Sociopath: A Memoir

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Sociopath addresses the taboo topic of sociopathy. Did you find Gagne’s recollection of her experiences as a sociopath compelling? What new information did it offer about sociopathy, and was the inclusion of new information successful in realigning your view of sociopathy?
• Sociopath is considered a difficult read simply because of its subject matter. How does Patric’s own discovery of her sociopathy affect your ability to connect with her as both a character and narrator? 
• Consider Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel, a memoir that engages with “being young and depressed.” How does Sociopath compare to Prozac Nation in terms of straightforward, first-person narration about a taboo mental-health issue? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Connect the book’s themes and characters to personal experiences and perspectives.

• What parts of the book were hardest for you to read? What scenes or behaviors did you find the most challenging, and do they align with your prior view of sociopathy?
• Did the book change your view of taboo mental health issues? Do you find Gagne brave, opportunistic, or neither?
• Have you ever met someone who meets the book’s criteria of sociopathy? If so, how did this person make you feel? Could you befriend a person with sociopathic tendencies if you knew some of the social limitations they might experience?
• How did you react to Max? Do you feel empathy, fear, respect, or something else? What does your perception of Max tell you about your feelings toward Patric?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.

• Does the book effectively push back against taboo mental health issues? Does it offer a new perspective on sociopathy, or does it align with current social perceptions of sociopathy?
• Consider Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho, which features a protagonist with extreme sociopathic tendencies while also critiquing the excess of 1980s America. In what ways does Sociopath offer critique of control, relationships, and identity in the modern world?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.

• How does Patric’s sociopathy appear in her romantic relationship with David, and did you find the power imbalance uncomfortable to explore? Were there instances where you felt that David ignored sociopathic behaviors because of his love for Patric?
• Is Patric relatable? What narrative tools attempt to make her relatable? Consider first-person narration and the authority established by her background in psychology. Do these tools of storytelling lend authenticity to Patric’s experience of sociopathy?
• How does the feeling of emptiness that Patric relates in the text come to symbolize sociopathy? How does this void of emotion impact the other characters, and how is Patric influenced by the lack of emotional fulfillment in her life? Can the desire for emotional fulfillment be read as the existence of it?
• Violence, both physical and emotional, reappears in the text. How does Patric use violence to try to get what she wants from others? How does violence further isolate her socially and emotionally? 
• How are Patric’s sociopathic tendencies continuous because of her lack of ability to perceive their emotional cost to those around her? Are these tendencies successfully conveyed in memoir, or does the lack of objectivity that sociopathy creates mean that Patric cannot fully reflect? How does she manage reflecting versus recording?
• Can David’s consistent love and care be read as a symbol of hope? Does it seem possible that Patric can push past her emotional barriers and break new ground in perceived romantic behavior of people with sociopathic tendencies?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book’s content and themes.



• If Sociopath were adapted into a movie, who would you cast as Patric and David? Which scenes between them would you use to show Patric’s potential for growth? How does the potential medium of film versus memoir alter your perception of the plot?
• Create a short playlist for Sociopath and focus on dark, instrumental music. Create another short playlist that uses upbeat pop music. Then, choose one key scene of violence from the text and read it while listening to each playlist. Does music alter your feeling toward the scene?

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