What was the common thread among all the renowned sociopaths?
Diagnosing someone with sociopathy was often a tricky business. It covered a wide range of personality traits and behaviors that could lead to vastly different profiles. A typical sociopath might just be a "loser" struggling with antisocial disorder, impulsivity, and a bunch of other traits that kept them from fitting into normal society. Yet, there were also infamous criminals and even influential politicians who fell into this category.
These kinds of sociopaths were different from congenital psychopaths. Unlike the latter, these major criminals had brains wired just like anyone else. Even though their cruelty, lack of empathy, manipulation, selfishness, and Machiavellian tendencies might look the same, these traits were considered acquired—shaped by their environment, upbringing, or trauma.
