How to recognize a Sociopath and a Psychopath before it’s too late?

Four Pathological Human Archetypes

In my long journey as a performance coach and mentor, I have met a variety of incredible human beings. People who embody positive qualities and values that contribute greatly to the betterment of themselves and the world around them.

On the other hand, I have encountered many “other” individuals who displayed quite the opposite. For the purpose of this article, I wanted to focus on human beings who consistently exhibits harmful, malicious, and morally reprehensible behavior. Beings that are somehow possessed by incredibly damaging personalities and yet roam around freely without hardly being noticed.

There are ways to identify these beings so as to not get caught in their web of deceit. They are rampant in our societies and create enormous suffering.

4 clear types of vile and revolting individuals.

Some of them are mentally ill and imbalanced, while others don’t present symptoms of serious mental health issues. I organized them into archetypes. I trust this will help you identify them so you can take drastic measures so as to distance yourself from them as quickly as possible.

As mentioned, these types have penetrated all levels of society and they do not belong to a specific social class, gender, race or culture. These individuals have long ago lost touch with themselves and long ago abandoned their caring for others. They are basically formidable frauds and a true danger to others. You could say or even argue that it is not their fault originally. Nonetheless, whether you are aware of these manipulative impersonators or not, all they do to others is ruin their lives or seriously damage their spirits.

In some cases, these entities are perfectly capable of extreme violence and even murder. The only way out is to see them in action for yourself, before it is too late.

The actual source of these pathological behaviors is mimicry and impersonation. From early childhood, they have thoroughly copied these patterns of behavior from whomever in their family or community was acting them out. These are very ancient ritualistic practices that have been transmitted from generation to generation for centuries.

In addition, and a crucial element, is that the below character types all have their source in a complete absence of healthy boundaries. Categories 1 and 2 have no knowledge of boundaries. Categories 3 and 4 do not either, but they are purposefully engaged in violating others’ boundaries.

Ignorance or stupidity is not an excuse for these behaviors to take hold.

The discipline is to possess strong boundaries

If you desire to be healthy and individualize fully in this world, you must avoid the horrors of these archetypes at all costs. These are the roles, qualities and behaviors to cancel and delete from your life and the lives of those you care about.

They are presented here from the most dangerous to the most hypocritical and manipulative. If you have managed to escape all 4 archetypes below, you are truly an emancipated human being. Very few people do. Lastly, all 4 archetypes are deeply frustrated human beings.

1. The PEOPLE-PLEASER. A most dangerous type behind a veil of politeness. An emotionally and physically draining individual.

The typical doormat, always nice to mask the addiction to being nice or playing nice. People are terrifying to such a person, so pleasing and pacifying are the only ways out. No self-worth and no boundaries. Feels like a failure. Always feels down inside. The Yes man or person. Appears sweet and nice, but deep down dreams of revenge. They can become oppressive and snappy. They pretend even to their spouses and children. Nothing is ever genuine. The apologizer. Always apologizing. Can be the class clown. Resistant. I’m sorry, man! The loser at heart. Gets bullied very easily. Avoids truth like the plague. Seeking or needing approval. Am I okay? Can you please validate me? Always asking permission. The ass-kisser. Plays stupid, but beware what it is hiding. Is sick often and tired. Covertly angry. Frustrated. Bitter. Unsuccessful. Full of untapped rage. Can kill. Can buy an uzi and go on a shooting rampage. Their guilt comes from not being good-enough. A constant internal (and mostly unconscious) monologue of what they don’t deserve and why, etc. Deep down, they are always ready to blame. Resistance is their internal game. Always tense.

2. The PROVER. Not specifically dangerous, because looking good and proving take center stage. But you can never trust such a type.

Feels worthless. Has to constantly prove his or her worth. It’s tedious and false. The victim. Hardly any self-esteem. Jealous. Defiant. Competitive. There’s always something the matter, though they are good at concealing it. The martyr. Self-pity is the extreme. Wounded child. Hurt when they hear about others’ success. Vulnerable as a put-on act. Always in a hurry to get things done in order to be able to prove. Gets tired really easily. Burnt out. Is mad for feeling so shameful and inferior. Having to prove by striving. Can become the people pleaser in a moment as their worth is never enough. Compensating always, for a lack of self-worth. Guilt-ridden. Reputation is everything. Perfectionist. Challenging. Suspicious. Nervous. Possesses some decency as they are always trying to prove they are worthy. This person does not go on a shooting rampage. Having said that, they can get seriously hurt physically if bullied, etc.

3. The OPPRESSOR. The most hurtful and sadistic. The most toxic and damaging of all four types. No contact is the only solution.

From the bully to the full-on aggressor. Psychopath. Repressive. Deeply wounded but totally denying it. Always wants to hurt and put down. They are in love with the pain they inflict emotionally and psychologically. If he’s a man he goes after kind and gentle women. If she’s a woman, the hatred for men is ferocious and unforgiving. Totalitarian. Violent. Dominator. The serial killer that kills you from the inside. The patronizer. His or her internal dialogue with anyone is “who do you think you are?” They will make you believe that they behave so atrociously because of YOU. A superb abuser. The manipulator. Ego-centric. Devious. Brutal. Mean. Vindictive. This type has conquered the PROVER stage but is the overt version of the PROVER. All narcissists are ego-driven and feel worthless deep inside. They’ll do anything to protect that secret. They love inflicting pain, contrary to the MORALIST who despises people but aims at helping the ones he sees as inferior. Incapable of feeling guilt or remorse.

4. The MORALIST. The least harmful type but extremely revulsive and unsavory. When found out, they will ruin your reputation.

The typical “therapist on-demand”. Everyone has to be fixed. Narcissist. The saint. Savior. Appears calm and collected but boiling with hatred for himself or herself. It is all projected onto others. Always blaming others. He or she knows-it-all. Complains, whines and moans on the low frequency and massively grandstands on the other side of the spectrum. Angry, bitter, lonely but hides it well under layers and layers of feeling responsible or blurts it out. Procrastinates. Deeply anxious because they are so afraid to be found out or afraid to be judged. Ironically, they are judgemental to extraordinary extremes. Nothing is ever right. The most hypocritical of all four archetypes. Critical. Rejective. Demanding. Harsh. Unforgiving. This type is not as cunning or clever as the OPPRESSOR but more intelligent. All oppressors are truly unconscious, but remarkably manipulative, smart and ego-centric. Moralists are true narcissists at heart. Vanity is their game. Everyone is inferior to them. True arrogance and overtly patronizing. In rare cases the MORALIST can become an OPPRESSOR.

Here are some tips to help minimize your vulnerability and protect yourself:

1. Trust your instincts. Pay attention to your gut feelings and intuition when interacting with others. If something feels off or you sense manipulative behavior, trust those instincts and proceed with caution.
2. Establish healthy boundaries. Set clear personal boundaries and communicate them assertively. Be aware of your own needs and values, and don’t be afraid to say no or distance yourself from someone who disregards your boundaries.
3. Practice critical thinking. Be mindful of potential manipulation tactics. Psychopaths often employ charm and manipulation to exploit others. Stay alert, question inconsistencies, and evaluate their words and actions critically.
4. Seek social support. Maintain a strong support network of trustworthy friends and family members who can provide perspective and support. They can help you identify red flags and provide emotional support in challenging situations.
5. Maintain personal privacy. Be cautious about sharing personal information, especially sensitive or confidential details, with individuals you do not know well or whom you suspect may have malicious intent.
6. Educate yourself. Learn about psychopathic traits and behaviors mentioned in the 4 types above, to better understand the signs and characteristics associated with psychopathy. This knowledge can help you recognize warning signs and protect yourself more effectively.
7. Develop emotional resilience. Focus on building your emotional resilience and self-confidence. Cultivate self-awareness, practice self-care, and engage in activities that promote your overall well-being.
8. Seek professional help if needed. If you believe you are dealing with a psychopathic individual who poses a significant threat to your safety or well-being, consider reaching out to a mental health professional, counselor, or legal authorities for guidance and support.

Remember, these tips are general guidelines, and it’s important to consult with professionals or experts in specific situations if that is your case.