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Sociopaths

Started by Ryobi, July 17, 2009, 10:38:50 PM

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Ryobi

Antisocial personality disorder is a psychological condition wherein a person feels no emotion. As a result they feel no regret, compassion or empathy. They are completely indifferent to other people's suffering. However this isn't the same lack of emotion as that of a PTSD sufferer or a severe case of depression, it isn't caused by anything 'traumatic', these people are simply unable to feel on a significant level. As a result, many of their actions are carried-out in an effort to feel something, in most cases an adrenaline rush that for many can be similar to 'happyness'.

A woman with this disorder was trying to write a murder novel, she felt the need to re-enact certain scenes because she wanted to get them absolutely perfect, one of the chapters featured a womens toilet being set alight and the door being unlocked just in time. So she set fire to a women's public toilet while a number of women were inside, recorded what she heard them scream and when smoke was visible from the crack under the door, she unlocked it. Later she was quoted saying 'what's wrong with making sure my book depicts reality exactly? I couldn't have gotten th emotional response just right without doing what I did'. Many sociopathic personalities tend towards amorality.

Here is a good site that outlines this condition more accurately  :wink::

http://www.cix.co.uk/~klockstone/spath.htm

These people are monsters. Even if they aren't that rare, they still can pose quite a threat to others emotional and mental well-being. Who here has had a run in with a person like this before? How has it affected you?
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

Andrea Warfare

They're Monsters if they don't take their medicine...
We are all unique.You my dear are uniquely non-unique.

KubeSix

#2
I find sociopaths really interesting. Not because of their acts but because of the way they think. I always wondered what it would be like to have little, if no emotions... (Plus, the Vedic psychic number thingy says I have a tendency toward becoming a sociopath :| Actually it says I'm outwardly stiff, vengeful, extremist, antisocial, etc etc.)

I guess I can be sociopathic sometimes.. Feeling no emotions towards certain people or situations, dramatic as they can be. But that only happens rarely and it's always while talking about a murderer or a monstrous criminal whose done unspeakable acts. Even so, people don't like it and can't seem to get used to it when I say with a straight face and an emotionless expression that they should be put to death... slowly and painfully. The rest of the time, I'm very emotional :-D
Seek not beauty in battle. Seek not beauty in death. Consider not your own life. If you wish to protect that which must be protected, then strike when your opponent's back is turned.

Ryobi

QuoteI would say . . . no. It may have been a horrible thing, but you can't blame yourself for something either uncontrollable or something that sprang up without any previous awareness or even the slightest hint towards it either happening or progressing into murderous destruction.

Look buddy, a person can have no emotions, they can feel nothing for anyone or anything else, however this doesn't excuse them from hurting others or acting in an immoral or unethical way. They aren't controlled by having no emotions, they choose to do the things they do, many people with APD live nearly perfectly normal lives, 'content' doing nothing.

The condition doesn't escalate, these people don't go on bloodthirsty rages and you know why? Because they lack the ability to rage. You know why they don't lose control? Because they don't emotionally respond, they can only act as if they do. They aren't being controlled by a condition, they simply can not feel, if anything this could make a person entirely objective, instead of subjective and therefore more likely to make an informed/logical decision.

Also mate, I'm sorry but somehow, being addicted to adrenaline (which is usually the case for many sociopaths) doesn't excuse a person from murdering another. When you see a drug-addict, do you sit their thinking, 'poor girl, she's addicted to cocaine and as a result screws every druggo around to score her next rush, poor her, its not her fault'.

PTSD is a lot different to APD, going through a traumatic experience and ending up not being able to feel anything is usually an offset of depression and as a result the person is by that stage, usually quite self-obsessed and more likely to harm themselves than someone else. This isn't true sociopathy, in nearly all cases they still feel anger or sadness to an extent and because of this will either take their 'revenge' on the world or sinking into their own world and becoming severly depressed. Depression is not simply sadness, it is the lack of 'motivation'/energy to do anything.

They are monsters, because they choose to do monstrous things partly due to a natural 'ability' that deviates from the 'norm'.
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

Ryobi

#4
I am not saying that every person with APD is a monster, simply those who decide to use this ability to never feel emotion, in a way that benefits them and negatively affects others.

Quotecompels them to brutal acts of violence.
Quotemeaning they murder someone because of what their not yet discovered/untreated condition caused
Quotethey have no control over it

Sociopathy doesn't result in these kinds of things, a deep-set rage is said to be at the core and of course it is a problem, yet is only one of many and only a small part of the disorder. It doesn't compel them, it gives them a motive if they choose to use it.

Here is a list of accurate symptoms:

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.

Now, before I did mention that there is a major difference between the people who are born with a lack of emotion/empathy and the people who embody this trait as they get older. Those who do develop the disorder, have led a previous life where morals, ethics and emotions were much more important, therefore no longer wanting or feeling no need to abide by these things anymore would logically confuse or make a person quite anxious. These aren't the sociopaths I am talking about though, they don't act entirely without emotion or conscience do they?

In the same metaphorical terms I used before; what I am talking about are not those kinds of addicts who are driven to 'drugs' as a form of escape, but simply become addicted for apparently no reason other than it feels good.

Like I said before, they are monsters, because they choose to do monstrous things partly due to a natural 'ability' that deviates from the 'norm'. Not because of a developed ability that they are trying to combat within themselves.

That's just silly  :-P
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

Ryobi

Then you do agree with me, I agree with you and we do understand each other.

However, one thing, this is what I got from the last paragraph of your post;

QuoteI could see where you'd consider them as a monster, though I still find that term to be too strong. The person would be avoiding help in order to use this skill as a way of providing selfish happiness. If one neglects others' happiness only to enrich their happiness, it then makes them a monster.

Isn't enriching your own happiness at the expense of others, an example of being selfish?
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

Ryobi

Whereas to me, that would make them a person with monstrous qualities.

Yay for the person opinion.
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

Ryobi

Knowing that these people would feel just as much remorse or guilt, when killing someone compared to lying to them. Makes me doubt they are just mean.

However, that is a personal opinion (as I said before) and slightly tempered due to past experiences dealing with people suffering from antisocial personality disorder.
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

Ryobi

I agree, emotions have no place in reason unless they belong to another person.

However when people start to use the grey undertones within life to manipulate and control you through doubt and insecurity. The need to establish some kind of self-preservation begins to shine through and that grey soon seperates itself into black and white. Hence why you probably don't see many people who have been through a very significant experience, seeing it in both a good and bad light. They usually, either completely agree or disagree.

Black and white thinking is hard to reverse, yet if you are able to see both sides of the coin, then it can be used to build an objective mindset despite popular belief and it also means that I know exactly what my downfalls and saving traits are at all times, just don't see anything as lying in between. :wink:
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

Countess

The diagnosis of APD & Sociopathy are diffrent. APD is a form of depression that can be helped with medication & therapy. Sociopathy is total lack of response to others feelings or emotions. Sociopaths believe the rules do not apply to them, are incredibly narcissistic, & simply do whatever they want whenever they want to whomever they want simply because they want to do it. Sociopaths cannot be treated in any way it is simply who they are. Since sociopaths do not understand others feelings or emotions it often amuses them to control them through fear or infliction of pain physical & mental.

Ryobi

Whoops, yes that is true Countess. I have always been told they were the same thing, however different people deal with it in different ways. Eg, why not all people suffering from APD become depressed. After some more research though;

Many have argued that psychopathy/sociopathy are incorrectly put together under ASPD. These clinicians and researchers are upset that an important distinction has been lost between these two disorders. In other words, ASPD and psychopathy are considered to be the same, or similar. However, they are not technically the same since antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed via behavior and social deviance, whereas psychopathy also includes affective and interpersonal personality factors.

So Moonbaby13, maybe you are talking about APD and not actual Sociopathy. I'd like to clarify, that I'm not talking about APD anymore, but a similar condition; Sociopathy/Psychopathy.
When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"

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