I. The 'Scale'

The 'Scale'

The first thing to remember about sociopatheticism is its ethical standing (I don't need to reiterate that everything in fiction is fiction and not representative of what should or could be done in real life). The hero/heroine of such mind control stories are not the archetypal "good guy" of other narratives naturally centered on a relatable protagonist. Rather, they are more equivalent to the "villain/villainess" in those works, whose actions are intended to repulse and sicken, or undergo moral development into a more positive character. The nature of sociopathetic stories turn these character types into the hero, whose intents and actions are not the source of external conflict, but the one through which we relate the struggle and satisfaction at getting what is wanted. The endgame is not getting better, but getting satisfaction. As a result, this is a subgenre which for many will consist of a villainous or unlikable person succeeding and being sympathized with despite not deserving to. Predictably, it is as such not an ilk of story for everyone.

Like mind control itself, 'pathic and anti-social mind control has its fans and its detractors. Mind control as a concept is often a fantasy in control, but not necessarily sociopathy. A protagonist can control others and show love and affection to them, not wanting to break their bond of trust. This is a character of "integrity", or strict moral standing. As it is said, "The true test of a man's character is when no one is watching." This is a maxim reflective of how all people in society should both view and posit themselves in order to be honest, and form morally sound standards.

A sociopathic character, on the other hand, particularly a sociopathetic one, lacks conventional "integrity". Instead, where a moral man sees a temptation, a sociopath sees an opportunity held back by the chance of being caught in flagrante and subsequently punished. Where a moral character sees choices between right and wrong, a sociopath sees choices between 'feeling good' and 'feeling not-as-good'. This indicates that the feelings they possess take priority over the feelings of others around them -- not by a small amount. Sometimes, it's to the extent that they don't care about others at all, whereas they care about the far-flung ambitions and desires they hold to an obsessive and near toxic degree, often attempting to have them realized through ruthless and self-serving means.

This **** level of sociopathy exists in several mind control erotica (e.g. Anniversary - Starting Over), and also applies to heroes with God complexes.

On the other end of the scale, romantic or largely benign mind controllers can be seen in stories such as Ugly, Stupid, and Fat and Master PC: Trust.