Let’s talk about sociopaths

Hopefully looking somewhat less bedraggled than during last night’s live muffin tutorial, if on a subject less sweet: sociopaths - the charming ones, the murderous ones - and those with other personality disorders that, based on experience and comments in the scroll, many many of us deal with. Some tips, some solace, some links. Questions/comments, fire away - you people are so quiet over here!

Related matter:

The Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout

Destination Gacy: A Cross-Country Trip to Shake the Devil’s Hand, by Nancy Rommelmann

To the Bridge: A True Story of Motherhood and Murder, by Nancy Rommelmann

Trinity (l.) and Eldon (r.) were dropped by their mother Amanda Stott-Smith from a Portland, Oregon bridge in 2009. Trinity saved her own life by screaming for 40 minutes until a couple living on a floating home motored out and saved her. They also found Eldon, who had drowned. Their half-brother Gavin (c.) had declined to go with their mother to pick up his siblings that night. I wrote about how this happened in “To the Bridge,” and about the charming sociopath in this story, who was not Amanda.

“Sacrificing Rebecca: For 14 years, Laurie Recht struggled with her daughter's illness. At least, that's what she wanted people to believe,” by Nancy Rommelmann (Willamette Week)

“No Exit Plan: The Lies and Follies of Laura Albert, a.k.a. JT LeRoy,” by Nancy Rommelmann (LA Weekly)

10: Fabulists!