Does lack of empathy always mean someone is a sociopath?

If someone genuinely lacks empathy, then, yes, they are on the pathway to becoming a sociopath, or possibly a psychopath.

Much has been written by good people who’ve done excellent work looking into the brain scans of psychopaths, which shows an irreversibility of the process of psychopathy. However, the burning question is how to make sense of how a person reached the point where they have no empathy (which will also mean they have little guilt or remorse). Was it developmental, genetic, environmental… which leads back to the Nature vs. Nurture debate? The challenge such investigators and researchers face is that a brain scan is simply a measure of what is currently happening within the brain, and does not shed light on how the process got underway, and/or how early that began.

Having worked extensively and in depth in a forensic capacity within a state prison system for 11+ yrs, and having been recruited to create the nation’s first intensive treatment program for men in long-term Solitary Confinement, I had the unique opportunity to conduct what amounted to intensive qualitative embedded field research, where I was able to work “up close and personal” with many sociopaths and psychopaths.

It was a unique opportunity, as most “outside researchers” are only permitted a few hours or a couple of days at most, under limited conditions, to meet with inmates, so long as they are deemed behaviorally appropriate for the interview. In my case, as a member of the Psychology Staff, I had a set of keys, had unlimited access to any and all inmates within the prison, had unlimited access to 100% of an inmate’s: personal, criminal, Parole, medical, psychological, psychiatric, juvenile, psych-social files & reports, & any juvenile criminal or social service history… and I was able to receive reports from their cells being searched (which was quite informative when dealing with pedophiles). No outside researcher, or therapist “on the street” would ever dream of being able to have such a wealth of information available to him for research and corroboration purposes. And, most importantly, I typically had months (if not years) to do in-depth treatment with inmates. And, I made it a personal mission to spend as much time as possible with as many different kinds of inmates as possible, so I could do a deep dive into the issues of sociopathy & psychopathy.

What was the result of that intensive work in terms of my findings? It became clear that sociopathy and psychopathy are not issues related to mental illness, nurture, or nature. Can those play a part. Yes, of course. However, what became clear is that sociopathy and psychopathy are not separate and distinct states, but are actually a natural progression, and are best understood on a continuum. Is there a primary cause or root? Yes. The process is best understood as the natural result of a continual, intentional, willful, and active repeated violation of one’s conscience. That is why we do not see every emotionally wounded person becoming selfish, nor do we find that the most sophisticated of sociopaths and psychopaths experienced traumatic early experiences, or other things that interrupted the emotional development of the young person. Though serious developmental issues will inevitably create problems, it does not hold true that sophisticated sociopaths and psychopaths were abused, neglected, or failed to bond properly. I actually found that most did not suffer in ways like I had anticipated. They simply elected to takes the breaks of their Ego, turned the volume down on the conscience, and became a very sophisticated emotional black hole, which then morphed into profound self-entitlement, which then produced results they likely, which gratified their selfishness… and the process continued. Instead of loving people and using things, they became inverted, to where they loved things and used people.

So, does a lack of empathy always mean someone is a sociopath? No. But in those cases, it would likely not be a lack of empathy from unchecked selfishness, but the result of a wounded spirit, a numbing of emotions from being repeatedly hurt, which would seem to be a lack of empathy. But, for those who have been deeply wounded, what would appear to be a lack of empathy would likely be a numbing of emotions, a disconnect from others, and an extensive degree of emotional protection. But, that is far different than sociopathy. That’s the good news.