How to Identify a Sociopath, Quickly

Alan Trapulionis
5 min readDec 20, 2021
Look for lack of emotion where emotion should be present. Picture by ann harkness via Flickr

Would it be correct to call you a sociopath?

“In layman’s terms, yes.”

The scary part about Dyshae’s interview is that he actually makes perfect sense.

When you hear a theatrical interview with a serial killer, it’s easy to build a wall between you and them. There are obvious lines you’d never cross. Lines these people have left far behind.

For example, when they talk about how they enjoy hurting others or how they think they’re doing the world a favor, you instantly classify them as a different breed. You couldn’t hurt a fly, how could you even contemplate hurting others for pleasure?

Dyshae is different. He talks in a calm, completely normal manner. His thoughts are completely logical and, quite frankly, relatable. I, too, analyze people the moment I see them. I, too, sometimes put on a mask to fit in. I, too, consider “what’s in it for me” when engaging in a relationship.

And yet, something is different about Dyshae. Something is missing.

“Regular person with less emotions”

Ever since he was a child, Dyshae remembers feeling pleasure from manipulating others. To him, it’s a game where he gets to “outsmart” others. If the “opponent” is intelligent, self-aware and someone Dyshae…

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