Individuals who fall into this category can be viewed as being on a continuum of dysfunctionality and often criminal behaviors. In general, these types of brains seem to lack empathy. The more severe the mental disorder, the less regard they have for others. They tend not to feel guilt or remorse, even if they pretend to do so. Less severe forms of Antisocial Personality Disorder may have some twinges of conscience, but that in no way stops their behavior. They may act impulsively and then blame others. In the more severe forms of disease, the individuals tend to plan their strategies, actions, and behaviors carefully. They are also more likely to be violent as in serial killers and may not actually experience any emotions personally. More tomorrow.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

What is so bad about High Fructose Corn Syrup? It’s in almost everything that is pre-prepared, especially in refined products that use a lot of sugar, white flour, and fat. What can I eat?  I am smiling. What can you eat? Products that do not contain High fructose Corn Syrup. Kathleen Page and colleagues at the University of Southern California, studied the effects of glucose and fructose on the hypothalamus—the appetite control center, which responds to hormones such as Leptin that tell the brain you are full. When study participants consumed a drink containing only glucose, blood flow and activity in the hypothalamus decreased and they reported feeling full. When the same participants were fed a fructose drink, the hypothalamus remained active, and they did not report feeling full. The brain still thought the body was hungry. In addition to Fruit, fructose may be present in your menu as the food additive high-fructose corn syrup (found in many beverages, salad dressings, and so on). Fructose absorption can be very rapid if the source is high-fructose corn syrup. Try to keep it out of your shopping cart, off your menu, and out of your mouth—for your brain and liver health!

Brain & Making Decisions

Why are people more emotional or less emotional about the decisions they make? People react differently to decisions because every brain is different. There are some of generalizations, however. The human brain is divided into two hemispheres, each of which are divided in half, resulting in 4 divisions. Work by Dr. Richard Haier found that most brains appear to have an energy advantage in one of those four divisions, meaning it takes less energy to transfer information across the synapse, or space between neurons. Individuals who have their energy advantage in lower right quadrant or harmonizing division—often dither about decisions and may be more emotional about them. Contrast that with the frontal left quadrant or prioritizing division behind the left eye that wants to make the decisions and may be very unemotional about them—unless it gets angry when others do not want to accept its decision. The frontal right quadrant or visualizing division behind the right eye, does not want to be told what to do—period—and may get upset or just leave when others try to control its decisions. The lower left quadrant or maintaining division is willing to accept decisions if they make sense and seem practical. If not, it can dig in its heels and be beyond stubborn.

Weather on the Brain

Does weather impact the brain in any way?

 It definitely can. In fact, entire books have been written on how weather impacts human brains. One study of 16,400 individuals evaluated 19 aspects of weather variables—sunny, overcast, rain, snow, wind speed, chill, and so on—and correlated data with mental health distress. While some people prefer differing types of weather, researchers found only one weather variable that impacted mental health distress—the number of daylight hours between sunrise and sunset. Some brains are more susceptible to shorter daylight hours. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD, better known now as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) seasonally related, is much more common in Alaska and areas above the arctic Circle than in sunny California or Florida. Fortunately, light therapy can bring “natural sunlight” indoors, especially during the winter months, and can help weather-sensitive brains experience healthier mental health.

Complicated Brains

 

Why oh why are brains so complicated?  They need to be complicated in order “to do what they were designed to do.” Do what they do. The brain has been called the most amazing piece of biological real estate in the known universe. Joel Havemann put it this way: What seems astonishing is that a mere three-pound object, made of the same atoms that constitute everything else under the sun, is capable of directing virtually everything that humans have done. Think about it: flying to the moon, Barry Bonds hitting 762 home runs in a 22-year career; athletes winning medals at the Olympics, researchers unlocking brains secrets, one by one. I like the way British philosopher Emerson M. Pugh put it: “If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn’t.” In case you haven’t noticed, I am in awe of the human brain! Listen to my weekly podcast https://anchor.fm/arlene-r-taylor

Rejection recovery

How do you recover from the pain of social-rejection hurt?  How do you recover from a physical hurt? It depends at least partly on your mindset and how you manage the discomfort. Unmanaged, your brain can become overwhelmed with the load of sensory discomfort and find it difficult to concentrate on anything else. When you fight against the discomfort, sometimes it even increases, as the brain wants to be sure you know that you are experiencing pain from a social hurt. I tend to talk to my brain in such situations. I thank it for notifying me via the discomfort that I am experiencing social pain that hurts physically. Rather than try to suppress it or fight against it, I move into it, using a variety of strategies to manage it. I thank my brain for notifying me via the discomfort that I am experiencing social hurt. I acknowledge it and draw on my past learned experiences and Emotional Intelligence skills to manage it. Note that social hurt may be experienced in the heart as well as the brain. Those two organs—brain and heart—continually communicate and can reinforce each other negatively or positively. You may need a good counselor or healthcare professional to help you learn to apply helpful strategies. Either way, healing takes time.