According to the Mayo Clinic, a sociopath is “a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.” Medical studies approximate that sociopaths consist of 4% of the population. Though we like to view them as serial killers and rapists on the 6 o’clock news, most live among us. It is possible you might know someone who’s a sociopath and not even be aware of it. They can be our neighbors, co-workers, friends, family members, and even our so-called “soul mates.” Most of the time you wouldn’t know how to identify a sociopath if you saw one. Since they’re usually members of a community people would never suspect of evil deeds and who can seamlessly blend into society like the rest of us. Nevertheless, sociopaths use and abuse people around them whether they be a serial killer, criminal, CEO, or anyone else. They may seem like normal or even likeable at first. But once they gain your trust through manipulation and lies, they will be your worst nightmare. Enter a romantic relationship with one, they will abuse you, neglect you, cheat on you, gaslight you, and break your heart. Do business with them, they will screw you out of the money and leave you having to take the fall. Be their friend and they’ll take every advantage of your kindness until you’re no longer useful to them. Work for them, and they’ll rule over you like a tyrant, exploiting you as they see fit as well as abusing their power for personal enrichment. Sociopaths can’t be trusted, can’t love you, and won’t own to their mistakes.

Donald Trump has never been formally diagnosed as a sociopath. Nor do I have any professional credentials to make that diagnosis. Yet, he has exhibited the kind of behavior to merit such serious accusation that’s well worth considering. His Art of the Deal ghostwriter Tony Schwartz has a compelling case that Trump is this and he deeply regrets promoting his image. “I put lipstick on a pig,” he told the New Yorker in 2016. “I feel a deep sense of remorse that I contributed to presenting Trump in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is.” To have a president who’s a sociopath is very scary and dangerous prospect. Already he has put the United States at grave risk of involving it in a war and undermining democracy itself. So much so that Trump’s presidency presents an emergency not only allowing, but possibly requiring, psychiatrists to deviate from the Goldwater Rule, which holds that it’s unethical for shrinks to give professional opinions about public figures without examining them in person. This year, 27 psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health professionals assessed Trump’s mental health based on his speech and behavior over the long course of his public life and conclude he’s a serious danger to the US and the world. And they argue that his mental health is affecting American people’s mental outlook. In October they released their findings in a book called The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump. Even so, I bring my compelling case to state that Donald Trump is a sociopath based on these findings. Nevertheless, Trump is a very dangerous human being who shouldn’t be trusted. Though he claims to be a successful businessman with the best brain, he’s nothing but a complete and total fraud who wouldn’t be where he is if he wasn’t rich. He is and never will be your friend. He has no conscience and has no respect for America, its democratic values, or its people. He abuses his power for his own self-enrichment. To support him is to enable his destructive behavior to wreak havoc on the US and the world. And to have him as President of the United States is morally indefensible and supporting him should never be tolerated.

1. Superficial Charm-Sociopaths know they don’t have a conscious and don’t feel the same love, empathy, and remorse “neurotypical” people do. To conceal their “strangeness” and get what they want from others, they learn how to “pass” in society. As they mimic “neurotypical” people, they become adept at charming them through “mirroring” those they meet. In other words, they get to know and use what they know about them in order to appear to have the same interests and values. Sociopaths can also mimic non-sociopaths’ facial expressions to more effectively charm them. In the beginning, being mirrored can be quite enchanting. But it’s just a mask they wear in order to get what they want from you. As you get to know them better, the superficial charm wears down as the victim starts noticing red flags such as lying and cheating. Such awareness creates a cognitive dissonance or a feeling that the image the sociopath projects doesn’t reflect their actual self. Though a sociopath’s victim might find cognitive dissonance rather confusing and disturbing. But it’s a sign of emotional abuse though victims mentally push it away. (Even I can’t doubt that Donald Trump is a very effective self-promoter who has been able to resonate with a significant legion of loyal supporters. Even before that, he was able to convince enough people to invest or work in his business projects even if they got nothing in the end. Still, whenever you hear anything bad about Trump from the media, expect Trump voters to view it as fake news. Still, those who believe and trust in Trump with running the country are enabling him to inflict his destructive tendencies on the American people, if not the world.)

2. Glibness– To be glib is to speak seemingly off the cuff but often to deceive. Sociopaths can use jokes, puns, and deflections to avoid serious discussions about real problems. Though it may seem unintentional, it’s not and it’s a sign the sociopath wants to move the conversation away from difficult issues which they don’t want to address head-on. (Donald Trump has often attacked his opponents personally or ignite some controversy to distract the media from negative press about him or his policies. Or when approached on some matter he really doesn’t want to discuss. Let’s just say glibness is Trump’s PR strategy and it’s one that works for his supporters. He may seem like he’s speaking from the heart at his rallies, but he has deceitful ends for doing so.)

3. Egoism– Sociopaths have swollen egos with narcissistic features and often see their lack of emotional depth and incapacity to love as weapons in their private (and sometimes public) wars they wage against those they want to manipulate and/or ruin. They feel an “edge” over non-sociopaths who feed into their sense of superiority. Since society often rewards those moving through life with an obvious self-love, their incredible confidence might seem exciting at first. Thanks to their sheer impact of their epic and outsized self-confidence, younger sociopaths tend to reap quite a few rewards and open a lot of doors. Signs of a narcissistic ego include bragging about their looks, vanity, bragging about positive encounters with celebrities or other VIPs, and bragging about sexual performance and/or exploits. Though the braggart might initially come across as a lovable clown, their potent egoism extends to grandiosity and indicates that something is really wrong with them. A sociopath’s sense of their own abilities and looks is insanely elevated which means they will put others on lower rungs. In other words, you will be below them and so will everyone else. You are there to be led by a puppet-master who’s chosen you as his toy. Sociopaths also enjoy belittling others and this type of bullying is indicative of egoism. Many sociopaths may give clues to who they really are, even if they frame it as a joke. If they call themselves “bad” or “evil,” they’re actually bragging what’s inside and want this darkness recognized. (Egoism is Donald Trump’s defining trait. He often notes how he’s such a good businessman or how smart he is. And yes, he’s bragged about his looks, positive encounters with celebrities, and even his sex life. Not to mention, his incessant bullying of those who challenge or criticize him is legendary. His insanely inflated ego might make comedians look forward to see him as a joke before he ran for president. But anyone who’s been on the receiving end of his attacks or exploits sees his excessive egoism as much more sinister.)

4. Grandiosity– This refers to a sustained view of oneself as better than everyone which causes the individual to view others with disdain or as inferior and sometimes reaching to delusional proportions. To spot grandiosity, look for disdain in others. A sociopath may regularly make racist statements. They may relate to individuals or creatures notorious for inflicting significant damage to humanity or God like the Devil, gangsters, or war criminals. (It’s very clear that Donald Trump has a disdain for others including people who support him. He’s made appallingly racist statements in public to the glee of white supremacists. He has spoken highly of dictators notorious for inflicting human rights abuses and suppressing civil liberties like Vladimir Putin, for instance.)

5. High Sensation Seeker– Sociopaths live in a state of constant boredom since their inner lives are virtually non-existent. Most of them seek out constant stimulation to make up for emotions they can’t feel as well as the dulled emotions they do. Since any feelings they do experience like lust, anger, irritation, envy, and fleeting happiness are usually quite weak, flickering into their consciousness before dissipating as quickly as they come. Since fleeting emotions come and go so rapidly to leave them empty, sociopaths find boredom as their biggest challenge in life. The most powerful emotion a sociopath feels is anger. Hell, they may even like to be angry since it’s better to feel something than so little (as they typically do). A sociopath may try to access sensation through creating drama and chaos on purpose and at frequent intervals. A lot of a sociopath’s bad behavior, including lawbreaking, cheating, and mind games (or worse), are related to alleviating boredom and accessing higher sensations. And since they don’t feel bad about what they do, they’re able to push things to the edge. Still, sensation-seeking can happen in many ways like juggling multiple romantic relationships, reckless driving, substance abuse, or seeking out deviant adventures in riskier locales. (Unlike many sociopaths, Donald Trump doesn’t drink {though there are rumors he uses cocaine}. However, he often creates drama and chaos through this Twitter rants over things he doesn’t like or his feuds with the media and celebrities. He’s also a sexual predator known to cheat on his wives. Not to mention, Tony Schwartz has told the New Yorker that he has a stunningly short attention span, “Trump has been written about a thousand ways from Sunday, but this fundamental aspect of who he is doesn’t seem to be fully understood. It’s implicit in a lot of what people write, but it’s never explicit—or, at least, I haven’t seen it. And that is that it’s impossible to keep him focused on any topic, other than his own self-aggrandizement, for more than a few minutes, and even then.”)

6. Frequent and Compulsive Lying– Sociopaths lie constantly to everyone in their lives, even when it’s not strictly necessary. In fact, people may begin to suspect that someone in their life is more evil than anticipated because they’ve uncovered lies. Things stop adding up because words and actions don’t agree. Once you get to know a sociopath, they often seem shady and dishonorable. A sociopath often wears a different mask customized just for the people in their lives since it’s all about manipulation and reputation management. Some lower-functioning sociopaths have great difficulty getting their lives straight and will try to rewrite history or change the subject if called out. A sociopath will lie to protect oneself to from the exposure they dread above all else. They will lie to manipulate people to give them what they want and keep them under their control. They don’t love or respect the people around them. They might like them, but they’re just simply pawns to be used to get what the sociopath wants. And they take equal advantage of everyone. Their desire to win for rewards often drive their lies. When someone believes them, the sociopath feels an addictive surge of raw power that might be seen as a pure sensation taking away the sense of “black hole” where a loving heart and conscience should be. (This is another one of Donald Trump’s defining traits. He constantly breaks promises he’s made, most of which he never intended to follow through in the first place. He peddles conspiracy theories on his Twitter feed, even if they’re blatantly ridiculous and thoroughly debunked. He propagates false, often malicious stories while using his time-honored high office to blame and squash high level public servants, judges, and his own subordinates. He constantly tries to discredit the media whenever they release negative stories about him. His dishonest in his business dealings is shocking and unprecedented as he’s been a defendant in thousands of lawsuits brought upon by service providers and vendors whom he failed to pay for services rendered to him or his business organizations. And it’s abundantly clear that failing/refusing to pay vendors is part of Trump’s business model. As Tony Schwartz said about him, “Lying is second nature to him. More than anyone else I have ever met, Trump has the ability to convince himself that whatever he is saying at any given moment is true, or sort of true, or at least ought to be true.” As of writing this in 2017, the Washington Post fact-checkers determined that Trump has chalked up 1,100 false and misleading claims in the first 10 months of his presidency. These include outrageous lies about Obama bugging his phones and his inauguration crowd size.)

7. No Guilt or Sense of Responsibility– Lacking a guilty conscience, a sociopath can move from one bad act or another without feeling any sense of moral wrongness or personal responsibility. Sociopaths can’t feel your pain unless they make a conscience effort to do so, which doesn’t happen very often. This guiltlessness is accompanied by lack of shame and no sense of responsibility. And it’s one of the primary reasons why most sociopaths seem extremely immature. It’s like they’re adults frozen in a permanent adolescence since they lack the emotional tools to learn from experience. They might claim they want to do better in the future and sound very believable saying so. But they can’t learn for their impulsiveness and desire to win at the game of life always leads them repeating the same mistakes and following the same patterns. Since guilt doesn’t touch them, they can’t mature. Sociopaths are wild creatures who only focus satisfying their base appetites and urges. In their inner lives, their absence of shame, guilt, remorse makes them dangerous individuals whether they’re violent or not. One red flag to watch for is a sociopath who tells you about morally questionable things they’ve done without a shred of guilt. A textbook example of a someone to watch out for would be a man who matter-of-factly tells you how he walked out on his family and devastated them. And he places all the blame on the spouse left behind. Because to a sociopath, anyone who has a problem with them is insane. While people who are guilty examine their own role in things and understand there are at least 2 sides, a sociopath can’t understand in emotional sense, how other people feel. Nor will they feel guilty about anything that happens. This chilling sense of “disconnect” from actions which hurt others (demonstrating a total lack of empathy) is a prime indicator of sociopathy. (This is a defining trait of Donald Trump who feels absolutely no guilt, shame, remorse, or sense of responsibility for his actions. Throughout his life, he’s done truly mindboggling and reprehensible shit that’s hurt hundreds of people over the decades such as family members he’s mistreated, employees he hasn’t paid, investors he’s swindled, and so many others. He never apologizes for any missteps or intemperate attacks and has demonstrated a remarkable lack of empathy for people he’s attacked, injured, or harmed. Nor has he taken any responsibility for all the bad stuff he’s save from settling a lawsuit to evade more serious charges. And due to his impulsiveness and desire to win, Trump has never learned from his mistakes nor cares to. As president, he’s been no different. As for talking about morally questionable things he’s done without a shred of guilt, well, check out his Access Hollywood interview with Billy Bush in which bragged about sexually assaulting women. The first part recounts how he failed to seduce Nancy O’Dell in which he said, “I moved on her, and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and fuck her. She was married. And I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, “I’ll show you where they have some nice furniture.” I took her out furniture—I moved on her like a bitch. But I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything. She’s totally changed her look.” Later referring to Arianne Zucker whom he and Bush were about to meet, he told the guy, “I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful—I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.” As Americans, we must acknowledge that Trump’s unwillingness to own up to his mistakes makes him a very dangerous man in the White House.)

8. Shallow Emotions– Sociopaths do shocking and horrible acts whether leading double lives, stealing money from other’s savings account, or sabotaging others at the workplace may not be readily apparent or discovered for years. Part of the problem is that sociopaths don’t feel all emotions while the ones they do feel are fleeting. In their world, emotions don’t carry much weight save for anger and even that doesn’t last long. To illustrate this further let’s take a real ear and a cochlear implant. Now the human ear processes thousands of sounds with thousands of “channels.” Whereas a cochlear implant is only a synthetic version of an ear with only a fraction of a real ear’s channels. In regard to emotions, the sociopath is a cochlear implant while you’re (assuming you’re not a sociopath) are the real ear. Both may seem alike but they’re very different. A non-sociopath experiences emotional richness and depth. The sociopath doesn’t have it. For people to understand each other, they must be able to share one another’s emotional range. When they can’t the relationship is doomed in only a matter of time. While many sociopaths would like to feel what the rest of us feel instead of knowing they’re on the outside, most are quite happy to be sociopaths. So you shouldn’t pity them. Since they use pity to control other people and they don’t love those they control. Sociopaths don’t have the capacity for authentic love. Sure they might believe they’re in love in a romantic relationship, but their idea of love is mostly about lust, fleeting infatuation, and possessing and controlling another. That’s not love like other people feel it. (Other than anger {or possibly lust}, there are few emotions Donald Trump seems to display with any great intensity. He’s admitted that he doesn’t even cry. Nor has there ever been any evidence he’s ever been in love with anyone or even understands it himself. To say that Trump has an emotional shallowness similar Lord Voldemort isn’t much of a stretch. Nevertheless, since anyone can fake emotion to people who don’t even know them, only Trump and those closest to him know if he has any capacity for love. But I highly doubt this.)

9. Empathy-Free– Since sociopaths typically don’t even bother to put themselves in anyone’s shoes, they don’t experience a sense of humanity and oneness. Thy can’t feel sympathy for others or understand the emotional consequences of their actions. Though studies have shown they can turn empathy on and off, theirs is mostly in the default “Off” setting. Everyday con artists are all too happy to trick others into giving them things under false pretenses. Since they don’t emotionally understand how other people feel, they make false promises without feeling the pain of those they deceive. Sociopaths make lots of promises and these promises just don’t come through. Whether it’s a man who talks about marriage to his girlfriend but never manages to make it to the altar. Or a coworker who promises you credit on a big project then stabs you in a back. False promises are indicative of sociopathy. (Donald Trump’s record of false promises is absolutely staggering. He constantly makes promises often with no intention to follow through with them. As a businessman he’s hired people for his projects with no intention of paying them for their work. He’s promised to donate to charity countless times despite that he runs his Trump Foundation as a personal piggy bank with other people’s money. Then there are plenty of promises on the campaign trail he’s already broken, particularly when they pertain to healthcare, jobs, or draining the swamp. Then there’s the time when he mocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for crying “fake tears” during his Muslim ban condemnation. Never mind that Schumer’s great-grandmother and seven of her children died during the Holocaust. A president who makes life-or-death decisions on a daily basis without comprehending the possibility of what another person might experience is a very scary thing. Trump has shown a profound lack of empathy on several occasions during his presidency, sometimes to mindboggling proportions. He has no sense of shame and spews rhetoric that’s often degrading, disingenuous, or sarcastic. He gains satisfaction from mocking people and thinks mercilessly degrading opponents makes him tough. He casually brags about forcing unwanted sexual contact on women. Sorry, Trump supporters, but your man doesn’t feel your pain or ever will.)

10. Trivial Sex Life– If you’re on a date, one thing to watch for is someone who stares at the opposite sex a lot while you’re out and about. If that person seems on the prowl, even when with a partner, they’re seeking sexual attention which is akin to narcissistic behavior. It’s called the predatory stare which is about inappropriate eye contact which can make you feel quite uncomfortable like you’re their next meal. Since sociopaths don’t have deep emotions, they may use sex to kill the boredom and in order to enjoy sensation. Combine this lack of depth with higher-than-average testosterone levels and vaulting egos, it’s no surprise that most sociopaths are promiscuous. And since they want higher and higher levels of sensation, they may become sexual deviants. This means cheating, using prostitutes, sleeping with people under the age of consent, sex tourism, and so on. Sex will be skillful yet not emotional. We should also note that promiscuity is such a common trait in sociopaths that it’s one of the factors psychiatrists look for when diagnosing the condition. (Tales of Donald Trump’s sexual exploits are the stuff of tabloid legend. He’s bragged about multiple infidelities and sexually assaulting women. Not to mention, he’s had plenty of sexual assault allegations against him, one pertaining to raping a 13-year-old girl. Oh, and let’s not forget the one about the prostitutes peeing on him at the Moscow Ritz Carlton presidential suite. Or how he liked to frequent beauty pageant contestants dressing rooms, especially if they consisted of teenage girls. Then there’s the infamous Billy Bush tape where he said “grab em’ by the pussy.”)

11. Conduct Problems Prior to Age 15– Sociopathy starts young and manifests in one way or another before age 15. Teens might be diagnosed with Conduct Disorder. Others may have no formal diagnosis, but they may have trouble following rules at school and home. They may show general disrespect for the truth, parents, siblings, and authority figures. Quite often, but not always, a juvenile delinquent is a budding sociopath. Some young sociopaths hurt animals and don’t understand why it’s wrong until they’re told. Others are violent with people. All will be rule-breakers and most will experiment alcohol and drugs, along with sexual contact long before their peers. To find an adult sociopath who wasn’t a problem child is rare. (Donald Trump has bragged about punching his music teacher in the face when he was in 2nd grade and almost got expelled over it. As he “wrote” in The Art of the Deal, “In the second grade…I punched my music teacher because I didn’t think he knew anything about music….I’m not proud of that, but it’s clear evidence that even early on I had a tendency to stand up and make my opinions known in a very forceful way.” Of course, there’s no evidence he did this since people who knew him denied the story. Childhood friends and teachers describe the young Trump falling into a crowd of boys “who pulled girls’ hair, passed notes, and talked out of turn.” In fact, he ended up in detention so often that his friends nicknamed the punishment, “D.T.” Steve Nachtigall said he once saw Trump and his friends jump off their bikes and beat up another boy. He told the Washington Post, “It’s kind of like a little video snippet that remains in my brain because I think it was so unusual and terrifying at that age.” Furthermore, his father sent him to the New York Military Academy when he was 13 to straighten him out and keep him out of the trouble he liked to get into as a boy.)

12. Sadism and Mind Games– People with empathy don’t enjoy hurting others while a sociopath does. Even those they legitimately enjoy spending time with will be subject to sadism and mind games. If you know someone who seems to enjoy hurting you like a cat with a toy mouse and you find the mind games monotonous and repetitive, it might be time to cut them off from your life if you can. Sociopaths enjoy degrading, humiliating, dominating, damaging and belittling others. (Donald Trump seems to have a certain bloodlust as long as he’s not the one getting beat up. He’s endorsed and condoned police brutality as well as denigrated football players for kneeling during the national anthem to peacefully protest it. He’s repeatedly given license to his base to inflict violence. In fact, during a presidential campaign, Trump stated that he’d pay the legal costs of a thug who attacked a black protestor. He seems to revel in producing representations of violence suggesting it as how to deal with the “fake news” media that hold him accountable for his actions and policies. His domestic policies have been designed not only to harm or kill but also to instill fear through intimidation or coercion in specific populations. Not to mention, despite calling himself pro-life, his policies emanate what Pope Francis has indicated, “an economy that kills.” Trump relishes using violence and warmongering brutality to inflict humiliation and pain on people. Then there are the mind games in which he inflicts on the populace he continuously gaslights with conspiracy theories on a regular basis whenever his team’s embroiled in scandal. All too often.)

13. Has Few Friends– Sociopaths tend to have few friends, at least not real ones anyway. As psychiatrist Ross Rosenberg noted, Sociopaths don’t want friends, unless they need them. Or all of their friends are superficially connected with them, friends by association.” We should also note that many sociopaths have many short-term marriages which might begin with them idealizing them before devaluing and ultimately discarding them for a newer and more interesting partner. Since they never truly bond with their spouses, walking away from a marriage or relationship is quite effortless. And they’ll blame the relationship’s failure on their ex. (Most of Donald Trump’s relationships appear transactional. Whenever any of his associates get into trouble, he will deny he even knew them.)

14. Shows Disregard for Societal Norms– Sociopaths break rules and laws because they don’t believe society’s rules apply to them. A run of them mill spoiled brat may eventually learn that everyone needs to follow rules to be a part of society. A sociopath never does. They do what they need to gain pleasure which remains about all that keeps them in line. Because for a sociopath, rules are for other people, not them. They may not be a problem for the law but they will seek loopholes to rise to positions of power or move to another area where their behavior is tolerated. (Donald Trump has shown this time and time again. He has skirted rules and norms whenever it’s convenient for him. He doesn’t pay his workers. He’s used his charity as a personal piggy bank with other people’s money. He’s profiting off his presidency which is a clear violation of the Emoluments Clause in the US Constitution. He’s never released his recent tax returns. As a businessman, he’s used money and attorneys to find loopholes to bail himself out of several lawsuits generated from the infamous Trump University scam. As we speak, there are investigations currently determining whether if Trump or his campaign made illegal deals with the Russian government regarding possible tampering in the 2016 campaign. Let’s just say, if Trump can get away with breaking the law or social norm, he’ll surely do so.)

15. Explosive Temper– When things don’t go the way a sociopath has planned, they react in explosive anger. Even if the ugly meltdown was over a minor sleight whether real or imaginary. Such anger stems from the fact the inner narcissist is seemingly out of control with their surroundings which doesn’t jive with their worldview. Sociopaths can get mean if they’re challenged or if someone gets in the way of their goal. With domestic violence, you’ll see verbal and physical aggression again and again. Outside of a relationship, they might have road rage or constantly get into arguments. They can turn mean but only if challenged or if someone gets in the way of their goals. A sociopath’s charm usually covers their anger tendencies. But when it’s off and targeted at you, then God help you. (Donald Trump’s explosive anger is legendary which erupts whenever things don’t go his own way as reflected on his Twitter feed. Even before his presidency, he’s been known for this. He’s sued or threatened to sue people for criticizing or challenging him. One instance has him beating up Donald Jr. in college for not wearing a suit for a baseball game. He’s exploded over people making jokes about him to ridiculous levels. The New York Times lists 382 people, places, and things Trump has insulted on Twitter.)

16. Has Major Problems with Criticism– Sociopaths are extremely hostile to criticism since they often desire approval from others and may even feel like they’re entitled to it. They exercise extreme hypersensitivity when they feel, slighted, criticized, or challenged. They can’t tolerate weakness being highlighted by anyone speaking to them in a manner implying they’re inferior. And many will attack anyone they feel committed such an infraction. Question their behavior and they will react with anger or rage. (Donald Trump can’t tolerate any form of criticism no matter how slight and he is vindictive in the extreme. He often calls negative media stories about him as “fake news.” His obvious animosity towards reporters who “fabricate” stories manifesting by his thirst for taunting them. He uses hit and run tweets to demean, embarrass, and attack all who criticize him but lacks courage to hold Q&A press conferences for fear of being challenged over his wild assertions. His staff is also afraid to criticize him. He likes to brag but usually blames his failures on others. Also, erupts in Twitter tantrums over people joking about him. Also, take note on how his cabinet seems to praise him during meetings. There’s also evidence that hasn’t been yet publicly disseminated is that Trump has misused New York City Police Department officers to retaliate against his perceived enemies in New York City and to harass and threaten his opponents’ personal safety. This is a man who doesn’t take criticism well, like at all.)

17. Induces Drama Fatigue– Sociopaths’ behavior is so strange and outrageous that you actually become desensitized to things that would otherwise deeply upset you. Essentially, your “baseline normal” begins shifting to accommodate their increasingly abnormal behavior. And that’s when they start causing the real damage. Then they will induce fear to gradually wear you down to accept their control through a cycle of emotional and possibly physical abuse. (Donald Trump has put the United States through his crazy antics since he began running for president. Whether drama fatigue has set in at this point, I’m not exactly sure. However, the Republican establishment’s “baseline normal” has significantly shifted to accommodate Trump’s increasingly abnormal behavior just to get what they want. And since they control all 3 branches of the federal government, the country has to live with it for the time being.)

18. Gaslighting– A sociopath may say or do things before blatantly denying those things ever took place. In essence, they reinvent history and blame you for “misinterpreting” them. Their gaslighting clouds your sense of reality that you soon doubt yourself. Thus, you become more vulnerable to their manipulation. (Donald Trump has been gaslighting America on a regular basis since 2015. He peddles conspiracy theories. He’s denied telling some of his own lies. Thankfully, he’s not always successful thanks to video cameras catching him in the act. But he has the right-wing media to convince his supporters to take him at his word.)

19. Polarized Reputation– Sociopaths love to turn people against each other, especially if it results in a fight over them. By turning you against people you might otherwise get along with, you start thinking in extremes. Once your thinking slips from gray to black and white, sociopaths are able to paint “enemies” as good guys and bad guys. This keeps their victims divided and distracted. Sociopaths don’t want people to like or get along with each other and will try to “divide and conquer.” (Donald Trump is very polarizing figure who never misses an opportunity to inflict his appalling racism, conspiracy theories, or inflammatory rhetoric to fuel hyper partisan political polarization. His attacks on the national anthem protests are a prime example of this. So, Democrats, even if reaching out to Trump voters gets you nowhere, you should probably make some concerted effort to do so as a way to resist him.)

20. Intentionally Provokes Reactions– Sociopaths intentionally provoke reactions in you and then blame you for reacting. Causing you to become “hysterical” or to act “crazy,” enables them to write you off as an unstable loon or worse. And they’ll do this by preying on people’s suspicions, insecurities and resentments. They’ll often play the victim after provoking you, shifting people’s focus on you, and away from their behavior. They will turn people against each other if it works in their behavior even if it means destroying families, friendships, relationships, marriages, and entire communities. A good example in this is Iago engineering brawls to ensure Cassio’s ruin and preying on Othello’s insecurities by alleging that his wife is cheating on him. Nevertheless, Shakespeare’s Othello is a perfect example of how sociopaths can bring out the absolute worst in the people around them and ruin their lives. Everything a sociopath touches will go to shit. (Donald Trump does this all the time whenever there’s a negative story about him in order to deflect or distract people from more serious matters. Hell, he became president through tapping into white people’s racial resentment and xenophobia. His tendency to provoke reactions from people is dividing the country and undermining American democracy as we speak. Like Iago, Trump’s provocations will only divide us further and eventually destroy us all.)

21. Parasitic Lifestyle– Sociopaths really can’t see the point of working hard for long hours and little pay. There are far easier ways for them to get things for free. Often they’ll see their romantic partners as their career option. As Dating a Sociopath notes, “He will give glib promises, of how he will repay you, how special you are. You are made to feel like he is doing you a huge favor. He tells lies, so that you think that he isn’t just some deadbeat loser. He will talk of business plans, or a great career, and that maybe he is just temporarily down on his luck. But he sells you a good, honest moralistic man, with great prospects (it is all a lie).” Cary Grant’s performance in Suspicion offers a perfect example of this. Sociopaths love getting anything for free. They see it as “winning” and it makes them feel good for 2 reasons. First, it shows how stupid people are (and therefore, how clever they are to fool them). Second, it enables them to have the very best in life, with very little stress, effort, responsibility, or commitment. By the way, all sociopaths do this even those who work. You can even include high functioning sociopaths like certain politicians who put in false claims for expenses and live off a great life at the taxpayers’ bill. (Despite claiming to be a successful businessman, Donald Trump has often sought plenty of government funds to build his projects for decades. Even when the money was certainly meant for someone else like small businesses in New York City after 9/11. He has profited from his own presidential campaign. As president, he’s all too happy to spend his weekends at his resorts profiting off his Secret Service protection on the taxpayers’ dime.)

22. Is Very Dramatic– Sociopaths are always dramatic. In fact, they love drama and are drawn to it like magnets. They tell big stories filled with manipulation and deceit. They appear as larger than life characters who are always charming with a story to tell. They love to be the center of attention. They don’t mind having dramas or whoever has to put up with them because they simply don’t care. You often find sociopaths either dramatically telling lies, manipulating, deceiving, being dramatic victims, or dramatically pleading that they’ll change. Whatever they do, they’ll always appear larger than life. And if there isn’t any drama, they will create some. (Donald Trump thrives on drama as anyone could see on the news or on his Twitter feed. He always has to peddle conspiracy theories pertaining to his critics and opponents.)

23. Immaturity– Sociopaths are typically immature since they can’t learn from their past, keep repeating the same mistakes. Thus, they are unable to grow up and act in a more mature way that has respect for other people. Sociopaths don’t care for the rights of others. But they may pretend to act responsible and caring if it gets them what they want. Like a bratty teen, sociopaths are demanding and very selfish. They only think about their own needs and think the entire world revolves around them. Thus, a sociopath will never put other people’s needs before their own. (Donald Trump acts incredibly immature and never learns from his mistakes. He always thinks the world revolves around him and will only act nice if it gives him what he wants. He may seem like he cares about his supporters or the United States. But though he may demand loyalty from those below him, don’t expect him to give it in return. Trump is a very selfish man who sees nothing wrong with abusing his power to get what he wants even if it means destroying people’s lives, undermining the democratic process, or emboldening white supremacists. And he is certainly abusing his presidential office to personally enrich himself.)

24. Has No Realistic Long-Term Goals– Sociopaths don’t make long term goals like everybody else since they’re so busy lying, cheating, manipulating, and scamming. Unless given an easy route to working, many think work is beneath them and treat it with contempt. Sociopaths who work can rarely hold down a job for too long as they don’t like routine or being told what to do. And often they lose their jobs or have a history of trouble in the workplace. It’s not that they don’t work hard, they do but only in scamming and cheating others for themselves. And because sociopaths are so consumed in the present drama, what’s going on the next few months doesn’t seem important. They’ll lie today and not think how it will affect them in the future. (Donald Trump doesn’t really plan ahead or think about the destructive long-term implications of his actions. As long as it gives him immediate gratification or benefit, that’s all that matters to him. He also detests being told what to do.)

25. Jealousy and Paranoia– Sociopaths are extremely jealous and paranoid. They’ll accuse you of things you haven’t done (that they often have done). And you’ll feel you often have to constantly defend yourself against false accusations. They also stalk their principal targets as well as suspect other people of being as manipulative, deceitful, and unscrupulous as themselves. They will check on their partners and keep track of where they are and who they’re with. If their significant other speaks to someone of the opposite sex, then the sociopath will ask several questions on how they know that person. If their victims don’t answer their calls, they’ll ask where they were, what they were doing, who they were talking to, etc. (Donald Trump has displayed some degree of paranoia and jealousy, especially towards Barack Obama. Trump sees Obama beneath him being the kind of racist he is {I mean he once alleged he wasn’t born in the US for years}. He can’t stand the idea that Obama is a far more loved and respected than he ever could be. So much so that he’ll try to destroy Obama’s presidential legacy out of spite. As for paranoia, well, he certainly thinks the mainstream media has it out for him.)

26. Always Blames Someone Else for Their Transgressions – Since they completely lack remorse, guilt, or shame and will never admit to their wrongdoings if caught. Instead, they will blame someone else for their actions or ignore their victims and their pain before moving on. They may experience a sociopathic, narcissistic meltdown which will make you see signs of insanity. But they will not care how you feel. Because a sociopath feels they’re never to blame, everything is someone else’s fault. (Donald Trump will always blame the news media for making up stories about him whenever they portray him in a negative light. He’ll blame Republicans for failing to pass policy that he endorsed. He’ll blame Democrats for conspiring against him. He’ll even blame his victims for getting into their terrible situations in the first place. But he’ll never own up to his mistakes or take responsibility for his actions.)

27. Unpredictability– Sociopaths can seem to change their entire personality depending on the situation. In fact, they may like a lot of change in their atmosphere which might include changing team members, jobs, opinions and relationships. They can dramatically shift from friendly neighbor to cold, dispassionate stranger. Sociopaths can alter who they seemingly are to get what they apparently want given on how well they believe that specific mask will benefit them at the time. (Donald Trump often adapts the kind of personality that will most help him at some moments, particularly when he’s on his best behavior with dignitaries.)

28. Public Contempt for Social Inferiors– A sociopath views everyone beneath them. But there are some people who they view as more inferior than others. In fact, a sociopath might see these people as so beneath them that they don’t even bother to hide their true selves to them. Normally, these public targets are poor people, ethnic minorities, those in the LGBT community, or people with disabilities, many of whom the rest of society doesn’t think much of. And if it helps him, he’ll use that bigotry to tap into people’s resentment and get what he wants. A good example of this would be a seemingly charming and likeable guy you meet at a restaurant for a date. He may seem nice talking to you. But if he epically flips out at the waiter for whatever reason, then that’s a clear red flag he’s not a good guy. Yet, since you’re receptive to his superficial charm, you might just ignore it. After all, you really like the guy who seems to have a lot in common with you. And perhaps maybe that waiter didn’t give you adequate service. Sure he might be all charm to sweep you off your feet. But if he treats that waiter like garbage, chances are he will treat you like shit somewhere down the line, too. And maybe worse. Besides, if he’s willing to inflict harm on marginalized groups, chances are he’ll put you through hell, too. (Donald Trump often talks crap on undocumented immigrants, Muslims, blacks, and other groups of people he doesn’t like. His supporters love it since his hateful screeds seem to resonate with them, while tapping into the vast reservoir of white racial resentment won him the White House. However, it’s very clear that he doesn’t think much of his supporters’ real needs and will only appeal to his base with racist screeds so he could exploit their anger and bigotry. Yet, he’ll support plutocratic policies that the GOP establishment and their donors want because that’s who’s giving him money.)

29. Isn’t Nice to the Waiter– You can tell a lot about how a person will behave in the future by how they treat others who aren’t immediately useful to them. Those who are uncaring and unethical to others will most likely also be that way to you when you no longer serve their interests. In a romantic relationship during the dating phase, the sociopath will treat a waitstaff or any other neutral person of the opposite sex the way they’ll treat you in the next 6 months. They may treat you like a prize in the honeymoon phase. But even during that time, the sociopath hasn’t forgotten how they feel actually feel about the opposite sex. They will treat waitstaff, clerks, and other neutral individuals badly. If they’re cheap, you’ll never receive anything once the honeymoon’s over. If they whine, complain, criticize, and torment, they’ll do the same to you come 6 months later. They lack consistency in their “good” behavior because for them “goodness” is only a façade. How they treat people has strictly to do with that person’s perceived use value. When people are useful to the sociopath, they will treat them (superficially) well. When they aren’t, they ignore and mistreat them. (Donald Trump is only nice to people who are useful to him and can give them what he wants. When he feels their association doesn’t benefit him, he will drop them with a drop of a hat. In fact, he will distance himself from them, pretending they weren’t very significant or denying that he knew them at all.)

30. Shows a Pattern of Misbehavior– Though we may all have road rage or fantasize about being a famous movie star or inventor, that will only happen to us once in awhile. With a sociopath, these things happen over and over again. Sociopathy is a personality disorder that manifests at work, school, with friends, while they’re young, during adolescence, and in adulthood. Unless you observe that jerk at the office in all aspects of their lives, it’s impossible to see if their attitude just might be an ill temper at work or signs of a darker issue. Sociopaths may learn how to adapt but they can never change and see no reason to. (Though since Donald Trump is a public figure, we can observe him in all aspects of work. And whenever he’s in a position of authority, he’s consistently abused his power whether he’s head of the Trump Organization or in the White House. Just look at his articles the media has written about him. You’ll find he’s basically the same person now as he was then.)

31. Plays the Victim– Sociopaths are experts at manipulating emotions and insecurities into causing you to view them as the victim. This helps lowers your guard and makes you vulnerable to future exploitation. Because when we feel sorry for someone, we can easily excuse their transgressions. Sociopaths use this manipulation tactic precisely for this reason since it lets them off the hook for egregious behavior they’ve engaged in for selfish reasons. If a person’s victim mentality is continually combined with unacceptable and evil actions, you should be wary of their real nature. Think Eric Cartman in South Park. (Donald Trump does this all the time to his supporters whenever the media reports anything negative about him. He will often try to discredit them as “fake news” who work for the liberal agenda. Even though reporting negative stuff about him just happens to be part of the mainstream media’s freaking job.)

32. Is All Take and No Give– Sociopaths are selfish people who seek constant attention and adoration, even from total strangers. If you’re in a relationship with a sociopath, your wants and desires will take a backseat, particularly after the honeymoon’s over. Your basic boundaries will not be respected. But there will be absolutely no tolerance for the reverse. Partners of sociopaths often find that when they engage in normal inquiries regarding their absence or requests to discontinue their rudeness and aggression in which the sociopath lashes out. And since they have very little tolerance for a secondary position, sociopaths will tread boundaries in most of their relationships, including professional ones. They may refer to their doctor or attorney by their first name because they want to remove any possible power differential they feel between themselves and others. (Donald Trump is a phenomenally selfish individual who has no respect for people’s needs or constitutional rights. But at the same time, he’s very secretive about his finances, particularly his tax returns. Then there’s the fact he holds rallies and has to have people shower him with praise.)

33. Exhibits Poor Self-Control– Since they live in the present, sociopaths can’t easily refrain from acting on an urge. They can’t contain their anger if provoked. They can’t resist temptation even if it pertains to skipping an immediate reward for a larger one later. They may act threatened, annoyed, and angry in normal encounters or everyday situations. And they exhibit difficulties controlling their own emotions which can lead to mood swings or irrational behavior. With a sociopath, you’ll often see irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, verbal abuse, inadequate anger and temper control, and acting hastily. (Nothing shows Donald Trump’s poor self-control like his response to the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville or his inflammatory Twitter rants.)

34. Has a Strange Network of Enablers– Though a sociopath may not have many real friends, they do have allies who vouch for them. These can range from “consultants,” to skilled workers, to enabling co-dependents who back them up whenever they want to go after their targets. Many of the support people may have their own share of psychological problems, ulterior motives, or just like what the sociopath says. But all will be sycophants in one way or another while some may even be sociopaths themselves. (Though unpopular, Donald Trump has plenty of people who support him that they will swear by every word he says and excuse every horrible thing he does. This includes the Republican Party establishment, conservative media, and nearly a third of American voters, especially if they’re white. Not to mention, many of his close associates are also horrible people while some of his most ardent supporters are white nationalists willing to commit violent acts in his name.)

35. Flagrant Hypocrisy– Sociopaths have extremely high expectations for fidelity, respect, and adoration. But once they win you over, they will give none of this back to you. They will lie, cheat, insult, and degrade you. But you will have to remain perfect despite all the shit they make you put up with. (Donald Trump will expect people to be absolutely loyal to him under all circumstances. But once someone is no longer useful to him or gets into some kind of trouble, he’ll stab them in the back with a drop of a hat. Oh, and despite seeing no qualms to his associates using private e-mail servers for their jobs, he absolutely crucified Hillary Clinton over her e-mail habits in 2016.)

36. Sadistic Sense of Humor– Sociopaths find humor in things most people find unlawful or disgusting. While it might not seem strange at first, it evolves over time and becomes creepy or disgusting. (I’m not sure if Donald Trump has a sense of humor. But he seems to take a casual attitude toward sexual assault and nuclear annihilation. Then there is how he talks about Ivanka which is just absolutely creepy.)

37. Has an Inflated Sense of Entitlement– Sociopaths feel entitled to act the way they do. If someone slights them, they feel they have a right to retaliate. If someone fails them or if anyone says anything bad about them, they feel entitled to revenge. Or if they do something nice for you, they feel entitled to a reward. And if you don’t give them what they want, they’re entitled to punish you. Laws, ethics, and other people’s feelings don’t matter to them. Furthermore, winning is extremely important to sociopaths and typically don’t accept being in a lesser situation, regardless of how small the situation. (Donald Trump feels entitled to act the way he does. And he’ll often retaliate if someone doesn’t do what he wants or says anything terrible about him. Even if it’s just the news media trying to do their job. If he sees anyone not lavishing him with praises, he’ll certainly lash out at them. Also, he really hates to lose.)

38. Isolates Willing Victims– In nature predators isolate their prey from the rest of the herd to better attack and devour it. And that’s what sociopaths do to their targets. They isolate their partners from their friends, colleagues, and families. Sometimes it might be through overt criticism or following them around when they meet with others. Sometimes it could be through more subtle manipulation such as by covertly turning the victim against their own family and friends (and vice versa). Because sociopaths feels that their partner’s support system might influence them or offer negative opinions about their behavior. Eventually rather than face verbal punishment, interrogation, and abuse, the victim will develop the feeling that it’s better not to talk to family and friends and will withdraw from them. Yet, they also not only just isolate their partners from other people, but also narrow the range of their interests and activities. This leads their significant others to focus exclusively on them. They may give their partners money and gifts, not out of real generosity but to keep them financially and emotionally dependent on them. They may discourage their partner from working outside the home or possibly follow them everywhere to see if they’re seeing anyone of the opposite sex. This puts their partners on edge about any kind of activity or pursuit external to their relationship. (Donald Trump has done this from his supporters in regards to the mainstream media which he calls “fake news” since they report negative stories about him. Yet, he’s also broken up families, friendships, and the like.)

39. Massive Control Freak– Sociopaths need to maintain control of everything in their lives, particularly in romantic relationships. When they get bored with one partner or find a replacement, they will leave them on the spur of the moment, heartlessly and often without bothering an explanation. But they get very angry when the tables are turned and their partners leave them. Sociopaths will put down their partners not only in private, but also in public to embarrass and isolate them. Sociopaths can’t tolerate any real assertion of independence from others. They are so self-involved and self-worshipping that they think their own beliefs and opinions are absolute authority and consider others’ feelings and opinions as worthless. In the workplace, the sociopathic boss will be the tyrant who’s surrounded by sycophants and makes their employees’ lives hell. (Like anyone with authoritarian tendencies, Donald Trump is a massive control freak who has to maintain control in everything in his life, especially when it comes to his businesses and public image. Trump has attacked even fellow Republicans who speak out against him. Using dominance or intimidation to control others shows up time and time again in Trump’s history. He’s attempted to silence not just the media, but also protestors at his rallies where he’s implied support for violent retaliation and publicly suggested he’d pay legal fees for one assault subject.)

40. Has a Very Shady History– It’s said that the best indicator to predict future behavior is past behavior. There may be exceptions to this general principle since some people can improve their behavior and character with genuine and consistent effort. However, a sociopath can never be one of these people. If a man cheated on every wife he’s been with, it’s very likely he’ll cheat on the next one. Obviously the problem isn’t any of the women he’s with, but his underlying lack of character. Similarly if he’s abused previous partners, he’s very likely to abuse the next one as well. Not to mention, since sociopaths don’t see anything wrong with their harmful behavior, they’re likely to boast about it. They may tell stories of violence, aggression, being insensitive to others, rejecting others, etc… They may brag about their temper and outbursts because they don’t see anything wrong with violence and actually take pride in the “I didn’t take nothing from nobody” attitude. Best to listen to these stories since they tell you how you’ll eventually be treated and what’s coming your way. (Donald Trump’s past contains a decades long history of mindboggling corruption and abuse of power. If he abused his power to enrich himself as a businessman, then nobody should be surprised how he’s abusing his power as president. Look at his history on my blog and you’ll find unbelievable tales of corruption the world has never seen before. Believe me, did a whole post of it during the 2016 campaign. The epic tales of deceit are absolutely staggering. Trump writes off the media as “fake news” for reporting negative stories about him {which are very important to know about}, not because the media has it in for him {though I wouldn’t blame them if they did}. But because the media’s covered him for decades and knows exactly who he is. So, whenever the mainstream media reports a story casting Trump in a negative light, believe the media. For the love of God, believe them for at least they have a better track record at telling the truth than Donald Trump.)

41. Jekyll and Hyde Personality– Sociopaths are often described as two-faced. The Jekyll side is a mask they use to attract, fool, and use others. The Hyde side represents their true identity which becomes increasingly dominant over time. To buddies, a sociopath may appear easy-going, nice person. But that’s because the buddies only see one side of them, the jovial side the sociopath wanted them to see. To spouses and families or rather anyone who’s had intimate contact with them, the sociopath exposes another, much more menacing side of their personality. They may be occasionally nice to keep their partners from straying, but they will revert back to their mean, nasty selves in only a matter of time. And over time, that meanness will escalate in severity and duration while the “nice” moments become increasingly few. (When Donald Trump acts presidential, it’s just a mask and it won’t stay on for long. Because he’s a very volatile man who cares for nobody but himself and lashes out whenever he doesn’t get his way.)

42. Secretiveness– Sociopaths reveal little about themselves though they talk incessantly about various subjects. Their partners aren’t likely to meet someone important in their past or witness the sociopath’s family members visit or interact with them in any meaningful way. Some sociopaths conceal a significant portion of their lives for fear they may expose their dark past. They don’t like exposure and usually ask their lovers not to share too much about them. (Though he brands himself as incredibly rich, Donald Trump keeps his true wealth secret such as his tax returns he still hasn’t released. However, as a public figure, his past is very well known thanks to the media reporting on him for decades. Not to mention, Trump’s White House has been notoriously less transparent than previous administrations. When the facts make him look bad, Trump absolutely hates transparency and tries to discredit the media like some asshole boyfriend attempting pass his ex-girlfriend as a crazy bitch.)

43. Has a History of Financial or Occupational Instability– Sociopaths often can’t keep jobs or uphold financial commitments. Their sense of entitlement leads them to dismiss work rules like arriving on time, staying awake, or not stealing. Moreover, the reason for their termination includes insubordination since they have no respect for people with control over them, including bosses. (Donald Trump may not have occupational instability due to being born into wealth with connections. But many of the financial records we do know about don’t give us a good impression on his money managing abilities. Besides, he’s experienced bankruptcy 4 freaking times as well as multiple business failures over the years. Not to mention, his reputation for failing to repay debts was so notorious that Wall Street banks stopped lending money to him. He may brand himself as a successful businessman, but his personal and business suggests he’s a complete fraud.)

44. Lacks Basic Social Skills Despite Charm– A most jarring and easily noticeable sign of a sociopath’s behavior is a lack of basic conduct rules. Sure they may be quite social. But their lack of empty they don’t understand how to treat other people with the basics of human kindness, fairness, and respect. (Donald Trump’s conduct to Gold Star families and hurricane victims in Puerto Rico certainly illustrate how he can’t even comfort people who’ve experienced terrible tragedy.)

45. The Predatory Stare– Sociopaths have no problem maintaining uninterrupted eye contact. Failure to politely look away could be perceived as being seductive or aggressive, which can make a non-sociopath uncomfortable. There is some evidence that people experience unnerving physical sensations when present with a sociopath. They can come up close as they focus their gaze onto you. Their body language can give little space for breath. Sometimes a sociopath can look at you like you’re their next lunch. This stare may seem flattering at first but later can feel suffocating. (Donald Trump’s dinner with James Comey is a perfect example of this. Comey testified he didn’t feel comfortable alone with the guy. This coming from a man who’s 6’8.” Also note how he was standing over Hillary Clinton during the town hall debate during the 2016 campaign. When you see him, he appears to have some crazed look in eyes like a monster.)

46. Stays Eerily Calm in Spite of Circumstances– Sociopaths don’t register events the same way as non-sociopaths and may barely react in dangerous and scary situations. And they can experience highly emotional events without feeling any emotion. Studies show that sociopaths don’t demonstrate anxiety when shown images that would disturb others or when expecting to receive small electrical shocks. Meanwhile, non-sociopaths certainly register fear and anxiety in these situations. (Donald Trump doesn’t seem very anxious when it comes to scary hurricanes, white supremacist violence, and a nuclear war with North Korea.)

47. Engages in Risky Behavior at Theirs or Others’ Expense– Sociopaths engage in dangerous, risky, and self-damaging activities, unnecessarily and without regard to the consequences. They’re prone to boredom and thoughtlessly initiate activities in order to counter it. And they lack concern for their limitations and deny the reality of personal danger. (Running and becoming president aside, Donald Trump has made risky business moves for decades which resulted in so many disasters, which characterize his risk-taking abilities quite well. He could burn everything to the ground and won’t care who has to be burned in the process.)

48. Displays Authoritarian Tendencies– Sociopaths see themselves as a necessary authority and are in favor of totalitarian rule. Put them in a leadership position and they will run their charge like tyrant. They will abuse their power to their personal ends and at their underlings’ expense. They will promote sycophants to high power positions. And they will go to great lengths to quench anyone who’d hold them accountable. It’s little wonder that many of the world’s authoritarian dictators display sociopathic tendencies. (Donald Trump has difficulty getting along with senior advisers and is swift to fire those who don’t agree with him. He often makes egotistical comments such as boasting how he knows more about ISIS than the generals. He uses intimidation and fearmongering tactics to verbally attack federal judges, the FBI, the CIA, and US generals. He feels a menacing sense of confidence thinking he can alienate government experts and run the country primarily on family members’ advice. He daily attacks the media for reporting stories he doesn’t like and even threatened to deny NBC News a broadcasting license. In September, he took on the NFL in an attempt to suppress the players’ constitutional right to free speech. These are the actions of dictators, not presidents.)

49. Impulsivity– Because they lack regret and empathy, sociopaths act on the spur of the moment in response to immediate stimuli and on a momentary basis without a plan or consideration of outcomes. They have difficulty establishing and following plans. And they don’t think things through. (Donald Trump delivers immediate vicious attacks on those who criticize him. He often undermines high-level specialists by speaking without knowing the facts. And he’s shared juvenile anti-media cartoons on Twitter exhibiting an impulsive nature unbefitting of a president.)

50. Cold-Calculating Manipulation– Sociopaths have the ability and willingness to use others around them for personal gain. They will frequently use subterfuge to influence and control others through seduction, charm, glibness, or ingratiation to achieve their own ends. (Donald Trump has hundreds of lawsuits against him met with his high-priced battery of attorneys that leaves little chance for plaintiffs to prevail. In the 2016 campaign, he likely relied on his personnel to surreptitiously deal with Russian operatives. He will say or do anything to retain support of his base and generally uses Twitter to chastise and divide, rarely posting uplifting words save when praising himself.)