I might be a psycho/sociopath

LegacyUser

I just came across some of the traits and some of them clicked with me, I'm not looking a lot into it but at the same time I find it interesting.

I want to start by saying I'm not violent, I don't want to kill small animals.
But I've a feeling I might be a sociopath and I'd like to know just for the sake of it.

I feel bad for getting in trouble but I don't remember feeling bad for doing something I shouldn't have.
I do nice things for others because it obviously helps improve social standing and relationships..

It's very hard to just talk through it because it sounds idiotic, but I meet a lot of the criteria for being a socio/pyschopath..

It just struck me because I guy I went to school with got into a bad car accident, he's had a couple of operations and he's currently in ICU, I never really liked the guy and he glassed another person I know awhile back..
I just feel bad for the family having to deal with a pr1ck who got into a car with a drunk driver and wrapped it around a wall..

LegacyUser

You’re also ticking some criteria for being autistic if that ever occurred to you?

unattendedbag

While doing a forensic psychology course a few years ago the module on personality disorders came up. The first thing the lecturer says is that it's impossible to go through this without self diagnosing yourself with some of these traits as its only natural.

It takes a series of tests from a trained professional to get a proper diagnosis.

The reality is your probably not psychopathic, just more emotionally hardened. The real sociopaths and psychopaths have zero empathy and never feel bad about doing anything.

Pelvis

If you're afraid you're a sociopath, you're not.

woodchuck

If you want to know for sure, you need to go to a professional.

LegacyUser

Notauser18 wrote: »

You’re also ticking some criteria for being autistic if that ever occurred to you?

I was referred for a psych consult awhile back while at college.
He mentioned aspergers but he said I didn't meet the criteria (just from talking to him and about some basic questions), a cousin of mine has aspergers and we're not really alike.

I can interact with people pretty well, I'm known for being able to chat up girls on nights out as some of my friends ask me for advice.

I think I have some general rules set in place by my parents and what-not, I do try to be a decent person, you get more bee's with honey and all of that.
But I'm also very competitive, if I want something I'm getting it kind of way, I can talk utter nonsense.

I think my parents know, now that I think of it.
They were the ones who sent me to counsellors and doctors, not knowning what was up but that I was definitely different.

LegacyUser

Pelvis wrote: »

If you're afraid you're a sociopath, you're not.

I'm not afraid, I don't really see it as a bad thing for me, but I'm interested..
I am constantly bored so I spend a lot of my time online and it's just something I came across that clicked.

Dial Hard

Sounds more like a lack of empathy, tbh. I'm a "sufferer" myself.

Emme

HiImposting wrote: »

It just struck me because I guy I went to school with got into a bad car accident, he's had a couple of operations and he's currently in ICU, I never really liked the guy and he glassed another person I know awhile back..

Some people would call that karma especially if he has hurt other people as well as your friend. He has been unfortunate but there is nothing wrong with you not having any empathy for him if he has hurt you and others around you in the past.

HiImposting wrote: »

I just feel bad for the family having to deal with a pr1ck who got into a car with a drunk driver and wrapped it around a wall..

That to me is an example of empathy.

I would not think you are a sociopath or a psychopath but that is a decision for a professional to make. Go to a professional as soon as possible to put your mind at ease.

maxsmum

Plenty of those with sociopathic traits do extremely well in life. Use any to your advantage. No professional gives a toss about people's traits unless they end up in prison or hospital tbh.

LegacyUser

If you relate to the a number of the traits then you will probably be experiencing the effects of those traits. Do you suffer from boredom a lot op? Do you have intense yet shallow emotions? How are your interpersonal relationships? Have you ever been accused of being a bully?

You would need to see a professional to be diagnosed. I thought your choice of username was interesting.

LegacyUser

*Forbearance* wrote: »

If you relate to the a number of the traits then you will probably be experiencing the effects of those traits. Do you suffer from boredom a lot op? Do you have intense yet shallow emotions? How are your interpersonal relationships? Have you ever been accused of being a bully?

You would need to see a professional to be diagnosed. I thought your choice of username was interesting.

Why was my choice of username interesting?

I'm constantly bored, I find something that gets me interested for a short while but that usually dies down within a week.
I'm also very impulsive.
I payed €170 for an online course I'm now trying to get out of.
Even in Leaving Cert I constantly changed what I wanted to do in college and didn't study, I still ended up with 425.

I don't really keep in contact with people but I can talk nonsense when I have to, I'm very good at doing it on nights out with girls.

How Soon Is Now

Where in personal issues and your obviously serious about how your feeling here but no joke if you think your a psycho/sociopath then Jesus based on reading what you have wrote i wonder what the **** would people call me....

I taught about going to talk with someone councillor or whatever mainly because i have kids but i just pushed it to one side because the more i taught about it the more i felt feck it i cant afford it and theres more important things going on i need to deal with first. This was for me personally though.

I cant speak for you and im not gonna tell you to just push it to one side incase it really is bothering you and affects you down the line.

Have you anyone you could talk to first like a friend or family member?
Someone who knows you better who could maybe give you some insight into how you act.

Trust me on this one how we see ourselves and what we think is good or bad in ourselves can be seen in very different ways by people around us.

The only reason im replying to this thread because i never post in this section is certain things you mentioned reminded me of myself so i felt i needed to say something.

wiggle16

Hi OP

I am the exact same, if not worse (sans competitiveness). But I don't consider myself socio- or psychopathic.

The fact that you feel bad for the family and are able to articulate that would indicate that you are not a socio- or psychopath.

I would be like you in that I wouldn't feel particularly bad for someone who I really didn't like if they wrapped their car around a pole. Glassing someone is a scummy, vile thing to do, no matter the circumstances - personally I don't think that what has happened to him is the worst thing in the world if that's the kind of person he is. That doesn't make me a sociopath or a psychopath.

I think it comes down to the difference between empathy and compassion. Some people gravitate more towards empathy - they feel an emotional response towards the suffering of another person, while others (like myself) might feel compassion, in the sense that they acknowledge that it might have been better for his family if he had not got into that car, rather than feeling bad for the guy himself. Because in the grand scheme of things I think if you glass another person then dying in a car accident is exactly what you deserve. Texas justice. Perhaps this is how you feel and maybe it's not.

I know this is all armchair psychology but it's just my take on it. I don't think you you have any kind of pathology or that there is something wrong with you. Some people do not get weepy over other people's problems, and are detached by default. There's nothing wrong with you if that's how you are.

How Soon Is Now

OP out of interest how do you feel when you see the threads in After Hours talking about someone who died or was murdered?

LegacyUser

askedthequestion wrote: »

I was referred for a psych consult awhile back while at college.
He mentioned aspergers but he said I didn't meet the criteria (just from talking to him and about some basic questions), a cousin of mine has aspergers and we're not really alike.

I can interact with people pretty well, I'm known for being able to chat up girls on nights out as some of my friends ask me for advice.

I think I have some general rules set in place by my parents and what-not, I do try to be a decent person, you get more bee's with honey and all of that.
But I'm also very competitive, if I want something I'm getting it kind of way, I can talk utter nonsense.

I think my parents know, now that I think of it.
They were the ones who sent me to counsellors and doctors, not knowning what was up but that I was definitely different.

“I do nice things for others because it obviously helps improve social standing and relationships“
This statement along with the lacking of empathy suggested to me perhaps on spectrum. There’s something very clinical and calculated about the over thinking being sound. Most people do nice things because it’s nice to be nice, they don’t think about the gains and dynamics. Tbh that sounds like learned rather than natural behaviour.

Chatting up girls is all well and good but what are your relationships like? Aside from that I think most people would have most concern and empathy for those close to them.

LegacyUser

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

OP out of interest how do you feel when you see the threads in After Hours talking about someone who died or was murdered?

I don't really think about it.
Bowies death affected me, because he's someone I look up to, but I didn't feel sad, just that was the post I saw and thought 'well sh.t'..

I'm busy on reddit but I spend time on some subs that basically just show video/security cam footage of people dying, I mean a guy getting stabbed to death with a screwdriver, a family getting crushed by an overturning lorry.

As a teen I wanted to be a surgeon, I'm good with blood, guts and gore, I'm calm under pressure and I'm very interested in human anatomy.. plus money and respect..


Regarding your past post I was probably just being a little soft, it was the most recent thing I've noticed.

I don't particularly care but I'm very interested at the same time.

My father has accused me of being cruel to our dogs, I haven't.
I love our pets, but I get annoyed easily, we start arguing dogs run for the door and I get more annoyed at the dog for wanting to get out, so I start ffing and blinding..

I jumped between groups in school, everyone from the sh.ts who've dropped out now to a guy who's half way through studying medicine.. I've always been able to do that.
I assumed lying came naturally to everyone, I can talk my way out of anything.

I do have very bad anger issues I'm lucky my dad fixes phones because I've thrown mine at walls, hopped them off the ground, , I've always been very impulsive too, changing between ideas, jumping from thing to thing.. between all of this my parents thought I might be bipolar, but nope..

How Soon Is Now

opopopopop wrote: »

I don't really think about it.
Bowies death affected me, because he's someone I look up to, but I didn't feel sad, just that was the post I saw and thought 'well sh.t'..

I'm busy on reddit but I spend time on some subs that basically just show video/security cam footage of people dying, I mean a guy getting stabbed to death with a screwdriver, a family getting crushed by an overturning lorry.

As a teen I wanted to be a surgeon, I'm good with blood, guts and gore, I'm calm under pressure and I'm very interested in human anatomy.. plus money and respect..


Regarding your past post I was probably just being a little soft, it was the most recent thing I've noticed.

I don't particularly care but I'm very interested at the same time.

My father has accused me of being cruel to our dogs, I haven't.
I love our pets, but I get annoyed easily, we start arguing dogs run for the door and I get more annoyed at the dog for wanting to get out, so I start ffing and blinding..

I jumped between groups in school, everyone from the sh.ts who've dropped out now to a guy who's half way through studying medicine.. I've always been able to do that.
I assumed lying came naturally to everyone, I can talk my way out of anything.

I do have very bad anger issues I'm lucky my dad fixes phones because I've thrown mine at walls, hopped them off the ground, , I've always been very impulsive too, changing between ideas, jumping from thing to thing.. between all of this my parents thought I might be bipolar, but nope..

I know the subreddits your talking about im subscribed to ones like them myself. I have had an interest in watching videos like that since i was a teenager i find it incredibly interesting. Ive seen all kinds in video and person over the years only things that ever really had an effect on me where stuff aimed at dogs. Saying that i get where your coming from with the losing the head with pets thing i used to lose the head with few dogs i had in the past but mainly because they would just make show of me out in public or whatever.


I have a seriously bad temper/short fuse which is why drink can set me off in all kinds of ways and situations. Ive done things i looked back on and taught wtf was i doing i only felt bad mainly because i hated to think i made myself look bad in front of others because i see myself as better and above most people and hate to think of people having anything to score points against me with.


I care about my family and friends id do anything for them but others i dunno i do nice things when it suits me.

LegacyUser

Notauser18 wrote: »

“I do nice things for others because it obviously helps improve social standing and relationships“
This statement along with the lacking of empathy suggested to me perhaps on spectrum. There’s something very clinical and calculated about the over thinking being sound. Most people do nice things because it’s nice to be nice, they don’t think about the gains and dynamics. Tbh that sounds like learned rather than natural behaviour.

Chatting up girls is all well and good but what are your relationships like? Aside from that I think most people would have most concern and empathy for those close to them.

I've seen quite a few mental health professionals be that through my parents wanting me to go, or by a career guidance counsellors opinion.
None of them thought I had aspergers, they said 'there's not much we can do but you've obviously got some issues to deal with, so counselling to fix the problem at hand' was what I was usually told.

I've a cousin with aspergers, one big different I note is he feels very strongly when people are hurt.
He's really loving and caring, he's a part of a number of similar volunteering agencies because he wants to help..

I don't feel it in the same way, I don't like seeing people hurt because I'm not sadistic, but I remember as a kid being at a St Patricks day parade, it was a fairly rough area with a lot of travellers around..
I was with my parents and sibling and as we walked back to our car I heard a kid screaming and roaring for help, he came walking up past us just very pale.
I saw his face first and then his hand, his fingers were smashed, blood pumping, bones sticking out, I thought 'he better not get blood on me'..

I think a lot of it plays down to my parents raising me well.. I know I'm not 100% normal, my best friend was a sadistic f*cker who brought penknives to school.
His mother would say I was the brains he was the brawn.
He can't control himself, not even the words out of his mouth.
I can, we're very alike but I'm the one who never got caught.

LegacyUser

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

I know the subreddits your talking about im subscribed to ones like them myself. I have had an interest in watching videos like that since i was a teenager i find it incredibly interesting. Ive seen all kinds in video and person over the years only things that ever really had an effect on me where stuff aimed at dogs. Saying that i get where your coming from with the losing the head with pets thing i used to lose the head with few dogs i had in the past but mainly because they would just make show of me out in public or whatever.


I have a seriously bad temper/short fuse which is why drink can set me off in all kinds of ways and situations. Ive done things i looked back on and taught wtf was i doing i only felt bad mainly because i hated to think i made myself look bad in front of others because i see myself as better and above most people and hate to think of people having anything to score points against me with.


I care about my family and friends id do anything for them but others i dunno i do nice things when it suits me.

Yeah I've had that with pets in public too, I've only entered one dog show and I just got fed up.

I'm not so much like that with drink.
I loose whatever cover I have I guess is the best way to put it.
I've got belted across the face for being blunt and cruel.
Saying a girl is 'hot when you're not talking'.. to her face does that.

One thing I forgot to mention is my dad had cancer during my Leaving Cert.. It didn't affect my results.
He had his prostate removed and my parents told us it was a hernia at first, I was told soon after the operation it was cancer.
That was early into the school year and he was recovering throughout.. he's fine now and I'd miss him if he was gone.
I never told anyone until now, didn't talk to anyone, didn't bring it up to doctors.. he just had cancer and now he doesn't.

My younger dog nearly died from cancer too a year or so ago, she was fine after the operation.
My older dog was nearly put down 3 times in the past 2 months, a tumour popped out of her rear end, vet came intending to put her down but ended up removing it, I held her down for that.
She was brought to the vet twice after thinking it was the end, I didn't cry but I would have missed her.

LegacyUser

Notauser18 wrote: »

“I do nice things for others because it obviously helps improve social standing and relationships“
This statement along with the lacking of empathy suggested to me perhaps on spectrum. There’s something very clinical and calculated about the over thinking being sound. Most people do nice things because it’s nice to be nice, they don’t think about the gains and dynamics. Tbh that sounds like learned rather than natural behaviour.

Chatting up girls is all well and good but what are your relationships like? Aside from that I think most people would have most concern and empathy for those close to them.

Just on the relationships aspect.
Only had 2 short relationships at 13, 2 weeks max.
I've been successful dating but never long enough to be in a relationship.
I've no real fear rejection, I can just walk up to a girl and chat away, if I get shot down immediately it's usually her thinking too highly of herself, but after that I just cut my loses and move on.

maxsmum

Have you looked into narcissistic personality disorder... I think you're heading that route (no offence)
Check Dsm V criteria.

begbysback

Apathy - I too am blessed with it op, embrace it

John_D80

Self diagnosis of mental disorders/conditions is a deeper rabbit hole than that of physical conditions.

These online “tests” and surveys are mostly codswallop designed to be shared on Facebook and give the subject bragging rights of a sort.

Even when reading the classic signs of psychopathy/sociopathy most people will relate those signs to themselves by considerining isolated incidents in their lives. Like you did in your post OP when referring to the person in the car accident.

You can’t diagnose a mental condition any more than you can a physical one. If you’re concerned about it, it’s really a professional you should be consulting rather than boards.

Faith

I'm wondering what you're hoping to gain by labelling yourself? Is there something about yourself that you find troubling (and would like to change) or that you'd like professional help with, or is it just curiosity?

LegacyUser

John_D80 wrote: »

Self diagnosis of mental disorders/conditions is a deeper rabbit hole than that of physical conditions.

These online “tests” and surveys are mostly codswallop designed to be shared on Facebook and give the subject bragging rights of a sort.

Even when reading the classic signs of psychopathy/sociopathy most people will relate those signs to themselves by considerining isolated incidents in their lives. Like you did in your post OP when referring to the person in the car accident.

You can’t diagnose a mental condition any more than you can a physical one. If you’re concerned about it, it’s really a professional you should be consulting rather than boards.

Yeah that's a very good point.
I'm trying to remain as objective as I can, and I'm looking at what others have said about me to see if it all fits.
It's just much easier to use a single event than as a whole.

LegacyUser

maxsmum wrote: »

Have you looked into narcissistic personality disorder... I think you're heading that route (no offence)
Check Dsm V criteria.

None taken.

I have looked at it and while there is some over lap I don't think I have NPD, one big thing I've noticed is I don't need constant attention or admiration.
I've gone months without talking to people other than my family.
I've come back to school after summer holidays and people have said 'god where have you been I haven't talked to you at all!', these are people I'd have spent a lot of time with the year before.

I'm also very impulsive and quite aggressive.
I've bruises all over the outside of my hand from slamming it against walls and desktops.

I never really make lasting connections with people and I don't feel the need to.
I have been raised well, so I'm probably more psycho than socio.
I just don't feel empathy, I've had to look up the term because I can be sympathetic, but I can't put myself in their shoes.

LegacyUser

Faith wrote: »

I'm wondering what you're hoping to gain by labelling yourself? Is there something about yourself that you find troubling (and would like to change) or that you'd like professional help with, or is it just curiosity?

I'm mainly curious.

I have bad impulsivity that gets in the way quite a bit, I'd just like to have more control over that aspect of things but at the same time it's not entirely a bad thing.

I'm bored and looking for something to do, I came across the 20 traits and I match up with a lot of them..