According to Martha Stout, PhD, author of The Sociopath Next Door, about one in 25 individuals is a sociopath.

A sociopath is someone who lacks a sense of moral responsibility. They’re often very charming and will look you in the eye and smile, be your friend, then later when you’re not around, do whatever they can to get what they want or even intentionally hurt you for their own pleasure. They have no conscience.

Traits of a Sociopath

According to Dr. Stout, other characteristics include the following: they look and act like normal people; they never take responsibility for their actions; when confronted with the outcomes of their behavior, they’ll simply deny it and believe their own lies; they see others as “naive” for doing the right thing; they view their friends, family, and partners as possessions, there to serve them; they can instantly recognize someone who is honest, trusting…