Profile of the Psychopath / Sociopath

[SchlongConery]

Profile of the Sociopath

This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.


Glibness and Superficial Charm

Manipulative and Conning
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.


Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

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.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
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.

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.

Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

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.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

 

[Aardvark154]

Before we go any further, remember the first rule of Abnormal Psychology: All abnormal psychology is normal psychology carried beyond appropriate boundaries.


In other words perfectly normal people have some of these traits.

 

[SchlongConery]

And some have them all...

 

[Butler1000]

If this is of interest to anyone read a book called "The Psycopathy Test" by Jon Ronson. Excellent read, funny, and a whole section on crazy traetments they tried on Canada in the sixties involving LSD, nakedness and isolation chambers. You can't believe some of the stuff he researched.

 

[SchlongConery]

If this is of interest to anyone read a book called "The Psycopathy Test" by Jon Ronson. Excellent read, funny, and a whole section on crazy traetments they tried on Canada in the sixties involving LSD, nakedness and isolation chambers. You can't believe some of the stuff he researched.

Or you can do your psychopathy research right here on TERB using the search by member function!

 

[afterhours]

Before we go any further, remember the first rule of Abnormal Psychology: All abnormal psychology is normal psychology carried beyond appropriate boundaries.


In other words perfectly normal people have some of these traits.

+100
Rules and morals are created by those in power to keep plebs in line. I bet you that the majority of our leaders are psychopaths or sociopaths according to the above description.

 

[Scarey]

I 've only met two complete psychopaths in my life.One I discovered through his actions , the other was criminally diagnosed and did some time.He was brilliant man who played the criminal justice system like a ukelele. From what I understand he's a case study now.

 

[Robinto]

That list was invented by Robert Hare, who is a Canadian. There is an interesting book called “The Psycopath Test” that gives some interesting insights.
Not all Psycopaths are down in the basement torturing cats. Some are content to merely become assholes, and make other peoples lives a living hell, by being the boss or the co-worker from hell.

Many go into politics, or become very successful, (by virtue of soulless ruthlessness) business people.

They appear to suffer a dysfunction of the amygdala.

Evidently, you can hook them up to a simple electric buzzer, that will give a mild shock, and they will be unable to anticipate the coming zap.

Normal people will exhibit measurable signs of galvanic stress, as a countdown begins which will end in a zap. We will, tense, flinch, and our palms will sweat.

Not so, with psycopaths. They just sit there, and until the zap comes they don’t react.

This test, is no longer done, however, as even mild electric shocks, even those that are merely uncomfortable, are not allowed to be performed on medical patients.

Another weird feature, is their seeming inability to remember strong emotional feelings. This is one reason why the serious whackos, kill and kill again, because they are unable to remember what it was like, and want to endlessly repeat the experiment.

 

[alexmst]

Before we go any further, remember the first rule of Abnormal Psychology: All abnormal psychology is normal psychology carried beyond appropriate boundaries.


In other words perfectly normal people have some of these traits.

Very true. I remember back in Psych 101 as an undergrad the prof saying that we all should resist the normal urge to read through a list of symptoms of mental illness and worry we have this or that mental problem as a result. Most people have many traits that would make the descriptive lists of this or that disorder, but it is a matter of degree. For example it is normal to have a healthy sense of self-worth, it does not make one a narcissist.

 

[Smash]

I should now be worried about myself

 

[genintoronto]

Rules and morals are created by those in power to keep plebs in line. I bet you that the majority of our leaders are psychopaths or sociopaths according to the above description.

That's actually one of the argument put forward by Jon Ronson in his book "The Psychopath Test". An interesting read indeed. This American Life also did an interesting episode on the topic.

 

[Butler1000]

That's actually one of the argument put forward by Jon Ronson in his book "The Psychopath Test". An interesting read indeed. This American Life also did an interesting episode on the topic.

Wow. 3 out of 12 have read the book in this thread. I found out about it from Jon Stewart. Anyone else?

 

[great bear]

Schlong, we both agree on who has sociopathic tendencies. It is becoming more and more apparant that he/she is not your typical loon.

 

[acutus]

Profile of the Psychopath...

An interesting discussion... Has anyone been watching the Jodi Arias trial...? Just wondering. Sincerely, Jon .

 

[Cypher]

In 1943 Wild Bill Donovan (head of the OSS, precursor to the CIA) had psychiatrist Walter Langer draw up a personality profile on Hitler. It was based largely on interviews with Germans who had known Hitler very well before fleeing Germany. "The Mind of Adolf Hitler" wasn't made public until the 70's, but Langer's work confirmed what seems obvious to us now: Hitler was an amoral psychopath capable of doing the unspeakable without the slightest remorse. Among other things, it accurately predicted that in defeat he would pull down and destroy everything around him and opt for suicide when every last option was spent. He expected all of Germany to burn with him, believing they had proved unworthy of his greatness. In the end he proved to have as little concern for his friends as for his enemies, everybody and everything expendable, subjugate to his whim. Obviously the most infamous psychopath of modern times.

I remember a discussion with a psychology prof about this. I suggested, given the lessons of history and how accepted psychological profiling has become, that it would be near impossible for such a delusional and dangerous personality to fly under the radar and climb to such power again. He suggested that sociopaths were on the rise and fairing better than ever. Sadly, I've come to agree with his worldview.

 

[afterhours]

That's actually one of the argument put forward by Jon Ronson in his book "The Psychopath Test". An interesting read indeed. This American Life also did an interesting episode on the topic.

Sorry I didn't mean to plagiarize, I've never read the book.

 

[genintoronto]

Sorry I didn't mean to plagiarize, I've never read the book.

Great minds and all that! I mentioned it because I thought you may find it interesting, seeing as you are starting from the same assumption.

 

[Mable]

The best book I ever read regarding this is entitled, "The Self Seekers" by Dr. Richard M Restak, a Washington, D.C. shrink. It is a cross between an easy read with hundreds of examples and an advanced psychological treaties. The emphasis is on the ones who do not kill but rather destroy lives in other ways. Could be the guy next door or your boss (or one of my ex-fiances). A must read for anyone. Cheers.

 

[acutus]

Sorry I didn't mean to plagiarize, I've never read the book.

I don't understand this comment. To plagiarize means to use another individual's words or ideas and present them as your own. Sincerely, Jon .

 

[acutus]

Psycopaths or Sociapaths- however you wish to define it- are in fact quite rare. For anyone interested in seeing a real, live psycopath, I would reccomend that they do a 'Google search' for: 'Jodi Arias' and follow the links or check out the live coverage of the trial on HLN tv. For those who aren't familiar with the case; Ms. Arias killed her boyfriend by luring him into the shower where she stabbed him 29 times, slit his throat and shot him in the head. It's all very fascinating, allbeit in a seriously deranged way. I'm sure that all the major academic institutions that specialize in these kinds of mental disorders are paying close attention. Sincerely, Jon .