Sociopaths Among Us: A Look at Lifestyle Differences in Society

As someone who is generally more concerned about people than about statistics, the statistics stunned me nevertheless: there are more sociopaths residing within my current zipcode district than in the entire city where I'd previously lived! Now, why is that?

Having lived in virtually every part of the United States of America, I can honestly state that a common remark made by older folks simply is not accurate-- people are most definately not "the same everywhere." Taking a cue from the folks who believe that they are, it comes from those who have not lived in many different areas outside of their own "home territory."

As for how or why sociopaths and other undesirables have more of a concentration in some geographical areas than in others, it is a hard fact: some locations are simply more inclined to view anti-social behavior as acceptable and to hold it out as "normal." The reason for this ongoing epidemic, as I have seen in this particular locale, is that when the older generation has spent their own youth focusing on how much they could "get away with," they never grasp that such behavior is not acceptable, and in their later years are all too willing to pass the same principles on to the younger generation.

"Laws and rules are only about Control." "Thumb your nose at Authority-- be it the police, parents, school staff." "There's nothing wrong with driving without a license- I did it for ten years!" "There's nothing wrong with smoking a little pot!" "If you disagree with your parent's rule, disown them and get a New Parent!" When the older generation lives in a perpetual state of "Rebellious Adolescent," it is a sure recipe for disaster in the youngsters they influence. It's "all about" lawlessness, recklessness, disregard for others, making sure no one "controls" them in any manner, and, in their forties or fifties, still basing life on how much they can "get away with." It is "all about" showing the newer generation that they need not be responsible for themselves, to anyone else, nor accountable for their actions.

It can be referred to as a Lifestyle. In this geographical location for which more than two thousand sociopaths are reported, the lifestyle consists of such factors as thirteen-year-olds becoming sexually active with numerous partners, pre-adolescent alcohol and illegal drug use, the breaking of laws and the breaking of rules. Not only is this expected of young people, they are considered odd and out-of-it if they do not embrace these behaviors. Possibly not as destructive, but equally difficult, are "outsiders" being confronted by peers who insist that there is something very wrong with you if you have had a much different way of life and refuse to "change" and adhere to this one. You will be thought of as a fraud, a liar, defective, or just plain weird.

After feeling the need to fill me in on his life story, one middle-aged guy wished to compare notes. When I said I do not have a "criminal history," and have never been a drug user, he replied: "I don't believe you. You are lying." One woman asked: "How many times have you been in 'Treatment'?" Upon questioning to find out what 'treatment' is-- the local term for intense drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation-- I didn't know how to truthfully answer her question-- that I've never had any need of such a thing-- without offending her! And with three different individuals, I encountered the same dilemma: as each related information about local health agencies where "you can get your Meds," what is the proper way of replying that even though psychiatric medication was a need for them, I'm one of those people who does not have any need for them?

In checking into the statistics, I was surprised to read that nearly thirty percent of the people in this locale are said to be Disabled. During the last couple of years I have met many, many people who claim to be disabled to the point of having to rely on "meds" and SSI Disability checks-- and in almost every instance, the "disabilities" were the result of longtime illegal drug use.

Not only is if difficult to communicate with folks whose differing lifestyles places an outsider in the position of finding it hard to communicate without appearing "intolerant," the differing lifestyle lends itself to extreme communication problems in general. This fact was made clear at a time when I was seeking employment-- not a person I discussed the subject with could grasp the concept "I Work... in order to Earn Money... in order to Pay My Bills." It was almost as if we were speaking in two different languages, as one woman dismissed the word 'work' and asked "Isn't there someone who can help you with your bills?" and another queried "Why do you want to work?!" But I think the topper was the guy who, upon hearing that I had to pay my bills, commented "Why don't you just go stay at the Shelter?"

This is certainly not to say that these particular individuals fall into the category of sociopaths, but the hard-line attitude of "this lifestyle is the way to go about life" is not only disturbing to outsiders who have spent our entire lives living in a far different manner, but the horrible influence it has on teenagers and young adults. The message-- implied, but often spoken-- is that if one abides by laws, does not use illegal drugs, doesn't engage in promiscuity, isn't mentally ill and in need of medication, chooses to earn what they have, etc., you should either be laughed at or committed or both. One local individual actually remarked that my family's having a "Dinnertime" ("dinner is at six- let me know if you'll be late or if you're bringing someone") meant that I was "Addicted to Control"...

So, one of the main problems with anti-social behavior is that it is "contagious"-- not in the traditional definition of the word, of course, but that its influence spreads like wildfire. It ruins youth who have potentially-bright futures, by encouraging them to do as much "wrong" as they can manage to "get away with," and it is quite an aggravation to outsiders who do not have the background to know how to respond to such insanity without appearing "intolerant."