Annotation
Stout notes that those who possess a conscience are ill-equipped to confront those who have none. They gaslight themselves into believing they must be imagining things. They deny, rationalize, minimize destructive behavior rather than confront the fearful truth. They do not wish to believe that there are certain people who simply do not have the ability to empathize. It is too horrific to imagine that someone could commit such cruelty without any remorse. Unfortunately, the lack of willingness to believe in such a mindset is exactly what makes conscience-bound individuals so susceptible to being exploited in the first place.
The Sociopath Next Door
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