Why are sociopaths such a common character archetype?

[Jackson LeRoy Briggs]

The days of the everyman hero are numbered. The wacky, yet well-meaning blowhard is even starting to wear thin with people--no, it looks like the "in" thing is being a douchebag and getting away with it (relatively) unscathed. We see it in The Office, Always Sunny, Family Guy and its "family" of shows, and Seinfeld (proving that this isn't a totally new thing). But why? People watch what they can relate to, so is this something we are, or something we aspire to be? Seems weird, considering how much society likes promoting fair play and tolerance and all that. Duality is a son of a bytch...

 

[Bud Bundy]

The days of the everyman hero are numbered. The wacky, yet well-meaning blowhard is even starting to wear thin with people--no, it looks like the "in" thing is being a douchebag and getting away with it (relatively) unscathed. We see it in The Office, Always Sunny, Family Guy and its "family" of shows, and Seinfeld (proving that this isn't a totally new thing). But why? People watch what they can relate to, so is this something we are, or something we aspire to be? Seems weird, considering how much society likes promoting fair play and tolerance and all that. Duality is a son of a bytch...

I think it is a mixture of who we aspire to be and the comedy in the absurdity of there actions. This goes way back in sitcoms.