Are you a sociopath? Am I?

[Hadoblado]

Those pacifists probably made a conscious ethical rejection, rather than having a lack of social affective integration. Not necessarily all though, so you could have a point.

A lot of psychology is dominated by descriptive... Actually hold that thought I'm pretty sure someone else just posted the exact same explanation in this or one of the other threads on psychopathy/Asperger's. The take home message is that these definitions are not made to be logical, but functional. It's frustrating at times, but it leaves the Ti dom a niche to fill in the future at least :P

I would argue (from a position of ignorance mind you) that the difference is that the pacifist in Attilla's horde is demonstrating a behaviour that is within a normal expression range of neuroanatomical capacities. He's less aggressive, but even in this context, that is likely highly adaptive given his probable inferior fighting abilities. In the context of today's society, psychopathy is almost always maladaptive (though one should always be considerate of the psychopath's differing goals).

BTW, just for clarity, I'm not arguing for an outright rejection of your position, as it is a valuable insight, just that it is likely less clear cut than you have articulated.

 

[ZenRaiden]

This is a nice thought.

I guess, rather than defining their behavioural tendency as the negation of social mores and norms, it would be more precise to define it as the conspicuous absence of the internalisation of these pressures, regardless of social context.

The problem is that sociopaths are highly adaptable and can learn to work with in society, but they do not follow the rules all the time, but cross the line from time to time. However if you have a sociopath that lives a normal life, than the question is what is a sociopath, because defining him by his criminal behaviour is not good since there are sociopaths that never do anything wrong. Much importantly many crimes are commited by normal people. Even non sociopaths can commit crimes easily.

 

[Montresor]

In the context of today's society, psychopathy is almost always maladaptive

hmm,

as I was pondering the subject on the bus this morning I had the exact opposite thought.

 

[Anktark]

I seem to have a lot of traits in common with a sociopath, but then again I am emphatic and agree with "Thou shall not strangle, decapitate or whatnot unless the other fellow really had it coming".
Or maybe I am pretending to be fuzzy and warm, but am actually after all of you. With onions.

 

[Goku]

It's not that I am unable experience guilt

It's that i very rarely experience guilt because I think everything I do is right (grandiose sense of self?) // more like I rationalize everything I do so that I can experience no guilt.

I read somewhere that some psychologists regard Antisocial Personality Disorder as psychopathy/sociopathy "with feelings," and some regard ASPD as synonymous with the layman's psychopathy/sociopathy.

I've been vacillating for a while on this one, regarding my own mental facilities

 

[Grayman]

1/15

Something must be wrong with me. Maybe that's just my pathological lying and i actually scored a 15/15!?....

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

I can't really identify with much of the criteria.
Paranoia and Secrecy, Incapacity for Love, Lack of Empathy check.
The others don't.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

I lived with someone I believe to be a sociopath once. It was terrible.

Me too.
That was the most terrible two years i ever had.
And it changed me for good, i lost my naive trust in humanity as a result.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

6-8/15;
You didn't disclose the other points.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

6-8/15;
You didn't disclose the other points.

Alrighty, Brontostyle:
Glibness and Superficial Charm
most likely, 1
Manipulative and Conning
No, 0
Grandiose Sense of Self
yes, I claim the ground I stand on as temporarily mine as well as some other resource related things, 1
Pathological Lying
No, 0
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
No, at times but applies to myself and not others, 0
Shallow Emotions
most likely, 1
Incapacity for Love
doubtful, 0
Need for Stimulation
no, 0
Callousness/Lack of Empathy
sometimes, 0
Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
I don't know that there are any objective boundaries, but I have concern for others, 1
Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
late teens when I had problems but I will add this, 1
Irresponsibility/Unreliability
I don't see myself as reliable, or responsible enough, 1
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
no, 0
Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
I think I can realise what I plan, otherwise I wouldn't plan this, other than that it is true for now as it is not realised, 1
Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
No, 0
Total: 7/15

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Alrighty, Brontostyle:
Glibness and Superficial Charm
most likely, 1
Manipulative and Conning
No, 0
Grandiose Sense of Self
yes, I claim the ground I stand on as temporarily mine as well as some other resource related things, 1
Pathological Lying
No, 0
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
No, at times but applies to myself and not others, 0
Shallow Emotions
most likely, 1
Incapacity for Love
doubtful, 0
Need for Stimulation
no, 0
Callousness/Lack of Empathy
sometimes, 0
Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
I don't know that there are any objective boundaries, but I have concern for others, 1
Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
late teens when I had problems but I will add this, 1
Irresponsibility/Unreliability
I don't see myself as reliable, or responsible enough, 1
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
no, 0
Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
I think I can realise what I plan, otherwise I wouldn't plan this, other than that it is true for now as it is not realised, 1
Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
No, 0
Total: 7/15

I'm counting five.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Ok, ok, you fricking lunatic. Have your way!

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

Ok, ok, you fricking lunatic. Have your way!

Sorry had to delete that post, it was too frikken lunatic.

Thanks .

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Let's talk about each individual 1 in respect.

 

[The Void]

I amma sociopath. My mask was once getting loose. I started torturing people, and talking crap. But then I re-cronstructed my mask and meditated (no I just suppressed slowly. Meditation not needed), to attain stability. By attaining balance I lost my destructiveness and turned passive. I prefer to be nice (or don't talk at all) with others because they outnumber me by 1 to 7 billion or something. I still don't have shame or guilt or remorse, they are just silly evolutionary mechanism, and I had evolved beyond humanity. But since I was born as human (more of an autistic I guesss) and evolved into a sociopath in a life time I am different from normal sociopath. I am sure sociopath is an evolution. Psychopaths are the connecting links. In this environment sociopaths gains the highest success. Soon natural selection will destroy all non-sociopaths. (If some day I gain enough power to overpower everyone, then know that hell is coming).

Spoiler

The Wisdom of Psychopaths - Kevin Dutton