---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The stereotype is that only men are…"
description: "\"“The stereotype is that only men are narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. That is completely incorrect. There are many women who are the cause of ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/shannon-thomas-3888_sociopaths_the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narc_2300111.jpg"
---

#  The stereotype is that only men are narcissists…

![“The stereotype is that only men are narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. That is completely incorrect. There are many women who are the cause of intense relational harm.” quote by Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/shannon-thomas-3888_sociopaths_the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narc_2300111.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/shannon-thomas-3888_sociopaths_the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narc_2300111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/shannon-thomas-3888_sociopaths_the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narc_2300111.jpg)

> ““The stereotype is that only men are narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. That is completely incorrect. There are many women who are the cause of intense relational harm.””

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Women can also be narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths, causing severe relational harm, contrary to gender stereotypes.

**In simple terms:** Women can be harmful in relationships.

Key Takeaway

Avoid gender bias when assessing harmful behavior.

Themes

gender psychology relationships

Mood

critical empathetic

Type

analytical educational

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- workplace dynamics
- legal contexts
- educational programs

Key Concepts

narcissism sociopathy psychopathy relational harm

Questions to Reflect On

- How do stereotypes affect our judgment of harmful people?
- What steps can protect against relational harm regardless of gender?

A Different Perspective

Not all harmful behavior is gendered; individual assessment is key.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Men Narcissists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-narcissists-5434606/) [Narcissists Sociopaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissists-sociopaths-2926559/) [Relational Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relational-harm-5434607/) [Sociopaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sociopaths/) [Stereotype Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype-men-5303506/)

## Related quotes

> [“The stereotype is that only men are narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. That is completely incorrect. There are many women who are the cause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narcissists-sociopaths-and/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“There is no way someone could ever convince me that narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths are clueless about their behaviors. The level at which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/there-is-no-way-someone-could-ever-convince-me-that-narcissists/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Abusers like to target people who have something they do not or cannot possess themselves. Narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths are notorious for picking targets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/abusers-like-to-target-people-who-have-something-they-do-not-or/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Decades of social science studies have confirmed what the Heidi/Howard case study so blatantly demonstrates: we evaluate people based on stereotypes (gender, race, nationality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/decades-of-social-science-studies-have-confirmed-what-the-heidi/)

[Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/)

> [“Does he train you all to be creepy sociopaths or is that a prerequisite before he hires you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-adams/does-he-train-you-all-to-be-creepy-sociopaths-or-is-that-a/)

[Jocelyn Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-adams/)

> [“Unfortunately, sociopaths are antisocial by nature, and their lack of empathy and foresight consigns them to view society only as a restraint on individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cannon-gibney/unfortunately-sociopaths-are-antisocial-by-nature-and-their-lack-of/)

[Bruce Cannon Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cannon-gibney/)

> [“Sociopath” and “psycho” were two of the most common field diagnoses for my look and expression. I heard it all the time: “I’ve read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/sociopath-and-psycho-were-two-of-the-most-common-field-diagnoses-for/)

[John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/)

> [“Sociopaths, or what psychiatrists call antisocial personalities, have lifelong patterns of deceitfulness for personal gain. They lack remorse and empathy and are wizards at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-small/sociopaths-or-what-psychiatrists-call-antisocial-personalities-have/)

[Gary Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-small/)

> [“The scientists. The technicians. Everyone you needed to make it happen. They actually had to do this. They had to watch the video of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/the-scientists-the-technicians-everyone-you-needed-to-make-it-happen/)

[James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/)

> [I went into very deep research as to what exactly that meant and how sociopaths function psychologically and within the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-heusinger/i-went-into-very-deep-research-as-to-what-exactly-that-meant-and-how/)

[Patrick Heusinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-heusinger/)

> [When you were a child, where boredom could actually get to be painful. Sociopaths experience that kind of pain in boredom. And so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/when-you-were-a-child-where-boredom-could-actually-get-to-be-painful/)

[Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/)

> [I really like transgressive characters that have an alternate world view. I've actually written a fair number of kids movies, and I'll insert these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/i-really-like-transgressive-characters-that-have-an-alternate-world/)

[Matt Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nix/)

> [“Prisons are full of sociopaths and psychopaths, but when questioned, the imprisoned sociopath will honestly admit that they will commit any number of crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-thompson/prisons-are-full-of-sociopaths-and-psychopaths-but-when-questioned/)

[Tanya Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-thompson/)

> [Usually sociopaths will look down upon us for that very reason - that we're gullible. We're weak. One person told me that he thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/usually-sociopaths-will-look-down-upon-us-for-that-very-reason-that/)

[Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/)

> [“Well, you’d better hope I am because the world was built by sociopaths, men willing to send a million innocent boys into battle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/well-you-d-better-hope-i-am-because-the-world-was-built-by-sociopaths/)

[David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/)

## More by Shannon Thomas

> [“By the time survivors are compelled to leave their psychologically abusive relationships, they do not see any other viable option but to leave. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/by-the-time-survivors-are-compelled-to-leave-their-psychologically/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“This is because in the legalistic church, God (or pronounced “Gawd” if you’re in the southern regions of the country) is coming to smite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/this-is-because-in-the-legalistic-church-god-or-pronounced-gawd-if/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“A psychological abuser will find a survivor’s emotional soft spots and exploit them for control and entertainment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/a-psychological-abuser-will-find-a-survivor-s-emotional-soft-spots/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Toxic people are great actors. They will utilize whichever props are available to maintain control in the relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/toxic-people-are-great-actors-they-will-utilize-whichever-props-are/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“If we have a high level of emotional capacity, it predisposes us to stay in abusive environments longer. That is not a great thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/if-we-have-a-high-level-of-emotional-capacity-it-predisposes-us-to/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“A Sociopath will run you over, scold you for being in their way, and have a smirk because secretly they get entertainment out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/a-sociopath-will-run-you-over-scold-you-for-being-in-their-way-and/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Toxic people absolutely refuse to have normal human flaws and weaknesses. They do not see themselves as average people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/toxic-people-absolutely-refuse-to-have-normal-human-flaws-and/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Some people wonder if abusers can feel love or affection for their targets. The answer to that depends on your own definition of love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/some-people-wonder-if-abusers-can-feel-love-or-affection-for-their/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Some are quietly deteriorating the person’s self-esteem through the emotional game of abandonment. Being present physically but checked out emotionally is not a marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/some-are-quietly-deteriorating-the-person-s-self-esteem-through-the/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Denial is a powerful human component that cannot be ignored in the context of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/denial-is-a-powerful-human-component-that-cannot-be-ignored-in-the/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Tenderness from empaths will be used against them time and time again by psychological abusers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/tenderness-from-empaths-will-be-used-against-them-time-and-time-again/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“When an abuser gaslights, he or she sets up situations to make the target doubt their own memories and assessments of situations. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/when-an-abuser-gaslights-he-or-she-sets-up-situations-to-make-the/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“I use the term survivor to describe what some might call a victim. I hope you can embrace the word survivor because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/i-use-the-term-survivor-to-describe-what-some-might-call-a-victim-i/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“Unraveling the lies and replacing them with truth is at the heart of the recovery journey for survivors of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/unraveling-the-lies-and-replacing-them-with-truth-is-at-the-heart-of/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

> [“It is a source of power and entertainment for a toxic person to destroy an originally healthy and happy person. This point is often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/it-is-a-source-of-power-and-entertainment-for-a-toxic-person-to/)

[Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

[Explore all 120 Shannon Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/)

## More Sociopaths quotes

> [“Well, you’d better hope I am because the world was built by sociopaths, men willing to send a million innocent boys into battle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/well-you-d-better-hope-i-am-because-the-world-was-built-by-sociopaths/)

[David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/)

> [Usually sociopaths will look down upon us for that very reason - that we're gullible. We're weak. One person told me that he thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/usually-sociopaths-will-look-down-upon-us-for-that-very-reason-that/)

[Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/)

> [“Prisons are full of sociopaths and psychopaths, but when questioned, the imprisoned sociopath will honestly admit that they will commit any number of crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-thompson/prisons-are-full-of-sociopaths-and-psychopaths-but-when-questioned/)

[Tanya Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-thompson/)

> [I really like transgressive characters that have an alternate world view. I've actually written a fair number of kids movies, and I'll insert these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/i-really-like-transgressive-characters-that-have-an-alternate-world/)

[Matt Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nix/)

> [When you were a child, where boredom could actually get to be painful. Sociopaths experience that kind of pain in boredom. And so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/when-you-were-a-child-where-boredom-could-actually-get-to-be-painful/)

[Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/)

> [I went into very deep research as to what exactly that meant and how sociopaths function psychologically and within the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-heusinger/i-went-into-very-deep-research-as-to-what-exactly-that-meant-and-how/)

[Patrick Heusinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-heusinger/)

> [“The scientists. The technicians. Everyone you needed to make it happen. They actually had to do this. They had to watch the video of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/the-scientists-the-technicians-everyone-you-needed-to-make-it-happen/)

[James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/)

> [“Sociopaths, or what psychiatrists call antisocial personalities, have lifelong patterns of deceitfulness for personal gain. They lack remorse and empathy and are wizards at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-small/sociopaths-or-what-psychiatrists-call-antisocial-personalities-have/)

[Gary Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-small/)

> [“Sociopath” and “psycho” were two of the most common field diagnoses for my look and expression. I heard it all the time: “I’ve read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/sociopath-and-psycho-were-two-of-the-most-common-field-diagnoses-for/)

[John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/)

> [“Unfortunately, sociopaths are antisocial by nature, and their lack of empathy and foresight consigns them to view society only as a restraint on individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cannon-gibney/unfortunately-sociopaths-are-antisocial-by-nature-and-their-lack-of/)

[Bruce Cannon Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cannon-gibney/)

> [“Does he train you all to be creepy sociopaths or is that a prerequisite before he hires you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-adams/does-he-train-you-all-to-be-creepy-sociopaths-or-is-that-a/)

[Jocelyn Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-adams/)

> [“sociopaths are very crafty when it comes to pre-meditated crimes—they only take risks when the chances are high that they won’t get caught. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rivers-clarence/sociopaths-are-very-crafty-when-it-comes-to-pre-meditated-crimes-they/)

[T. Rivers, Clarence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rivers-clarence/)

> [I think the people running climate change denial campaigns are sociopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-lawless/i-think-the-people-running-climate-change-denial-campaigns-are/)

[Lucy Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-lawless/)

> [“One nurse thought I was "brave." I think she was talking about my steely-eyed, grin-and-bear-it kind of attitude. There were no tears, no complaints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/one-nurse-thought-i-was-brave-i-think-she-was-talking-about-my-steely/)

[M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/)

> [Life itself was hard enough without monosynaptic sociopaths preying on folks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-stackpole/life-itself-was-hard-enough-without-monosynaptic-sociopaths-preying/)

[Michael A. Stackpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-stackpole/)

[Browse all 70 Sociopaths quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sociopaths/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The stereotype is that only men are narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. That is completely incorrect. There are many women who are the cause of intense relational harm.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shannon Thomas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narcissists-sociopaths-and-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Sociopaths"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narcissists-sociopaths-and-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/shannon-thomas-3888_sociopaths_the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narc_2300111.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/shannon-thomas-3888_sociopaths_the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narc_2300111.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/shannon-thomas-3888_sociopaths_the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narc_2300111.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The stereotype is that only men are narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. That is completely incorrect…” — Shannon Thomas",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Shannon Thomas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The stereotype is that only men...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narcissists-sociopaths-and-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/the-stereotype-is-that-only-men-are-narcissists-sociopaths-and-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
