List attributes of sociopaths. Is their a name for the people that follow them, what are their attributes? Do sociopaths follow and admire other sociopaths in organizations?
1. Attributes of Sociopaths
“Sociopath” is an informal term for Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) as described in the DSM-5. Sociopaths show a persistent pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others.
Key attributes often include:
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Superficial charm and charisma — can appear confident, likable, or persuasive.
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Manipulativeness — skilled at using others for personal gain.
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Pathological lying — habitual deception, often without remorse.
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Lack of empathy — disregard for others’ feelings or suffering.
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Shallow emotions — emotional reactions are often feigned or fleeting.
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Impulsivity — acts without forethought or concern for consequences.
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Lack of guilt or remorse — rationalizes harm to others.
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Need for control and dominance — thrives on power over others.
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Blame-shifting — never accepts fault; others are always responsible.
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Violation of social norms — willing to break rules or laws.
2. People Who Follow or Enable Sociopaths
There’s not one single term, but several concepts apply depending on context. These people can be:
a. Enablers or Apologists
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Often excuse, defend, or minimize the sociopath’s behavior.
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Motivated by fear, loyalty, dependency, or self-interest.
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May internalize the sociopath’s worldview (“us vs. them”).
b. Flying Monkeys (term from narcissistic abuse psychology)
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Act as agents or messengers for the sociopath.
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Spread their narratives, enforce their control, or attack critics.
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Often unaware they’re being manipulated; others knowingly participate for favor or protection.
c. Co-dependents
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Emotionally reliant on the sociopath for validation or stability.
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Try to “fix” or please them, even at personal cost.
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Often drawn in by the sociopath’s initial charm or authority.
d. Opportunists
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See alignment with the sociopath as a way to gain power, money, or protection.
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Exhibit lesser degrees of empathy suppression themselves.
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May become sociopathic in practice, even if not clinically so.
3. Do Sociopaths Follow and Admire Other Sociopaths?
Sometimes — but with caution and competition.
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Yes, temporarily:
Sociopaths may ally with others who share their disregard for ethics, especially when mutual benefit exists (e.g., in crime, politics, or corporate power). They might admire another’s cunning, ruthlessness, or success. -
But alliances rarely last:
Since both lack empathy and trust, cooperation often devolves into rivalry, betrayal, or power struggles.
Their admiration is instrumental — they respect the other’s utility or power, not their personhood. -
In organizations:
Sociopaths can gravitate toward each other in hierarchical or high-stakes environments (e.g., politics, finance, large corporations), creating toxic cultures that reward manipulation.
However, each typically views others as competition, not equals.
4. Organizational Dynamics
In workplaces, this can manifest as:
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Toxic leadership: sociopathic leaders who charm upward and abuse downward.
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Cult-like loyalty among followers who seek protection or advancement.
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Moral disengagement: the group normalizes unethical behavior because “everyone’s doing it.”
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Fear-based control: dissenters are punished, and conformity is rewarded.
Flying Monkeys
The term “flying monkeys” comes from The Wizard of Oz (the Wicked Witch’s winged servants) and is used in psychology and abuse dynamics to describe people who act on behalf of a manipulative or abusive person, often unknowingly.
Here’s how it applies, especially in sociopathic or narcissistic systems:
Definition
Flying monkeys are individuals who:
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Carry out a sociopath’s or narcissist’s bidding.
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Defend them publicly or privately.
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Attack or discredit the victim or opposition.
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Spread the sociopath’s version of reality (smear campaigns, gossip, misinformation).
They serve as extensions of the manipulator’s control.
How Sociopaths Use Flying Monkeys
Sociopaths are strategic — they know their credibility can be questioned, so they recruit others to:
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Enforce their narrative (“They’re lying about me!”).
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Do their dirty work (harass, ostracize, intimidate).
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Isolate the target (make them seem crazy or disloyal).
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Maintain their image (they appear charming and innocent while others attack).
This allows the sociopath to remain “clean-handed” — the flying monkeys absorb the blame.
Who Becomes a Flying Monkey
Flying monkeys are often:
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Well-meaning but naïve — they believe the sociopath’s story and think they’re helping.
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Dependent — financially, emotionally, or socially tied to the sociopath.
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Ambitious or self-interested — they side with power to gain favor.
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Fearful — they comply to avoid becoming the next target.
Their Attributes
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Easily influenced or flattered.
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Lack of critical thinking about the manipulator’s motives.
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Need to belong or be valued.
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Low empathy for the manipulator’s targets.
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Tendency to conform or obey authority figures.
Why It Works
Sociopaths often build “triangles”:
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The sociopath (the source of control),
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The target (who is undermined or punished), and
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The flying monkeys (who carry out enforcement).
This triangulation keeps everyone distracted and fighting, while the sociopath remains central and powerful.
Toxic organizational psychology
Let’s break down how the “flying monkey system” typically operates inside an organization (corporate, governmental, academic, or nonprofit).
The Sociopathic Organization Structure
Think of it as a three-tier pyramid:
1. The Sociopath (Top Tier – The Manipulative Leader)
Core traits:
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Charismatic and persuasive — presents as visionary or indispensable.
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Seeks power, not purpose — rules through fear, charm, and control.
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Lies easily and strategically.
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Has favorites and enemies; loyalty is prized above competence.
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Shows no empathy, takes no responsibility.
Typical role in a workplace:
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May be the executive, director, principal, or manager.
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Creates chaos, then positions themselves as the “fixer.”
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Undermines ethical or competent peers who threaten them.
2. The Flying Monkeys (Middle Tier – Enforcers and Echoes)
These are the extensions of the sociopath’s will. They maintain control and enforce loyalty.
Roles within this tier:
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The Loyal Lieutenant: Believes in the leader’s narrative, often parrots their opinions.
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The Gossip: Spreads the sociopath’s spin to discredit dissenters.
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The Gatekeeper: Controls access to information or the leader.
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The Attack Dog: Harasses or isolates targets who challenge the leader.
Why they do it:
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Seek protection, advancement, or attention.
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Fear losing their position or favor.
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Enjoy proximity to perceived power.
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May even adopt sociopathic tactics themselves.
Their behaviors:
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Defend unethical actions (“You just don’t understand how leadership works”).
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Participate in character assassination or rumor-spreading.
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Enforce “group think” and punish dissent.
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Report “troublemakers” to maintain their own standing.
3. The Targets (Bottom Tier – The Controlled or Expendable)
These are the employees, students, or members who:
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Question unethical practices.
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Perform well but don’t play political games.
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Threaten the sociopath’s image or control.
What happens to them:
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They’re marginalized, gaslighted, or falsely accused.
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Their credibility is quietly undermined.
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They often leave, are pushed out, or burn out.
How the System Sustains Itself
| Mechanism | Description |
|---|---|
| Triangulation | The leader pits people against one another, ensuring loyalty through conflict and mistrust. |
| Information control | The sociopath manipulates the flow of information — exaggerating, omitting, or lying. |
| Reward and punishment | Loyalty is rewarded (promotions, praise), dissent is punished (exclusion, demotion). |
| Gaslighting | Targets are made to question their perception of reality (“That never happened,” “You’re overreacting”). |
| Moral inversion | Ethical behavior is reframed as weakness; manipulation is reframed as savvy leadership. |
Endgame of the System
If unchecked, such a system:
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Drives out ethical and competent staff.
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Concentrates power in a small loyal circle.
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Creates a climate of fear and silence.
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Often collapses from internal corruption or exposure — but not before doing significant harm.
How It Ends or Gets Exposed
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Whistleblowers emerge (often at great personal cost).
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External audits, investigations, or leadership changes reveal patterns of manipulation.
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Reputation or performance crises make the sociopath’s charisma insufficient to maintain control.
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The flying monkeys, sensing danger, often turn on each other or distance themselves from the leader.
