The SOVRN Report
Drop in for quick bit sized nuggets of sovereignty and reclaim your life!
The SOVRN Report
Psychopaths and Sociopaths: A Critical Look at Who We Trust with Authority
Ever wondered why some of the most powerful leaders are also the most manipulative? Join us as we uncover the eerie world of psychopaths and sociopaths, dissecting how their traits can make them particularly effective—and dangerous—in positions of power. From a methodical CEO who charms their way to the top to a fear-driven dictator who rules with an iron fist, we explore how these personalities thrive in competitive environments. You'll understand the crucial differences between calculated psychopaths and impulsive sociopaths, and why industries like corporate settings, law, and politics could be fertile ground for such personalities.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. We’re equipping you with the tools to recognize and counteract these manipulative behaviors. Learn how to sharpen your critical thinking skills, diversify your sources of information, and question the motives behind what you read. We'll also reveal practical tips on spotting red flags and trusting your instincts. By fostering a culture of accountability and vigilance, we can all contribute to more ethical leadership in our societies. Tune in and empower yourself with awareness and strategies to navigate this complex landscape.
All right. So you guys sent in this article about psychopaths and sociopaths and wow, it's kind of creepy.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We're talking about, like the types of people who might be, you know, drawn to positions of power, and it really makes you think, right. It does Like. It's not that crazy when you really think about it. Like the sheer number of people who might like fit these profiles.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the article mentions it could be like 1%, which is crazy yeah, that is a lot of people that's like what almost 80 million people globally it is makes you wonder who you're really dealing with out there well, the important thing to remember here is that, you know, not every single person who has these traits is like some kind of criminal mastermind or you know, know, a Hollywood villain.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:We're talking about a whole spectrum of like behaviors here and a lot of people with psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies. They actually function like pretty normally within society. It's when those tendencies kind of combine with power, you know, like especially in positions of authority, that's when things get really you know.
Speaker 1:Interesting, okay. So let's break that down a little bit. Okay, the articles seem to use psychopath and sociopath kind of interchangeably in some places. Yeah, can you walk us through, like, what are the key differences between those two?
Speaker 2:Of course, it's a really common point of confusion actually.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:While both psychopaths and sociopaths, you know they share some of the same like fundamental traits, like a lack of empathy, for example Right, and maybe a tendency towards, you know, being manipulative.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:There are some like important differences between the two. Okay, so psychopaths they're often described as being really calculated, but also charming. Okay, they're the types to like metabolously plan out all of their moves and they're often able to like mimic emotions really convincingly.
Speaker 1:Interesting.
Speaker 2:Sociopaths, though they tend to be more impulsive.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And erratic.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And their emotions, while often shallow can be pretty volatile.
Speaker 1:OK, so let me see if I'm getting this right. So we're talking about the difference between like, let's say, a CEO who's like, very methodically climbed a corporate ladder. You know, use charisma and manipulation to get ahead.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Versus, like you know, maybe a dictator who rules through fear and intimidation? Maybe a dictator who rules through fear and intimidation.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a really good analogy actually. Okay, the psychopath in your CEO example might be totally ruthless in how they go after power, but they're going to do it in a way that's like subtle, yeah, and maybe even charming. Wow, though, like your dictator example is much more likely to be driven by you know that need for immediate gratification and control through like much more obvious ways.
Speaker 1:Which makes you think about the systems that we have in place, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because the article mentioned that these individuals, they often thrive in really specific fields like you know corporate settings, law, even politics, Right. So is it possible that we're like accidentally rewarding these traits?
Speaker 2:that's a great question yeah and it's a big part of why this topic is so interesting to you know, think about and discuss right if we take a look at, like, how a lot of these systems are set up, yeah, like the focus on competition, the way we chase power and influence the pressure to, you know, succeed no matter what yeah, yeah, it's intense.
Speaker 2:It is. It's not hard to see why some personality types, especially the ones with these psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies, you know, might not just be drawn to these systems but actually do really well within them.
Speaker 1:Wow. So it's like it's not just about the individuals themselves, but it's also about the environment. That might like almost encourage, or even like reward these traits.
Speaker 2:It could be yeah.
Speaker 1:That's a. It's a kind of scary thought.
Speaker 2:There's something to keep in mind.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:As we get further into this.
Speaker 1:OK.
Speaker 2:Because you know if we're really going to be talking about how to protect ourselves from these types of personalities.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:We need to understand not just the individual traits but also, like the bigger things, the systemic factors that might also be playing a part.
Speaker 1:Right, because it's not all in a vacuum.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:OK, so let's talk about the individuals, then the article. It brings up a few different reasons why these types of people might be so into power.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It mentions like control, lack of accountability, manipulation. It's actually, it's kind of terrifying, this list.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I can see why you'd say that.
Speaker 1:It is yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay, so let's unpack this whole allure of power thing. Okay, the article called it Right. It says control is a big factor.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That seems pretty straightforward, though, right yeah?
Speaker 1:on the surface. Sure, people with you know these tendencies. They often really crave that feeling of being dominant, you know, over other people, and having power is the perfect way to do that.
Speaker 2:It's true, but it's not just about like power for the sake of power, though, is it?
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:It's about what that power lets them actually do.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, influence decisions, control resources, even shape narratives.
Speaker 1:It's like they look at the world like a big chessboard or something and they're always thinking like 10 moves ahead.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and that actually leads perfectly into the next point that the article made.
Speaker 1:OK.
Speaker 2:That lack of accountability Right, because the higher up these people get yeah, often the more untouchable they become. That's true, the rules that everyone else has to follow Right Might not apply to them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we've seen that. Oh, absolutely In real life, like executives with huge scandals, politicians acting like they're above the law. Yeah, it's like the rules don't apply.
Speaker 2:It's a very appealing thing for someone who just doesn't have empathy right or remorse, yeah, like they can just do whatever they want, no consequences. It's crazy, and their actions might even be like reinforced by the system, you know, because it prioritizes uh results over, you know, ethical behavior. Interesting, which brings us to the next thing manipulation of systems right.
Speaker 1:The article really emphasized how these types they're like masters at exploiting any loopholes oh yeah, you know, bending the rules, just using their power to control everything.
Speaker 2:They're good at it.
Speaker 1:It's scary from media narratives to like how the legal system works. It's crazy.
Speaker 2:Well, they have this like natural instinct, you know, to just understand these complex systems.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Identify any weaknesses.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And then use them Wow.
Speaker 1:To their advantage. It's kind of scary how calculated that is. It is yeah.
Speaker 2:And they're often just like, so charismatic.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know they can convince other people to just go along with your plans.
Speaker 1:It's true, even if it means being unethical. Right, which brings us to that final point. Yeah, and it's maybe the most like unsettling one.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:It's that public perception piece Right, Because the article argues that those traits you know, that we might see as kind of alarming.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Like being ruthless or not having empathy.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Those can be like mistaken for strength. Yes, especially when someone's in a leadership position.
Speaker 2:Especially then. Yeah, it's interesting, it's like the classic example of seeing charisma.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And thinking it's competence Right. It's easy to be drawn to those people.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Totally.
Speaker 1:Who seem confident, decisive in control, yeah, but if there's no moral compass behind it oh, then it gets dangerous it can be a dangerous, dangerous thing so it's not just about like, oh, look out for the villain no, not at all. You know what I mean yeah it's about understanding that even those people who seem like really charming, really successful right they might have ulterior motives. You know it's possible, yeah, and what they're doing might not actually line up with all the things they're saying.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and that's where you know critical thinking is just, it's essential we can, because you want to be like oh, you seem great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I got up like take a step better here, you do okay, so how do we actually do that then? How do we like put that into practice?
Speaker 2:you have to be discerning, ask tough questions and demand like real transparency right, okay, so let's dig into that then, because the article it presents that critical thinking piece as like our best defense against these types.
Speaker 1:And it talks about like oh, 100%.
Speaker 2:Like think about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:We are just bombarded with information, yeah, constantly yeah, and a lot of it is designed to, you know, mess with how we see things, how we act.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, for sure, totally. So how do we actually like, how do we put those critical thinking strategies into practice?
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Where do we even begin?
Speaker 2:Well, I think it starts with like cultivating a healthy sense of skepticism Okay, not cynicism, right, but being willing to question everything, yeah. Assumptions, especially when it comes to people in power. Right, don't just take things at face value.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, ask why More often.
Speaker 1:Why this decision, why that policy, why this course of action? Exactly?
Speaker 2:Demand evidence Right. Look for different perspectives.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Don't be afraid to like challenge the status quo yeah, I like that and be really wary of people who try to shut down like any kind of disagreement or discourage critical thinking.
Speaker 1:That's a red flag.
Speaker 2:Huge red flag.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like that, saying like if it sounds too good to be true, oh yeah, you know.
Speaker 2:It probably is.
Speaker 1:It probably is.
Speaker 2:And that applies to everything Right Leaders who seem perfect.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Get rich quick schemes.
Speaker 1:Right, it's all the same.
Speaker 2:Pretty much.
Speaker 1:So questioning authority, that's key.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But what about those more subtle signs of manipulation? Right Article mention like looking for patterns.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Inconsistencies in what someone says versus what they do.
Speaker 2:That's where you know really paying attention is huge.
Speaker 1:Right, ask yourself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, is this person constantly putting their own needs above others?
Speaker 1:Oh, interesting.
Speaker 2:Do they have this pattern of just like not caring about the people they're supposed to represent, right? Do they not take responsibility, avoid blame?
Speaker 1:It's true.
Speaker 2:These are all like warning signs.
Speaker 1:It's about looking beyond the charm, the charisma. Yes, that carefully constructed persona.
Speaker 2:It is Because, at the end of the day, actions speak louder than words.
Speaker 1:That's true.
Speaker 2:So look for that consistent pattern of behavior, not just like one-off things or things that they maybe try to control. Exactly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we're questioning authority. We're looking for those red flags, right? The article also talks about demanding transparency and accountability.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:How do we actually do that effectively?
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Especially when we're talking about people who are really good at manipulating the system Right To get what they want.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's definitely a challenge, but I think it starts with, just like, demanding clear information.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Right About the decisions that are being made. Yes, the policies they're putting into place. Right how they're using resources.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 2:And you know support organizations. Yeah, that like champion transparency Right and hold those in power accountable.
Speaker 1:It's like it's not enough to just sit back and watch.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:No, exactly, we have to be a part of this.
Speaker 2:You have to be an active participant, yeah, In shaping the systems that you know we're all a part of.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent, and that actually brings us to the final point that the article really drove home, okay, which is educating ourselves.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so important.
Speaker 1:We have to be informed.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Not just about like what's going on.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But about all the tactics that are being used to like play with our minds.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, Manipulate us.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent, you got it. It's like we're giving ourselves weapons, but the weapons are knowledge yes, I love that, yeah, get to defend ourselves. The more we know about you know these personality types? Yeah, the systems they take advantage of right their tactics yeah the more prepared we are yeah to protect ourselves and to protect the people around us.
Speaker 2:It all comes down to awareness right.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Being informed, being willing to like engage with the world. Yeah exactly, but like, with a critical mind A critical mind, yeah, and being willing to have those tough conversations.
Speaker 1:It's not easy.
Speaker 2:It's not.
Speaker 1:But it's so necessary.
Speaker 2:It is, and it's about like accepting that power by its very nature, yeah, attracts those people who want to use it.
Speaker 1:And not always for good reasons. Exactly.
Speaker 2:And we have a responsibility as individuals and as a society, to be like super vigilant. Hold those people accountable, create better systems that support ethical leadership.
Speaker 1:Yes, 100%.
Speaker 2:That care about everyone.
Speaker 1:Yeah, those are really powerful things to think about.
Speaker 2:They are.
Speaker 1:And on that note, we are actually going to take a quick break.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:When we come back we're going to get into some actual practical tips for using these critical thinking strategies in our everyday lives, so don't go anywhere. Okay, we're back and we've been talking about like that whole allure of power thing and how people who might be, you know, psychopathic or sociopathic or just drawn to it, and we talked about critical thinking right as like a way to protect ourselves from that manipulation. But what does that actually look like in our regular lives? You know, it feels like a big concept.
Speaker 2:It is, but you know it doesn't have to be this big overwhelming thing.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Just remember at its core critical thinking is a skill.
Speaker 1:OK.
Speaker 2:And any skill can be improved Right.
Speaker 1:Right, it's practice.
Speaker 2:Exactly, so start small.
Speaker 1:OK, so what's a good like beginner critical thinking exercise.
Speaker 2:Well, think about, like your daily information diet.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Where do you get your news from? Who are you listening to on social media? Interesting? Start by just like mixing it up a little.
Speaker 1:So don't just stay in your own little bubble.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Seek out different points of view.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Even ones you don't agree with at first.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:It's really easy to get stuck, you know, just taking in information that already fits with what we believe. Challenge yourself, try to see things from different angles.
Speaker 1:So it's about questioning everything, not like being negative.
Speaker 2:No no. Just being like curious, Curious exactly Develop that healthy skepticism we talked about.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:So when you see a headline or an article, a post on social media, whatever, don't just be like OK, that's true. Ask yourself who's saying this and why. What are they trying to get across?
Speaker 1:It's like we have to be investigators of our own lives.
Speaker 2:Yes, love that. And it's not just about like information, you know. It's about looking at situations, even people, in the same way.
Speaker 1:So when we meet those people who are super charismatic, you know, the ones who are really good at talking their way through anything, how do we use critical thinking there?
Speaker 2:Okay, so focus on what they do over time.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Not just what they say.
Speaker 1:Gotcha.
Speaker 2:Does what they're saying actually match up with what they're doing?
Speaker 1:And what about those red flags? Yeah, do you have any like concrete examples of things that should make us suspicious?
Speaker 2:Well, pay attention to people who are always blaming others. Okay, the ones who just refuse to own up to their mistakes.
Speaker 1:Interesting.
Speaker 2:Notice if someone is always like contradicting themselves or if their story keeps changing.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Those can be signs they're trying to manipulate you.
Speaker 1:So we have to like really be paying attention to how people act, especially if they're in a position of power.
Speaker 2:Yes, exactly, and trust your gut. Yeah, if something feels wrong, if someone is giving you a bad vibe, there's probably a reason for it.
Speaker 1:Our instincts are powerful. We shouldn't ignore them.
Speaker 2:Never. But also keep in mind this isn't about thinking everyone is out to get you. It's about being smart, making good decisions.
Speaker 1:Right. Based on what you see, based on what actually happens.
Speaker 2:Yes, and thinking it through carefully.
Speaker 1:It's about protecting ourselves, but it's also about building a world that's more aware. You know 100%. People who think critically, who question things, challenge the way things are and who expect better from their leaders.
Speaker 2:That's what it's all about.
Speaker 1:I like that. Well, this has been a really really interesting deep dive.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it has.
Speaker 1:It's not just about like oh, there are psychopaths and sociopaths, right. It's about all the systems around them, how those play a part, and giving ourselves the tools to be aware and navigate it all.
Speaker 2:Absolutely and, like we've been saying, knowledge plus thinking critically, that's the best defense we have.
Speaker 1:You heard it here everyone Question everything. Trust your gut, don't underestimate the power of critical thinking. And that's it for today's Deep Dive. Until next time, keep learning, keep those questions coming and keep those minds sharp.