Sociopath: John Wayne Gacy As A Serial Killer

When people hear the word “Sociopath,” theyat automatically think about serial killers like John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, or Ted Bundy. These men were notorious sociopaths. Although just because someone is a sociopath it does not always make them a murderer.
Sociopathy is an informal term used to describe antisocial behavior. According to The Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), sociopathy is closely represented by Antisocial Personality Disorder. When the term “antisocial behavior” is used, it usually is not talking about someone who does not want to hang out with a friend or go somewhere with their family. It is associated with an individual who has no interest in having relationships with people. They can form

close relationships with certain people like their parents or siblings, but this is often rare.
Individuals that exhibit this behavior are typically extremely manipulative. Because they have little to no conscience they can act reckless and aggressive without remorse. They understand what they are doing wrong, but lack morals so they do not care. Some researchers say that sociopaths do not lack only a moral identity but a self-identity as well.
In the book The Mask of Sanity, published in 1941, Hervey Cleckley explained what he believed to be the sixteen main traits of what would be defined as a sociopath. The majority of these characteristics are still used to identify sociopathy/psychopathy. Some of these traits include: charm, intelligence, irrational thinking, unreliable, lies, no shame or remorse, poor judgment, no life plan, not interested in sex, violating the law, impulsive, etc. Because most are so charming, controlling, and calculative, they are usually able to trick people fairly easily. This is how some sociopaths have relationships. However, these relationships are often very difficult to maintain due to them being manipulative and controlling. They often enjoy seeing the negative effects they have on a person’s life and seeing people getting hurt. Sociopaths often times like feeling superior to everyone around them.
One of the theories that researchers have come up with about why a sociopath is a sociopath is that their brain develops slower than one of a non-sociopath. Brain damage at an early age is can cause this, but brain damage is not the only cause for the brain to develop abnormally. Some research suggest that the part of the brain that is responsible for an individuals learning from their own mistakes and responding to fearful and sad facial expressions tend to be smaller than an ordinary person. Researchers believe this is the reason that they lack empathy. There are some theories that show that hormonal fluctuations may play a role. People are studying other causes for this disorder like biological dysfunction. There are test that can be done to show images of the brain of a sociopath like MRIs and EEGs. Scientist can see the differences between the brain of someone with this disorder and someone without it. The genetics must exist, but something must trigger them.
Sociopaths are not usually born with this disorder, unlike someone who is considered a psychopath. A sociopath is can be created due to some sort of trauma they experienced from an early age. Trauma such as any type of abuse, watching a loved one die, neglect, assault, or just anything traumatic for them can trigger this disorder.
People who are considered a psychopath are typically born with this disorder. They are usually more likely to hurt someone. Psychopaths are a more extreme version of a sociopath. This means that all psychopath are sociopaths but not all sociopaths are are psychopaths.
A common misconception is that a sociopath has been indulged and spoiled, and that people have to stop enabling them and need a reality check. This will change them, right? The answer is not usually. Coming into the situation with that approach is doomed for failure. Research says that things like punishment are ineffective because they do not learn from their mistakes. They have no remorse and no fear of being caught so punishment simply does not work. Therapy is another ineffective way of treatment. Therapy encourages change, which a sociopath is unwilling to do since they do not like it. They are also unwilling to work with someone else unless it benefits them. There is also no medication for this because it is a personality disorder. Trying to teach them empathy is also useless. Teaching them this is like trying to teaching a toaster to build a house. It’s completely useless because a toaster is not wired to build a house just like a sociopath is not wired to feel empathy.
b. __Most treatments do not work but there are a few that have shown improvement in attitudes and behaviors. When someone approaches the situation head on it can have a positive effect. Simply trying to understand their nature and to cope with it does nothing to treat them, but it does help the people around them.
c. __These treatments may or may not work on adults with this disorder, but are more likely to work on a child with it. There is no real evidence to show that there is a treatment that really works for a sociopath. There may be a few antidepressant medications that can improve behavior, but there is no cure for this, sadly.
When most people think sociopath/psychopath their first thought is “serial killer.” While most serial killers have had antisocial behavior this does not mean that they are all serial killers.

There are many sociopaths that are famous for just being a sociopath. But not too many people know about them. Most people know people like John Wayne Gacy. Gacy was one of the most unexpected people to turn out to be such a disgusting person. Everyone in town loved Gacy. He performed at children’s birthday parties as “Pogo the Clown”. He was very well known. What people did not know was that he was a sociopath because he hid it so skillfully, and he just so happens to be one of the most famous sociopaths to every walk the earth. In the 1970’s he killed and raped over thirty young men and boys. He hid most of them in the crawl space under his house. Ted Bundy is another notorious serial killer. He was an attractive, charming, intelligent young man who lived in Seattle in the 70’s. He would lure women in using his charm, and then he would rape then beat them to death. He was also known as a necrophiliac. He admitted to slaying 36 women, but experts believe that the final count was around one hundred. There is also Jeffrey Dahmer who is also very well known. There have been many books and movies about him and based off the story. Dahmer murdered seventeen males between 1978 and 1991. Over the course of more than thirteen years, Dahmer sought out men at bars, malls, etc. and then lured them home with promises of money or sex, and gave them alcohol laced with drugs before strangling them to death. He would then engage in sex acts with the bodies before dismembering them, disposing of them, and sometimes eating them. He often keeped their skulls or genitals as souvenirs. He frequently took photos of his victims at various stages of the murder process, so he could recollect each act afterward and relive the experience. Dahmer was captured in 1991 after one of his potential victims

escaped, and sentenced to 16 life terms. He was killed by another inmate while in prison in 1994.
Jack Henry Abbott was a respected and highly praised author when the crime of forgery sent him to prison. He did not actually commit murder until he was in prison where he stabbed someone. Upon escaping from prison, he robbed a bank and was sent back. He contacted famous author Norman Mailer, and convinced Mailer to help him write a book. Out of prison, he charmed his way into Mailer's literary circle in New York and enjoyed attention for a few weeks. When a waiter would not let him use the employee bathroom in a restaurant, Abbott stabbed him to death and was sent back to prison. He killed himself while incarcerated in 20002. He has many famous quotes and even has his own section on BrainyQuotes.com. There is also Joey Buttafuoco who never committed murder, but he gained fame nonetheless. His affair with teenage Amy Fisher, and Fisher's attempted murder of his then wife, Mary Jo, thrust him into the spotlight. His charismatic behavior captivated the media and gained him national attention, further fueling what Mary Jo termed his sociopathic tendencies. While he isn't a murderer, Mary Jo says Joey Buttafuoco is a sociopath, albeit a famous sociopath. These two men are examples of famous sociopaths that were not famous for killing.
There are several factors as to why someone has such a terrible disorder like Antisocial Personality Disorder. Even though people all over the world are researching and trying to understand this, there is still very little known about this. Hopefully, one day someone can help the individuals struggling with this disorder to overcome it or even cure it.