Quote:Yes. Sociopaths can love with a selfish intensity that puts other love to shame. Their love is a devouring, consuming sort of love. When I love someone, I feel like I want to inhale them -- to literally suck out their soul. When I kiss someone, I try to do just that. 

Love may be blind for empaths, but a sociopath sees your faults clearly and loves you still. The sociopath's piercing eyes are not only unsettling because of their unwavering constancy, but because the sociopath's eyes can pierce through to your very soul, leaving you naked before his gaze. The sociopath's ignorance or disinterest in social norms means that he will not see you as the world sees you but how you truly are. They're free of the rose-colored glasses empaths falling in "love" often wear. I imagine this ability would be particularly appealing to those whose role in society doesn't reflect their true worth: members of disfavored races or socioeconomic backgrounds, the too-smart-for-their-own-good crowd, the still-waters-run-deep. 

Sociopaths have a genius for adoring. Their understanding of your wants and needs matched with their charm and flexible personality mean that they can and will literally become the man or woman of your dreams. In fact, when I love, my first step is to gather as much information as possible about every aspect of the person's life in order to more closely resemble their ideal mate. 

The closest analog to a sociopath's love is probably the love of a child: intense, accepting, selfish. And finally, like a child, the sociopath will be extremely loyal. A sociopath will never put you above himself, but he will readily put you above all others.

Quote:Various hallmark sociopath traits are listed below. It is important to note that not all traits will be present in all the sociopaths.

According to ICD-10 criteria, presence of 3 or more of the following qualifies for the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (sociopathy):

• Callous unconcern for the feelings of others.
  
• Gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, and obligations.
  
• Incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no difficulty in establishing them.
  
• Very low tolerance to frustration, a low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence.
  
• Incapacity to experience guilt or to profit from experience, particularly punishment.
  
• Markedly prone to blame others or to offer plausible rationalization for the behavior that has brought the person into conflict with society.
  

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR) is another widely used tool for the diagnosis and it defines sociopath traits as:

A) Pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three or more of the following:

• Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
  
• Deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
  
• Impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead
  
• Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
  
• Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
  
• Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
  
• Lack of remorse as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
  

B) The individual is at least age 18 years.
C) There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.
D) The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode.