Sociopath: A Memoir

Patric applies to UCLA as her father lives in Los Angeles, and she believes she can achieve “invisibility” in the city. Despite loving her mother and sister, she feels the need to distance herself from them. Patric is concerned by her failure to hide her true nature from Harlowe. This was illustrated when Harlowe drew her older sister as a female superhero named Captain Apathy. The caption read, “Never fear! […] Captain Apathy doesn’t care!” (89). Harlowe intended the picture to be a tribute to the characteristics she admired in Patric. However, the incident made Patric worry that she might adversely influence her wholesome younger sister.

At UCLA, Patric enjoys her psychology classes with Dr. Slack. She gains a greater understanding of herself, learning about disorders that involve an insufficient or excessive emotional response. Patric discovers that apathy is characteristic of several anti-social disorders, including sociopathy. Dr. Slack explains that sociopaths process emotion in a different way from the norm, lacking empathy, compassion, and feelings of guilt. An absence of emotion drives sociopaths to destructive or violent behavior in a subconscious effort to feel something. Patric identifies with these traits and is relieved to know there are other people like her.