If you are one of the lucky ones, you only
temporarily crossed paths with a
Sociopath, and were used (possibly abused or picked-clean) then discarded like
yesterday’s trash.
However, if you are one of the
unfortunate ones, you are a lifetime
target of Sociopathic Character Assassination: a full-on, unbridled attempt
by the Sociopath to totally destroy any credibility that the unsuspecting
victim may have had.
What makes this victim so special over other
victims that they are targeted to be the recipient of an obsessive and compulsive campaign of systematic destruction?
Simply stated, in most cases, lifetime
targets of a Sociopath know too much about the Sociopath.
Sociopaths routinely maintain at least
two separate personas. One personality that is embraced by unsuspecting
society, the other is their true self, their dark side; the one they keep hidden.
They may have many other personalities that they dial-in at any particular
moment to manipulate their current audience and change masks at will with the
intent to defraud.
It is imperative that the Sociopath
keep their dark sides hidden from the general populace. Think about it; if
anyone knew who they really were, their lives would unravel. To the Sociopath,
protecting the secrecy of their true malicious nature is as important to them as
anything that provides life or sense of purpose to any other normal human
being.
Sociopaths usually launch laser focused
unilateral attacks following a very calculated formula. Even though there is no
known, “playbook,” that has been published for the Sociopath to follow, they
all intuitively use the same system to ruin the lives of those who they feel
may be a threat to the sacred secrecy of his or her true self. Certainly,
making a potential witness appear to be crazy, mentally disturbed, unstable or
anti-social is the logical solution.
LAYING
THE GROUNDWORK
Years of research and experience has
concluded that usually within the first moments of engaging with a victim who
might have access to too much personal information on the Sociopath, they begin
to sow the seeds of doubt and lack of trustworthiness behind the victim’s back.
The Sociopath draws in friends, family,
third parties, co-workers, neighbors and acquaintances of the victim with his
or her lies, manipulations and victim playing in an effort to build a (false)
trust relationship with the fringe audience and paint the target as someone of poor character. This is accomplished with little
effort as the sociopath has innate skill to easily control the perceptions of
others endearing them to him or her as they wield their persuasiveness.
The initial impact, though appearing
quite harmless and innocuous is commonly cloaked in the appearance of concern
for the victim’s well-being and might sound something, like, “I don’t know if
you’ve ever noticed, but have you ever thought that (insert victim’s name) may
not be what he (or she) appears to be?” No accusations, no data, reports or
inclinations of anything concrete, just tilling the soil and fertilizing it
with a little doubt.
All the while, they are increasing
their own credibility with someone who may be a family member, friend,
associate, community contact or acquaintance of the intended victim; unaware
that they are being groomed as the Sociopath’s minion who will be turned
against the victim when the time is right.
SOWING
FALSE “FACTS”
Grooming from this point forward will
take a secretive slant and will likely be presupposed with something, like,
“Don’t tell (insert name), but…” as they actually sow seeds of doubt.
As the relationship between the sociopath
and his or her minion(s) grows deeper, more and more seeds will be sown in an
effort to cast doubt, while the victim is none the wiser.
I’ve always thought it peculiar, that
in most cases, these once close associates of the victim rarely, if ever,
courteously approach them with the sensitive information with a sincere, “Hey,
I was just wondering about (insert reports of lack of sanity, trustworthiness,
a secret double-life, illicit drug-use, illegal activities, pathological
symptoms, etc…)…” that would definitely be an early indicator that something
was up.
In most circumstances the victim
continues to navigate their life’s journey unaware that the world they once
enjoyed is being eroded or destroyed behind their back.
It is common for the Sociopath to
project their psychological
attributes onto the target. For instance, if they engage in criminal behavior,
then this will be represented as being a problem for you. If he or she is
greedy, interfering and demanding, this would be presented as something that
you struggle with. If they are pathological liars and tend to make up elaborate
stories, it will be the victim who secretly lives a fantasy-life where nothing
is as it seems… on and on and on…
Why? Because no one knows these
attributes better than the Sociopath. They are the undeniable expert in these
pathologies and they know how critical it is for someone who has them to keep
them a secret in an effort to appear to be normal.
In no way is it suggested that the Sociopath
might limit their attacks to their own attributes. They are extremely acute at the skill of taking a grain of truth and
spinning it into a ludicrous conclusion that will cast a dark shadow on anyone
at any time.
ENTER
THE “SPIN”
Sociopaths have the ability to spin any
factual data into an outrageous yet convincing yarn that will breed conspiracy or contempt for
any individual at will.
For instance, let’s say that you had a
hard day at work all day, due to struggling with an intense ongoing headache.
Everyone at work could tell that you were not “on your game” as usual. If you
intimated to the Sociopath that you had a headache; that would give them the
data that they needed to spin a tale.
The tale may take many shapes and
forms, but will be consistent with some of the previous seeds that had been
sown against you. For instance, if the Sociopath’s intention was to have you
appear to his or her minions that you were a closet illicit drug user, he or
she might intimate, “Wow, did you notice that (insert your name) was out of it
yesterday? It’s normal to go through withdrawals when you don’t get your fix
before you get to work… It’s so sad…”
No matter what you say or do, you cannot
prevent the Sociopath from spinning it into a negative story about you that
will erode your sense of normalcy.
Instilling shame, embarrassment, guilt, and fear is how all abusers control
and silence their victims.
THE
BEGINNING OF THE END
When the Sociopath has a clue that you
are coming to the end of your usefulness in the accomplishment of their goals,
he or she ramps up the defamation, usually making it appear that it is you who
is beginning to attack them. At this point the Sociopath will appeal to their
minions’ sensibilities as they present themselves as the sacrifice, martyr or
victim of your psychotic manipulations.
Having no internal filter, they will
stop at nothing in an effort to degrade and humiliate you. They will spout vile
accusations, even proclaim you’re mentally ill, if it will support their
proclamation that you are dangerous and cannot be trusted.
Trying to defend yourself is almost
pointless. Often anything that you say in your defense will appear to be a part
of your alleged psychosis and will strengthen all of the groundwork that the
Sociopath has laid in preparation of this moment.
Even if the Sociopath’s relationship
with the minions begins to dissolve (as it almost always does when the minions
outgrow their usefulness), the seeds will always leave a mark in their minds…
and as heartbreaking as it may be, in most cases, regardless of the ultimate
revelation of the Sociopath’s parasitic lifestyle, there may be no hope for
recovering the life that you once knew.
Jobs, reputations and fortunes may be
lost, friends will turn their backs on you, family members will distance themselves,
the people entrusted to help you will always wonder who you “really were” all
the time they knew you.
THE
RELENTLESS COMMITMENT TO YOUR DESTRUCTION
There is no way to anticipate how long
the attacks will take place. In some cases, if the Sociopath is the least bit
concerned that you might at some point discredit them or tarnish their
appearance or reputation… the attacks will continue. If the Sociopath believes
that at any point you could be a threat to their charade, the spinning will not
cease. This perceived threat may continue until either of you cease to be.
Many Sociopaths make it clear by the unrelenting
torment of their victims that they will not rest until you are locked-up, put
away, homeless, or dead.
MANIPULATION OF AUTHORITIES
Sociopaths may even go as far as to
manipulate the authorities. In many cases a devious Sociopath may launch a
criminal complaint and have you arrested in an effort to take away your freedom and make certain that you
will have little or no credibility whatsoever. Destroying the target through
the legal system plays quite effectively into their slanderous toolbox, diverts
attention away from their unsavory behavior and gives them the leverage they
need to get away with their misdeeds all the while garnering loads of sympathy and support (narcissistic supply) or being perceived as the injured party.
SOCIAL
MEDIA
If you are active in social media, it
is not very hard for the Sociopath to tap into your network and stalk, monitor and spy. A
Sociopath keeps tabs on their target with the same ferocity a day trader keeps track of the rise and fall of stocks. Their lioe revolves around gathering intel, weaponizing information and spinning everything you say or do against you. Controlling the narrative through fabrication,
obstruction, editing, omission and outright fraud is priority number one.
For the Sociopath is a shameless
predator always engaged in a cover-up of their seething hostility, diabolical ruthlessness and degenerate way of life.
