Are You A Sociopath?

[the eternal]

So, Bean and I are in a thread about very freaky things and how it traumatizes and hurts them personally, and someone who shall remain unnamed callously says, "oooh that's awesome"

"I'm going to check out more of those things right now"

It struck as soo insensitive, and at the same time we thought

THERE MAY BE SOCIOPATHS AMONG US (prolly not her but....)

Could it be you? Anyone you know??

SOCIOPATH-

A person with an antisocial personality disorder, also called a psychopath, acts according to this own interest without consideration of other people. She or he can cause great harm to society. It is difficult to treat them, but trying to convince them that they themself are hurt by their behaviour can sometimes help. It is difficult to protect yourself from psychopaths, since they are clever at manipulating themselves into positions of power.

Samson may, it is thought, have had antisocial personality disorder. The Bible tells of his lies to his parents, his cruelty to animals, his torching the Philistine fields, his frequent brawls, and his unremitting bragging after killing a thousand men, actions fitting the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. A person with antisocial personality disorder was once called a sociopath.

Written by: Gunborg Palme, Gunborg Palme, certified psychologist and certified psychotherapist, teacher and tutor in psychotherapy. First version: 27 Nov 2006. Latest revision: 30 Mar 2007.

[My friend loves to date different guys, have sex with them and after a few weeks or months, dump them. She is a great liar and her mood swings are terrible. She is also an expert in toying around with men's feelings, and she loves self inflated pain. She loves to read people's mind and play pyscho. She is always on her guard against people. This has been going on since she was a teenager and now she is 27 years old.

Is this kind classified as mental illness? Is it very serious and how can I help her???

Answer:

It could be an antisocial personality disorder (psychopath, sociopath) because of the following symptoms:

She is promiscuous

She has had this kind of pattern since she was a teenager

She lacks respect for other people

She humiliates other people

She does not adapt herself to the norms of society for human behavior

She lies

She deceives other people just for fun

She is irritable and aggressive

She does not understand the serious consequences her behaviour can cause her in the future

You can help her by trying to make her aware of how her thoughts and behaviour, so normal for her, are so different from most other people. Point out that she will hurt herself in the long run, because her behaviour will result in her having many enemies.

People with anti-social personality disorder, also called psychopaths, can do much more harm than your friend. If they are in positions where they have power and authority, they may ruin the lives of lots of people. They are often very convincing and are very good at getting what they want. Sometimes the best way to deal with this kind of people, is to avoid all contact and cooperation with them.

In general, it is difficult to treat a person with anti-social personality disorder. To try to get them to understand that they are hurting other persons are often difficult, because they don't have any conscience, and it is hard to help them get one. It may have some effect to convince them that it is in their own interest to change, because their behaviour are hurting themselves in the long run.

[ManicQueen]

Wow, why did you have to call me out like this?

[bean]

Dude, we were so talking about you..we were like, "you know that Manic Queen..she's such a sociopath...she probably has people's heads in her freezer." :laughing :grin

Seriously though, there are a few people that really make me wonder, one of which eternal knows very personally. mhmm. and it's not me - really!

[BrassFusion]

if you assholes don't stop spreading lies about me i'm going to kill all of you

no, seriously... i believe that everyone has a representative id and superego, and what we may call "psychopaths" or "sociopaths" are simply people who have trouble balancing the equation of short-term pleasure with long-term consequences. i don't think there's a big old line in the sand where people fall on one side or the other... someone who makes decisions like, "i'd be so much happier if that asshole was dead, but i'd probably get caught if i killed him," can be a functioning member of society, but it's only a small leap to believe you can get away with it and TRY to kill someone.

i don't want to scare anyone. i personally don't have violent tendencies like that. i guess a lot of people do.

[bean]

if you assholes don't stop spreading lies about me i'm going to kill all of you

Awesome! Can you do it before Tuesday so I don't have to get my taxes done?

no, seriously... i believe that everyone has a representative id and superego, and what we may call "psychopaths" or "sociopaths" are simply people who have trouble balancing the equation of short-term pleasure with long-term consequences. i don't think there's a big old line in the sand where people fall on one side or the other... someone who makes decisions like, "i'd be so much happier if that asshole was dead, but i'd probably get caught if i killed him," can be a functioning member of society, but it's only a small leap to believe you can get away with it and TRY to kill someone.

i don't want to scare anyone. i personally don't have violent tendencies like that. i guess a lot of people do.

And that is what separates good therapists from the shitty ones (well, one of the things, anyway). The good ones realize there's not a definitive line.

I'm going to strangle you now.

:grin

j/k

[JaneDead]

Dude, we were so talking about you..we were like, "you know that Manic Queen..she's such a sociopath...she probably has people's heads in her freezer." :laughing :grin

Seriously though, there are a few people that really make me wonder, one of which eternal knows very personally. mhmm. and it's not me - really!

she does. one time i was there and she offered me "ice cubes" but i insisted they looked like eye balls. she said "shut up and drink it bitch!" and so i did.

i am not a sociopath. or psychopath. i just like baseball.

[Msterbeau]

Someone call?

[Shade Everdark]

Nope. No sociopath, here.

Just a garden variety depressive misanthrope.

[bean]

she does. one time i was there and she offered me "ice cubes" but i insisted they looked like eye balls. she said "shut up and drink it bitch!" and so i did.

i am not a sociopath. or psychopath. i just like baseball.

I knew it!! All of it.

[Homicidalheathen]

But......sociopaths are so fun to hang out with......no really.

[bean]

Yeah. um. no. I've had enough fucked up people in my life.

[maeve]

I was married to one...quite serious. He was diagnosed with antisocial behavioral disorder about the year before we split completely. After several months of therapy and marriage counseling the counsler told me to get away from him and get a divorce. He said it was the first time in his 20 year career he ever told a couple to get divorced. The ex...truely nuts...really.

[sinmantyx]

I was married to one...quite serious. He was diagnosed with antisocial behavioral disorder about the year before we split completely. After several months of therapy and marriage counseling the counsler told me to get away from him and get a divorce. He said it was the first time in his 20 year career he ever told a couple to get divorced. The ex...truely nuts...really.

Wow. That must of been very difficult.

[bean]

Maeve, I understand....

My ex husband was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after he had a major breakdown 6 months after we were married. He showed no signs of a problem before then. He held a knife to my throat (held it so close he drew blood), and tried to strangle me, among other things. He was ok when he took his meds, but he didn't always take them. No more crazies for me please!

[Homicidalheathen]

I know. Same here. I was just being sarcastic again.

I could put a list down of the types of nutties I have been with that would amaze you. At least in clinical terms.

Yeah. um. no. I've had enough fucked up people in my life.

[Scary Guy]

[DarkVampire]

Linky.

I hate everyone.