Tom Montalk – Sociopaths or psychopaths are individuals who lack empathy and engage in predatory behavior without remorse or guilt.
In general, this lack of conscience may stem from a conditioned lack of emotional identification with the victim, a narcissistic love of self that overrides any concern for others, or the mechanical inability to feel any emotion other than ones which are chemical or hormonal in origin.
There are different categories of psychopaths depending on the underlying cause for their condition and how well they blend into society.
Criminal and Successful Psychopaths
Criminal psychopaths are those who are crude enough in their manipulations to be identified and apprehended by legal and medical institutions.
They are known as serial killers, con-artists, burglars, mobsters, mad tyrants, rapists, and delinquents. These comprise a small percentage of psychopaths, and only about 1% of the population.