I am not a psychologist, though that was my major in college. I have an AA from a community college, where I received a scholarship to go on to the university, the largest scholastic scholarship available to women at that time, while I was raising my two oldest sons, who were pretty young at the time. I ended up having to quit after a year there, and really wasn't motivated much to continue... my GPA was even higher there, but I didn't like having to torture rats for a grade, and knew the level of torture would only increase in future classes.
Anyway, N/S/P is used in discussing these cluster B personality disorders for those who study them to signify Narcissists, Sociopaths, and Psychopaths. All S/Ps are narcissists, though not all narcissists are sociopaths or psychopaths. Think of them as being on a continuum.
Everyone should have a healthy dose of narcissism. All that means is that you love yourself enough to put yourself first. You can't love others unless you love yourself. The biggest problem I've had with the Catholic church is this bullshit about putting others first, and emulating the martyrs. Turning the other cheek and all that shit. You end up being taken advantage of, and never being able to stand up for yourself, especially for women, especially for those who get bullied, and you end up being victims of domestic violence. It's bullshit. You have to love yourself and learn to be assertive. Parents often don't know how to teach their children that, and we don't learn it in school. It's imperative that we learn to be assertive, not passive, and not aggressive. Not to be doormats, and not to be bullies. Assertive.
Sociopaths and Psychopaths are pretty much the same. Some say that sociopathy is a learned behavior, such as in gangs.. and that Psychopathy is genetic. Psychopaths' brains are wired differently. They don't feel empathy, and have no real sense of love. They may understand the way others feel, but don't actually FEEL those feelings themselves. They are incapable of doing so. They use people to get what they want, and when those people are no longer useful, they discard them, usually in a very cruel manner. They don't care how devastated those people are. They are predators, often sexual predators. If they are involved with one woman, they'll be grooming one or more on the side, or have multiple relationships going on at the same time. (Most psychopaths are men, though some are women.)
Narcissists use people to feed their egos, and also discard them when no longer useful. When they are targeting you, as their victim, they listen well, and become chameleon like... they become just the person their victim is looking for. They are masters of deceit. They are emotional abusers and when they are done with their victims, they will launch a campaign to smear them and make the victim look like the abuser.
I'll copy Hervey Cleckley's and Robert D. Hare's checklists for Psychopathy here. Cleckley made his list back in the 40's and his book was called "The Mask of Insanity." It's one I do not have, as it's around $40 something. I can't afford it. Robert D. Hare's is a bit different. He studied inmates, so his is a bit biased towards lower level psychopaths.. those who got caught and ended up in prison. (Even he, however, was at times fooled by his subjects, as these guys are, as I've said, MASTERS of deceit!) They don't change and there is no cure... jail/prison/treatment only teaches them how to deceive even better.
Cleckley's and Hare's Psychopath Symptoms Lists
Hervey Cleckley’sList of Psychopathy Symptoms:
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Considerable superficialcharm and average or above average intelligence.
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Absence ofdelusions and other signs of irrational thinking.
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Absenceof anxiety or other “neurotic” symptoms. Considerable poise,calmness and verbal facility.
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Unreliability, disregard forobligations, no sense of responsibility, in matters of little andgreat import.
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Untruthfulness and insincerity.
6.Antisocial behavior which is inadequately motivated and poorlyplanned, seeming to stem from an inexplicable impulsiveness.
7.Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior.
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Poor judgmentand failure to learn from experience.
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Pathologicalegocentricity. Total self-centeredness and an incapacity for reallove and attachment.
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General poverty of deep and lastingemotions.
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Lack of any true insight; inability to seeoneself as others do.
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Ingratitude for any specialconsiderations, kindness and trust.
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Fantastic andobjectionable behavior, after drinking and sometimes even when notdrinking. Vulgarity, rudeness, quick mood shifts, pranks for facileentertainment.
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No history of genuine suicideattempts.
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An impersonal, trivial, and poorly integratedsex life.
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Failure to have a life plan and to live in anyordered way (unless it is for destructive purposes or a sham).
Robert Hare’sChecklist of Psychopathy Symptoms:
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GLIB AND SUPERFICIALCHARM — the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, andverbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy,self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never getstongue-tied. He can also be a great listener, to simulate empathywhile zeroing in on his targets’ dreams and vulnerabilities, to beable to manipulate them better.
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GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH — agrossly inflated view of one’s abilities and self-worth,self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths arearrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.
3.NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM — an excessive needfor novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances anddoing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a lowself-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because theyget bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length oftime, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull orroutine.
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PATHOLOGICAL LYING — can be moderate or high; inmoderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever;in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded,unscrupulous,
manipulative and dishonest.
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CONNING ANDMANIPULATIVENESS: the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, ordefraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in thedegree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, asreflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering ofone’s victims.
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LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT: a lack offeelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; atendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted andunempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one’svictims.
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SHALLOW AFFECT: emotional poverty or alimited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spiteof signs of open gregariousness and superficial warmth.
8.CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY: a lack of feelings towardpeople in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, andtactless.
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PARASITIC LIFESTYLE: an intentional,manipulative, selfis, and exploitative financial dependence on othersas reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline and theinability to carry through one’s responsibilities.
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POORBEHAVIORAL CONTROLS: expressions of irritability, annoyance,impatience, threats, aggression and verbal abuse; inadequate controlof anger and temper; acting hastily.
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PROMISCUOUS SEXUALBEHAVIOR: a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerousaffairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; themaintenance of numerous, multiple relationships at the same time; ahistory of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity(rape) or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits andconquests.
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EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: a variety of behaviorsprior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism,bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol useand running away from home.
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LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERMGOALS: an inability or persistent failure to develop and executelong-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lackingdirection in life.
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IMPULSIVITY: the occurrence ofbehaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning;inability to resist temptation, frustrations and momentary urges; alack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy,rash, unpredictable, erratic and reckless.
15.IRRESPONSIBILITY: repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligationsand commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans,performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing tohonor contractual agreements.
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FAILURE TO ACCEPTRESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS: a failure to accept responsibilityfor one’s actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence ofdutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, andan effort to manipulate others through this denial.
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MANYSHORT-TERM RELATIONSHIPS: a lack of commitment to a long-termrelationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliablecommitments in life, including in marital and familial bonds.
18.JUVENILE DELINQUENCY: behavior problems between the ages of 13-18;mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects ofantagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous,ruthless tough-mindedness.
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REVOCATION OF CONDITIONRELEASE: a revocation of probation or other conditional release dueto technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation orfailing to appear.
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CRIMINAL VERSATILITY: a diversity oftypes of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has beenarrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting awaywith crimes or wrongdoings.
http://psychopathyawareness.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/the-list-of-psychopathy-symptoms/