lindah ([info]percysowner) wrote,
@ 2007-11-29 18:34:00
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Is Bela on Supernatural a sociopath?

Yes, I am shocking everybody (including myself) by actually posting something in my live journal.  I was thinking about the character of Bela on Supernatural and then i ran into a description of what constitutes being a sociopath.  Since I have considered her to be sociopathic since she was introduced, I decided to compare what I see as her behavior, with the description.



Some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths. I will say if I think Bela has shown them.
  • Glibness and Superficial Charm -Yes a strong part of her personality
  • Manipulative and Conning That's what she does for a living, as she admits in Red Sky at Morning


    They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims. Bela fits this perfectly. She shows no compassion for the victims of her schemes, she calls hunters (and by implication)Sam and Dean sociopathic vengeance driven people.

  • Grandiose Sense of Self
    Feels entitled to certain things as "their right." That's Bela on the nose, she has a right to money other people are disposable

  • Pathological Lying
    Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests. In every episode Bela has lied always to promote her own advantage

  • Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt That's Bela again, she has never shown any of those emotions, even when her actions have resulted in a person's death.

    A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way. Yep, she never even warned her accomplices in Bad Day at Black Rock that the rabbit's foot was dangerous.

  • Shallow Emotions
    When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises. Not sure yet

  • Incapacity for Love We haven't seen her enough to know.
  • Need for Stimulation
    Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common. Not that we've seen so far.

  • Callousness/Lack of Empathy
    Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them. That's definitely Bela

  • Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
    Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others. Not that we have seen so far.

  • Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
    Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc. Unknown

  • Irresponsibility/Unreliability
    Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed. Describes Bela's actions to a tee

  • Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity Unknown
    Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts. No indication of this

  • Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
    Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively. We know she moves around a lot and that she tends to hire or trick others into doing the work of getting her talismans. We know nothing about what she promises other people.

  • Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
    Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily. Absolutely, canonically true.


Other Related Qualities:
  1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them Unknown, the only time it came up she said no one did understand why she killed whoever she killed could go either way

  2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them Yes

  3. Authoritarian Unknown

  4. Secretive Yes

  5. Paranoid Unknown, her hatred of hunters may be paranoia or may be based on real experiences

  6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired Not so far as we have seen

  7. Conventional appearance Yes, she's pretty, but she doesn't stand out

  8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s) Unknown, but no indication of this

  9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life Unknown

  10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love) Not sure, it could explain the call to Dean after he found out she sent Gordon after them.

  11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim Unknown

  12. Incapable of real human attachment to another Unknown

  13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt Unknown

  14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose Unknown

  15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world Not as yet and doesn't seem likely.
So in the first group Bela scores a yes on 11 have been shown in canon and we have not seen one way or the other on 6 characteristics.  Of the 15 related characteristics, 3 have been shown, 6 we have not observed one way or the other, 3 are possible and 3 could go either way.  In any case, I will continue to view Bela as a sociopath.  I actually hope that the writers keep her that way, and do not go for a trite and cliche "redemption arc.





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