The psychopath in society.

Jimmy Garlic

Roughly 4% of people are psychopaths so the chances are most of us have come across at least one. They exist on every level of society and tend to gravitate towards positions where they have power over others. As the psychopath craves positions of power then logically the percentage of psychopaths in the sphere of politics is much higher than 4%.

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion. They are parasitic predators that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

The Backwards Man

Physiotherapists are psychopathic sycophants.

Telling you they want to help you then literally pulling the leg of you, when in reality, all they care about is your money.

MadsL

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion. They are parasitic predators that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

I believe it is. There is a documentary called Criminal Minds on TV.

ScumLord

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

I don't think that's true at all. There are varying degrees of psychopathy, many just don't get hung up on other peoples feelings more so that they simply don't care.

What you're describing is the boggie man. Psychopaths are people with a slightly different view of the world than you. In extreme cases they can turn into murderers but it's not a certainty, 4% of the population aren't serial killers.

Ruudi_Mentari

Even the shrinks are petrified of them, and that's if anyone ever even took the responsibility to make a complaint about their only beneficial trait so it will never matter -

I have seen many an ogre play the psycho card to get ahead. It is a way of life

Celly Smunt

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Roughly 4% of people are psychopaths so the chances are most of us have come across at least one. They exist on every level of society and tend to gravitate towards positions where they have power over others. As the psychopath craves positions of power then logically the percentage of psychopaths in the sphere of politics is much higher than 4%.

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion. They are parasitic predators that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

Read the entire post in Dr.Phils voice.

Galwayguy35

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Roughly 4% of people are psychopaths so the chances are most of us have come across at least one. They exist on every level of society and tend to gravitate towards positions where they have power over others. As the psychopath craves positions of power then logically the percentage of psychopaths in the sphere of politics is much higher than 4%.

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion. They are parasitic predators that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

It ain't that easy to find them, only those 2 hunters found L Murphy would anyone ever have suspected him?

A married man with kids who seemed like a normal man on the street.

MadsL

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Read the entire post in Dr.Phils voice.

I read your post in Hannibal Lecters voice...

Doom

I will become a "Dexter" type character and kill them all.....
Names please......

Ruudi_Mentari

Why is it almost exclusively men under such circumstances.

bodice ripper

psychopaths are so 80s. we are worried about paedos now.

Yamanoto

Great TED Talks lecture on the subject by Jon Ronson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYemnKEKx0c

Ruudi_Mentari

bodice ripper wrote: »

psychopaths are so 80s. we are worried about paedos now.

"A beta man is a better man" have you seen these slogans about town too?!

Subvert! Maybe men should be permitted to just dominate lest we be rendered peados. And women, know their limits for the is no l'amour in the 'heart' of the city

bodice ripper

Ruudi_Mentari wrote: »

"A beta man is a better man" have you seen these slogans about town too?!

Subvert! Maybe men should be permitted to just dominate lest we be rendered peados. And women, know their limits for the is no l'amour in the 'heart' of the city

I am afraid I don't follow...

Ruudi_Mentari

bodice ripper wrote: »

I am afraid I don't follow...

Maybe if Peter sutcliffe wrote you'd understand better

Duckworth_Luas

I'm off for a shower!

bodice ripper

Ruudi_Mentari wrote: »

Maybe if Peter sutcliffe wrote you'd understand better

Nah, still lost. Though I may be experiencing low info absorption rate today.

Ruudi_Mentari

bodice ripper wrote: »

Nah, still lost. Though I may be experiencing low info absorption rate today.

I can confirm that.

bodice ripper

Ruudi_Mentari wrote: »

I can confirm that.

Good. Thank you. It is a relief to have that verified.

Pug160

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Roughly 4% of people are psychopaths so the chances are most of us have come across at least one. They exist on every level of society and tend to gravitate towards positions where they have power over others. As the psychopath craves positions of power then logically the percentage of psychopaths in the sphere of politics is much higher than 4%.

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion. They are parasitic predators that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

Meh, I'll sleep just fine tonight.

From what I gather, most of the truly dangerous people need to be both born and made. They need a spark to ignite the fuse.

If anyone hasn't watched it, check out the interview with Richard Kuklinski on YouTube. The Psychiatrist basically says that in another life Kuklinski could have been a test pilot or been able to do another dangerous but legal job.

aido179

I was told by a shrink that I have psychopathic tendencies. I sort of understand it too - I like to be in control / be in a position of power if I can manage it, regardless of whether or not I'm qualified to be there. I also sometimes find it difficult to relate to peoples problems, and I sort of fake interest or sympathy when in actual fact, I don't care, or I can't imagine or feel what it would be like.

On the other hand, I respect people hugely (when that respect is earned), I get lonely sometimes (though rarely), and I feel sad occasionally (maybe I'm really feeling frustrated/angry?)

On the mutated third hand...I think a lot of people think they are psychopaths, and it's such a broad term, it's really meaningless. Like saying a person is confident - some people are far more confident than others or confident at certain things, or in certain situations.

Miss Lockhart

bodice ripper wrote: »

I am afraid I don't follow...

That's how I always feel about Ruudi's posts. I've always just assumed he thinks on some esoteric higher plain than me. I view his posts a bit like Cubist art - I can just about make out the outline of the point but I don't really get it - yet I'm sure it's quality work.

On the whole I agree with the OP. I'm not really sure where people are getting the idea of hysteria over serial killers from the post - I don't see any suggestion of that. I think these sorts may contribute positively overall in their professional lives in some cases but unfortunately I think they are often very destructive in their personal lives.

RDM_83 again

One of my relations was told/warned by a psychiatrist that if he ever met somebody that he felt extremely sympathetic too he was probably dealing with some one with psychopathic tendencies (this is in a particular situation relating to hospitalized people not general life obviously!)

kraggy

We could do with a psychopath for Minister for Health.

bodice ripper

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

That's how I always feel about Ruudi's posts. I've always just assumed he thinks on some esoteric higher plain than me. I view his posts a bit like Cubist art - I can just about make out the outline of the point but I don't really get it - yet I'm sure it's quality work.

.

Oh god, this has thrown my info absorption rate back into question! At least I knew where I stood before.

spock_jones

ive only ever dealt with one person in my life who I believe to have been a psychopath , the complete lack of humanity was striking , ice cold personality and and incredibly cruel and nasty mind - tongue

this person was my boss many years ago while I was overseas

Pug160

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

That's how I always feel about Ruudi's posts. I've always just assumed he thinks on some esoteric higher plain than me. I view his posts a bit like Cubist art - I can just about make out the outline of the point but I don't really get it - yet I'm sure it's quality work.

On the whole I agree with the OP. I'm not really sure where people are getting the idea of hysteria over serial killers from the post - I don't see any suggestion of that. I think these sorts may contribute positively overall in their professional lives in some cases but unfortunately I think they are often very destructive in their personal lives.

Well he is using the term ''psychopath'', in fairness. When I first read it I thought he might have been using the literal clinical term. Maybe he is? 4 percent sounds far too high though obviously, so on second thoughts I'm assuming he means people with certain ''psychopatic'' traits. Does anybody use that term now anyway? I thought it was the more PC term ''sociopath''? Psychopath certainly sounds much scarier though.

Frank Lee Midere

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't think that's true at all. There are varying degrees of psychopathy, many just don't get hung up on other peoples feelings more so that they simply don't care.

What you're describing is the boggie man. Psychopaths are people with a slightly different view of the world than you. In extreme cases they can turn into murderers but it's not a certainty, 4% of the population aren't serial killers.

Whose talking about murderers? The 4% tend to be bankers, CEOs, Politcians, Bishops etc. We are sheep led by wolves.

Capt'n Midnight

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23431793 Psychopaths do not lack empathy, rather they can switch it on at will, according to new research.

Doing tests on psychopaths and raising awareness just trains them how to hide better, but training them to empathise might work

"We know they can generate the same response but they do that in an active and effortful way. Under free-viewing conditions they don't seem to. Just because they can emphasise, doesn't mean they will.

"Psychopathic criminals are clearly different. The million-dollar question is whether we can devise therapeutic interventions that would shift them do this more automatically."

Ruudi_Mentari

I think I might have psychopathic traits, like the residual effect of having been the object of severe psycopathy but then it only comes out online.

tim3000

About a year ago I did an evening course it cost quite a bit but was one of the most interesting things I have yet learned about. The course was about sociopaths pedophiles and psychopaths. A Dr of psychology was lecturing us and the only psychopath he himself felt that he met in the real world (excluding prisons) was the one and only Bertie Ahern. He said he looked through him

Sofiztikated

MadsL wrote: »

I believe it is. There is a documentary called Criminal Minds on TV.

And Dexter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy#Psychopathy_Checklist

According to that checklist, I can see at least one item from three of the four facets of psychopathy in my own personality. Does that make me a psycho?

On a seperate note, watched American Psycho last night for the first time ever. Enjoyable.

Femme_Fatale

Pug160 wrote: »

Well he is using the term ''psychopath'', in fairness. When I first read it I thought he might have been using the literal clinical term. Maybe he is? 4 percent sounds far too high though obviously, so on second thoughts I'm assuming he means people with certain ''psychopatic'' traits. Does anybody use that term now anyway? I thought it was the more PC term ''sociopath''? Psychopath certainly sounds much scarier though.

Aren't psychopath and sociopath different things?

Ruudi_Mentari

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Aren't psychopath and sociopath different things?

A sociopath would be like that I think; only with anitsocial qualities.

Jimmy Garlic

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Aren't psychopath and sociopath different things?

They are one and the same, psychopaths are also described as having 'antisocial personality disorder'.

Dostoevsky

Walter Morrissey from Callan, Co. Kilkenny is definitely a psychopath. Previously found guilty of killing two people, he got a paltry 13 years for this depravity:

Man sentenced to 13 years over violent sexual assault

Photo:
Walter Morrissey (2nd picture)

Ruudi_Mentari

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

They are one and the same, psychopaths are also described as having 'antisocial personality disorder'.

But then they would be very good at putting a face on it; right?!

..oh jeebus this is too close to the bone.

Jimmy Garlic

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Doing tests on psychopaths and raising awareness just trains them how to hide better, but training them to empathise might work

Can they be trained to be compassionate? They can't because there is no compassion in them whatsoever.

B.A._Baracus

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Roughly 4% of people are psychopaths so the chances are most of us have come across at least one. They exist on every level of society and tend to gravitate towards positions where they have power over others. As the psychopath craves positions of power then logically the percentage of psychopaths in the sphere of politics is much higher than 4%.

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion. They are parasitic predators that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

If that's the definition of a phsycopath then there would be a higher number than 4% in this world 7 billion people after all.

I mean we've all encountered people who just didnt give two tosses about anyone but themselves :pac:

Pai Mei

I am not on Facebook. Does that make me a psychopath :rolleyes:

pharmaton

Pai Mei wrote: »

I am not on Facebook. Does that make me a psychopath :rolleyes:

fb afaik has a tendency to highlight psychopathic traits.

so no, your good

FouxDaFaFa

It's unfortunate that we have made the words "psychopathic" and "psychotic" mean the same thing in pop culture.

While you would have to feel sorry for psychopaths as their personal lives must be difficult, I think they are needed for certain roles in society. There are some positions of power and jobs involving being responsible for enormous amounts of money that most (non-psychopathic) people couldn't handle mentally.

wil

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Aren't psychopath and sociopath different things?

As Jimmy said, its a synonym, they are effectively interchangeable terms describing essentially the same "condition" antisocial personality disorder.
I think the term psychopath has been hijacked to describe the archetypal serial murderer/violent personality of the movies - blame Hitchcock.
Ironically, if that makes sense, he himself probably was fairly high on the spectrum.

There was a lecturing psychologist (I think) on John Murray one morning describing the psychopath among us, about 1% iirc.
I think the key terms were lack of empathy, lack of guilt and lack of remorse, and at the upper end, incapable of these. They can and readily do learn to feign these emotions as required to further themselves and become expert manipulators. This lends themselves well to certain occupations and promotion.
They do know right from wrong, but if it doesn't suit them, what's to stop them, they don't have that voice that says DONT.
But to differentiate from ambition or people who don't give a sh1t, to them knifing you in the back for a promotion has the same emotional consequence as literally "knifing you in the back".
(Be thankful if you miss out on that promotion:rolleyes:)
They are experts at fooling the experts and often revel in the attention of psychiatrists, manipulating them too, in criminal cases, dividing diagnoses

He said the best way and only sure way to deal with psychopaths in daily life is to avoid them as far as possible.
Not much use if you work or live with one.

I have had the misfortune to work with someone I am fairly sure was, only looking back on it though. Very clever and very good at his job, but ruthless, total narcissist, extremely two-faced and manipulative, and NASTY, in what he said about coworkers and revelled in describing what he could do to people who crossed him, but an absolute charmer with girls swooning all over him when it suited. If only they heard what he said when they left the room:eek:

Mozzeltoff

It's 4% of the American population is either a psychopath or sociopath. I think it's only 1% of the Irish population that is either a psychopath or sociopath.

K-9

wil wrote: »

As Jimmy said, its a synonym, they are effectively interchangeable terms describing essentially the same "condition" antisocial personality disorder.
I think the term psychopath has been hijacked to describe the archetypal serial murderer/violent personality of the movies - blame Hitchcock.
Ironically, if that makes sense, he himself probably was fairly high on the spectrum.

There was a lecturing psychologist (I think) on John Murray one morning describing the psychopath among us, about 1% iirc.
I think the key terms were lack of empathy, lack of guilt and lack of remorse, and at the upper end, incapable of these. They can and readily do learn to feign these emotions as required to further themselves and become expert manipulators. This lends themselves well to certain occupations and promotion.
They do know right from wrong, but if it doesn't suit them, what's to stop them, they don't have that voice that says DONT.
But to differentiate from ambition or people who don't give a sh1t, to them knifing you in the back for a promotion has the same emotional consequence as literally "knifing you in the back".
(Be thankful if you miss out on that promotion:rolleyes:)
They are experts at fooling the experts and often revel in the attention of psychiatrists, manipulating them too, in criminal cases, dividing diagnoses

He said the best way and only sure way to deal with psychopaths in daily life is to avoid them as far as possible.
Not much use if you work or live with one.

I have had the misfortune to work with someone I am fairly sure was, only looking back on it though. Very clever and very good at his job, but ruthless, total narcissist, extremely two-faced and manipulative, and NASTY, in what he said about coworkers and revelled in describing what he could do to people who crossed him, but an absolute charmer with girls swooning all over him when it suited. If only they heard what he said when they left the room:eek:

Not surprising that banking seems to attract more than most industries according to reports, the archetypal Gordon Gecko character. Tends to be far more associated with right wing politics than left wing, for pretty obvious reasons, so it's in no way an attack on conservatives, it would be the natural fit!

Ruudi_Mentari

The psychos I had to endure were very manipulative with the feigning emotions. Particularly as bully tactic, when breaking someone down like they cared and at the end of the day spoke rotten things about them girls too.

And a problem is it can be attractive, or protective or whatever to a vulnerable girl with this alpha guy looking down his nose, disparaging people and you know maybe that's what happens me with my ipad, with this big man syndrome when i get in this rare opportunity but am no psychopath thank goodness. A narcissist; in my own company yes but a psychopath is a cold ruthless sun of a gun.

Zillah

wil wrote: »

As Jimmy said, its a synonym, they are effectively interchangeable terms describing essentially the same "condition" antisocial personality disorder.
I think the term psychopath has been hijacked to describe the archetypal serial murderer/violent personality of the movies - blame Hitchcock. Ironically
Ironically, if that makes sense, he himself probably was fairly high on the spectrum.

There was a lecturing psychologist (I think) on John Murray one morning describing the psychopath among us, about 1% iirc.
I think the key terms were lack of empathy, lack of guilt and lack of remorse, and at the upper end, incapable of these. They can and readily do learn to feign these emotions as required to further themselves and become expert manipulators. This lends themselves well to certain occupations and promotion.
They do know right from wrong, but if it doesn't suit them, what's to stop them, they don't have that voice that says DONT.
But to differentiate from ambition or people who don't give a sh1t, to them knifing you in the back for a promotion has the same emotional consequence as literally "knifing you in the back".
(Be thankful if you miss out on that promotion:rolleyes:)
They are experts at fooling the experts and often revel in the attention of psychiatrists, manipulating them too, in criminal cases, dividing diagnoses

He said the best way and only sure way to deal with psychopaths in daily life is to avoid them as far as possible.
Not much use if you work or live with one.

I have had the misfortune to work with someone I am fairly sure was, only looking back on it though. Very clever and very good at his job, but ruthless, total narcissist, extremely two-faced and manipulative, and NASTY, in what he said about coworkers and revelled in describing what he could do to people who crossed him, but an absolute charmer with girls swooning all over him when it suited. If only they heard what he said when they left the room:eek:

People have a tendency to assume psychopaths are intelligent. Some can be, of course, but for every Dr. Lecter I'd say there's ten vicious, dumb criminals with little notion of what they are or why they're so profoundly dysfunctional.

Bear in mind, also, that most psychopaths are more danger to themselves than others. Sure they lie, but its usually just a symptom of their inability to function properly than a part of some devious plan. Google "The Mask of Sanity" for one of the first works that describes a bunch of psychopaths, really interesting read. Dysfunctional is the defining characteristic rather than cruel.

wil

Mozzeltoff wrote: »

It's 4% of the American population is either a psychopath or sociopath. I think it's only 1% of the Irish population that is either a psychopath or sociopath.

Immigration. Psychos like to travel?

I'd imagine these figures are at best a guestimate and even then entirely dependent on definition, level on the spectrum and where you draw the line on the bell curve.

Jesus Wept

Mozzeltoff wrote: »

It's 4% of the American population is either a psychopath or sociopath. I think it's only 1% of the Irish population that is either a psychopath or sociopath.

Whatever the actual figure, I doubt it varies significantly.

Mozzeltoff

Andy Carroll wrote: »

Whatever the actual figure, I doubt it varies significantly.

Would rather 1 in 100 rather than 4 in one 100 tbh..

--Kaiser--

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Roughly 4% of people are psychopaths so the chances are most of us have come across at least one. They exist on every level of society and tend to gravitate towards positions where they have power over others. As the psychopath craves positions of power then logically the percentage of psychopaths in the sphere of politics is much higher than 4%.

The phsychopath lacks the basic traits that most of us have that make us human, genuine empathy for others and compassion. They are parasitic predators that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. There is nothing positive about the psychopath, they are the root cause of a lot of our problems on both a national and personal level. Isn't it time that awareness was raised about this issue?.

What a load of ill informed rubbish