So a sociopath can still feel emotions for certain people?

[Anonymous]

I just realized I might have some sociopathic traits. When I got back with an ex boyfriend from the past in 2018, it was originally a set-up. This was talked about between my parents and I. My parents didn't like him at all; they just wanted a grandchild. I didn't get back with him out of love and missing him. I made him believe that was the reason and faked apologies for dumping him in the past, then friendzoning him.

However, the plan backfired. I developed emotions/feelings (my weakness); that wasn't suppose to happen. In the end he used that against me and played me so well that he owes me money. Here is the twist to the story: I just learned he's really a scamming psychopath. So basically a moderate sociopath got played by a calculating psychopath.

Even though I've been diagnosed with certain sociopathic traits, I've noticed that I still can feel for certain people and still have a soft side with many animals (they aren't my target, I still see them as innocent creatures). Though I've used people in the past too without regrets nor remorse, but at a lesser scale. So sociopaths can still feel?

Updates

+1 y

I have cheated on someone I didn't care too much and have no remorse for it. I've stolen from an acquaintance and don't feel bad. However, I never played with my own blood nor my close friend or if I started developing feelings I won't play you anymore. I have a small group of people I care about.

[Anonymous]

What you experienced may well have been a narcissist rather than a psychopath.

Im not sure that psychopaths are particularly good at manipulating people, they dont understand feelings well because they dont have them.

Narcissists however are expert manipulators, that is their bread and butter.

[Asker]

The shocking part is during the break-up, he admitted he knew about the set-up and that I then fell for him. He knew developing feelings was my weakness. He claimed to always have been several steps ahead of me (he just made me believe otherwise) and that called me an amateur 2/10 user. He said that me trying to set him up is the equivalent of a kid learning how to steal trying to steal from an experienced, old thief.

[Asker]

Yeah I was my parents and I were trying trap him, make him fall for me and get a child out of him. Then it became real feelings. I wanted to be with him and have a kid for real and he played me. Shocking twist isn't it?

[Opinion Owner]

pm me?

[MCheetah]

Of course sociopaths can.

[Asker]

Then I'm not that cruel. When I got played I'll admit to being very furious. I threw a tantrum and broke all his gifts he gave me and threw our picture frame. As sociopath, we can get somewhat impulsive and irritated when anger, esp if someone outsmarted us.

[MCheetah]

I usually wouldn't admit this, but I am one (or may possibly be one). We don't "get angry" in that regard. We are known for being mostly emotionless and not feeling empathy towards others. If someone hurts us, we don't let it be known right away. We do quiet, calculated revenge. Like Cartman from South Park getting Scott Tenerman to eat his own parents.

You are not a sociopath. You're just a woman. Sociopaths remain calm and will spend months or years plotting to destroy someone's life with zero remorse. That's why so many people get us confused with "evil" people.

[Asker]

If I'm not a sociopath then how come a psychologist once said I had a couple sociopathic traits when I was 16? How come I had no remorse when I cheated on a couple bfs and still don't feel bad about them? How come I felt no remorse when stealing and using some people in the past and still don't feel bad? I think there must be some sociopathic traits there.

[MCheetah]

Having traits of one doesn't mean you are one. I have all the background traits to be a serial killer; it doesn't mean I am one or that I'm going to become one. I just had a f*cked up childhood.

As for you doing those bad things, I think you just need to work on yourself and figure out why you hurt people the way you do.

[Asker]

Having a bad childhood can indeed affect one's mindset. At least you have a reason why you got those traits.
There was no abuse nor anything horrible in childhood. In fact I'm an only child and used to be spoiled a lot by my parents. They gave me love and everything I ever wanted.

[Asker]

Ex: When I was 5 I threw a tantrum because I wanted another dress and shoes. My father ended up buying it so I would stop crying and screaming.