the sociopath next door
by martha stout
Rather, the best clue is, of all things, the pity play. -martha stout
The Internet has allowed the sociopaths to quickly gather larger hosts to feed from as no self-respecting sociopath can survive unless others give them their very souls.
From the sociopath police-person, prosecutor or Politian all play their bit parts by drawing attention to how they are to be pitied for their hard work, honesty and above all concern for you. This is why you often see sociopath grouped together in one office or position of power – it takes one to know one apply applies to sociopath. Sociopath are often drawn together because of an inherent sense that as a group they can use others to achieve their goals. Think Nazis but the S.S. within the Nazi party and things should come into focus for you as to why specific evil behaviors seem to emanate from particular professions.
For example how Prosecutors lie the normal person would not even dream of declaring but over and over in the news some of the worst sociopath examples come bursting out within the legal system. For one example who would inflict prison on another person because a pair of scissors crossed state lines because of a domestic quarrel? Only a sociopath could conceive and gain satisfaction from such evil.
So true is this that the justice system can no longer be called the justice system – it is a mere legal procedure with truth being turned in upon itself. Only sociopaths would do what we see in the law enforcement end of things these days. Remember one main mark of a sociopath is they will do what others would not dare perform.
The professional sociopath has studied human nature and plays to the base motives of your anger, resentment or worse of all a “just case.” Trouble is even if the cause appears noble when the sociopath is done with you physical and spiritual exhaustion are the inevitable result.
The added trouble for honest individuals is that sociopaths can more quickly join allanices because everyone is socially connected. On a personal level individuals and families are devested and on a governmental level freedoms are stolen and trust debased. Welcome to the sociopath age.
A Shipwrecked Conscience
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
(Matthew 7:19)
As the legal system continues to crumble the bottom elements of society are brought to the top for the purpose of enhancing those who have chosen that profession.
Liars long ago stopped being prosecuted, prosecutors made themselves exempt from laws and we now live in times when liars, con-artists and deceivers are brought into the legal system. One set of liars calls to another for the purpose of achieving selfish advantage.
At every turn officials not only failed to restrain Athena Dean but rewarded, steered and protected her sinister schemes. The more you turn your backs on this the ever increasing police force will turn their backs on the rule of protective laws. Athena Dean Holtz is what the world calls a sociopath – a person without conscience. This is the cold, hard, scientific truth.
The Bible compares this condition to a shipwreck, and there is nothing pretty about a ship being smashed to pieces and torn apart (1 Timothy 1:19). The shipwreck of a good conscience is a fearful thing to behold. Little wonder the majority of people try to avoid becoming involved. The sight drives home the very real dangers of failure to deny self, refusal to pick up a cross, and rebellion against faith in Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:2 speaks of those “whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” All feelings of guilt and shame, questions about whether to do or say something, along with the ability to know truth from lies, break down on the rocky shoreline of selfishness.
At its best, psychology only describes and explains the obvious. However, I strongly recommend everyone read The Sociopath Next Door by Dr. Martha Stout. This book provides a clear understanding of what is going on from a non-Biblical perspective. Dr. Stout’s professional experience allows her to expertly reveal all the characteristics of a sociopath in a down-to-earth, easy-to-understand manner. If you want to protect yourself, and those you care about, from much grief and trouble, it is well worth spending the time and money on this book.
“I found that advertising on Christian radio was the ultimate bonanza!…I found the Christian radio audience to be trusting and even gullible.” -Athena Dean Hotlz, Redemption Press
Checklist
Here’s the basic checklist of characteristics from the book. Dr. Stout writes that if someone you know has just 3 of these, they have some form of sociopathy. Obviously, the more boxes you check, the stronger the diagnosis. I’m not even going to try to force the current situation into each checklist item. I urge you to read the book, look at the facts for yourself, and come to your own conclusions.
#1. Failure to conform to social norms.
#2. Deceitfulness, manipulative.
#3. Impulsive, failure to plan ahead.
#4. Irritability, aggressiveness.
#5. Reckless disregard for the safety of self or others.
#6. Consistent irresponsibility.
#7. Lack of remorse after having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another person.
#8. A glib and superficial charm that allows the seduction of other people, figuratively or literally.
#9. A grandiose sense of self-worth that may be compelling at first, but upon closer inspection may seem odd.
#10. A greater than normal need for stimulation, which results in taking frequent social, physical, financial, or legal risks.
#11. Pathological lying and conning, and a parasitic relationships with “friends.”
#12. A failure to acknowledge responsibility for any problems that occurred.
#13. Shallowness of emotion, hollow and transient nature to any claimed affectionate feelings, a breathtaking callousness.
#14. Marriages are loveless, one-sided, and almost always short-term.
Again, all it takes is three of these to indicate a sociopath.
Playing The Victim
One point is communicated loud and clear. According to Dr. Stout, a sociopath has one solid, universal, tell-tale sign.
“After listening for almost twenty-five years to the stories my patients tell me about sociopaths who have invaded and injured their lives, when I am asked, ‘How can I tell whom not to trust?’ the answer I give usually surprises people. The natural expectation is that I will describe some sinister-sounding detail of behavior or snippet of body language or threatening use of language that is the subtle giveaway. Instead, I take people aback by assuring them that the tip-off is none of these things, for none of these things is reliably present. Rather, the best clue is, of all things, the pity play. The most reliable sign, the most universal behavior of unscrupulous people is not directed, as one might imagine, at our fearfulness. It is, perversely, an appeal to our sympathy.”
The Sociopath Next Door, Martha Stout, Chapter 6
Playing the victim, a perverse appeal to our sympathy, crocodile tears, melodramatic “forgiveness,” and the woe-is-me-but-I’m-somehow-staying-strong mentality are all marks of a sociopath. An appeal to our sympathy, our trust, and our desire to help is the sociopath’s strongest power-play to manipulates us.
The pattern is repeated over and over again, with subtle variations, and even experts can be taken in and fooled by it. The common factor–whether in sales contracts, legal agreements, donations, or even marriages and relationships–is always the sociopath’s ultimate self-centeredness and lack of conscience.
100% Lies
When ordinary people lie they tend to “spin” events, exaggerating or embellishing or twisting facts to suit themselves. However, sociopaths fabricate entire lies–even stringing them together to construct a complex and detailed fiction to replace reality.
Most people are accustomed to the idea there’s some truth in every lie, or the old adage that there’s “no smoke without fire.” So they find it difficult to comprehend how a sociopath can create a 100% lie–that is, a lie which has been so thoroughly self-invented there is not even a shred of truth to it.
Dr. Stout’s book overcomes this intrinsic disbelief by exposing the truth about sociopaths, and giving us the ability to comprehend that which is incomprehensible.
Gaslighting
Like drips of water wearing down a rock, sociopaths are experts at subtle provocation, using the smallest, seemingly normal things to unbalance others. Then, when the effect takes its toll, they blame everyone else for over-reacting.
This phenomenon is referred to as “gaslighting” and is also covered in The Sociopath Next Door. Anyone who has ever been hit by this gas will not soon forget its foul stench.
Intimidation
Sociopaths use their charm and likability to manipulate. Inch-by-inch, they gain what they want from people who don’t recognize the signs or ignore the warnings.
After all, it’s easy to go along with lies when they’re about someone else. But sociopaths wreck so much havoc that they can’t help communicating on a subconscious level to everyone around them, “Watch out, you could be next on my black list.” Sociopaths use this form of blackmail to continue their campaigns of slander, self-interest, and manipulation.
Standing up against a sociopath is easy. However, the key point is to do it right at the beginning and simply cut off all contact. That’s why God said whoever “listens” to a false witness will be “destroyed forever.”
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
If only Eve had refused her “lunch date” with the serpent, we would not have the sin and corruption which allows sociopaths to perpetuate the same patterns.
Sympathy For The Devil
A sociopath’s only goal is to “win.” This can take many forms, but often it means the destruction of anyone who “crosses” them or might reveal the truth about them. Although they can appear to have very charming, giving personalities, when a sociopath leaves it becomes clear they have left nothing of value behind. They simply use up everyone and everything in order to benefit themselves, often spreading chaos and destruction to anyone else, and then conveniently find an excuse to move on.
This pattern fits Athena Dean Holtz perfectly, by her own admission.
Before you feel sorry for Athena Dean, or are taken in by her lies, remember 1 John 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 5:11.
McCall, Satterberg , Dean“Sociopaths have no regard whatsoever for the social contract, but they do know how to use it to their advantage. And all in all, I am sure that if the devil existed, he would want us to feel very sorry for him.”
The Sociopath Next Door, Chapter 6
One, of several, counselors involved in Ms. Dean’s grooming of a False Accuser attended The Summit Church of Enumclaw Washington. The Summit Church where now Athena Dean Holtz has married for the 4th time the pastor of The Summit that over the years spread slander and forbid his members from coming into the Salt Shaker Bookstore for fear they would discover the truth about the lies. Athena Dean Holtz is now a pastors wife who wrote that Christians are “trusting and even gullible.” The False Accuser’s mother, Jessica Gambill (related to the Dean family) and Athena Dean (Holtz) attended The Summit Church when the hate crime began in 2011. Whatever you believe about the slander one would be a fool to associate with Mrs. Dean (Holtz) and at all cost, if they are smart, keep their children away. This is not the first time Ms. Dean has used abuse as a means of controlling and destroying others.
Hope For Sociopath?
Is their hope for someone that is a sociopath – the quick answer is yes – but no “normal” Christianity will produce a changed conscious. There is however, a very real Jesus that can deliver and like everyone else, the sociopath only has one shot at it and their worst enemy will be their own tears.
…but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:21)
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