Encounters with Psychopaths and Sociopaths

[Queequeg]

Listening to The Sociopath Next Door.  Hannibal got me on a bit of a psychology/neurology fix; I just finished Mind on Fire: My Month of Madness, which was the primary inspiration for Jack's anti-MNDA receptor encephalitis, and now moving on to psychopathy and sociopathy.

Less interested in "oh my ex husband/girlfriend/wife/" and more people who did not appear to have functional system of empathy, glib charm, and inability to adhered to social standards. 

I'm pretty sure I have a paternal cousin Jacob would score pretty highly.  He has the weird Idaho aw-shucks charm and some superficial charisma, but he beat the shit out of me every chance he got when we were alone, and picked on me constantly whenever I was struggling with outdoor activities (read: whenever I was involved in outdoor activities.)  He also "offered" to sell my fathers' 500$ camera on Ebay, and then refused to give my father any of the near-500$ he got from the sale.  He went on a mission to Brazil and I just kind of imagine he murdered prostitutes down there.  He has the weird, scary "lizard eyes" that the book associates with real sociopaths.   

[Ideologue]

Asshole does not equal sociopath.  Most of that is recognizable human behavior (bullying, stealing), unless he did go and murder prostitutes.

Sometimes I think I have a stripe of sociopathy in me, due to lacking much sense of the value of human life, but it's more like I'm socially awkward and hateful.  I probably wouldn't take care of three cats if I were a sociopath.

[Queequeg]

I'm trying to make that distinction. 

My cousin Jacob is very, very strange.  His eyes look cold, but he's almost always smirking.  He steals; iirc he was also once arrested for stealing a car but somehow got off.  Whatever knowledge I have of him seems to fit the key criteria of sociopathy; above-average intelligence, flat affect, superficial charm, cruelty and deceitfulness, inability to live within societal norms.  If he was a substance-abuser he'd be 6/6, but he's Mormon.  He also really looks like Bundy.  I mean, a lot.  Mormon Bundy. 

TBH I'm particularly interested in those with law enforcement background, BB and CdM for instance. 

[Razgovory]

Most are dull petty criminals and whores.  You've probably met quite a few in your life, it's not extremely uncommon.  Imagine some of the people you went to school with that were bullies, troublemakers and eventually dropped out.  You probably had nothing more then contempt for them.  Those are your typical Sociopaths.

[Queequeg]

There are a lot of different types.  A lot of them are bums or addicts or prostitutes. 

[Queequeg]

TBH I'm kind of skeptical of the category; only 2,000 years ago both my Celtic and Germanic ancestry would busily slaughter captured soldiers for the glory of Tiwaz or Taranis.  That's why I'm interested in anecdotes. 

[Razgovory]

There are a lot of different types.  A lot of them are bums or addicts or prostitutes.

Most tend toward crime.  Poor impulse control, aggressive behavior and amoral outlook often lands you in jail.  Honestly most would be pitiable if they weren't so vile.

[The Brain]

I once saw a guy carrying around a nice Chianti. Counts?

[Queequeg]

TBH I think it's entirely possible to have pity for sociopaths.  Even guys like Dahmer are at least as pathetic as they are horrifying. 

[Razgovory]

TBH I'm kind of skeptical of the category; only 2,000 years ago both my Celtic and Germanic ancestry would busily slaughter captured soldiers for the glory of Tiwaz or Taranis.  That's why I'm interested in anecdotes.

I do not think that qualifies as Sociopathy.  Sociopathy is a mental dysfunction.  I don't think it should be confused with people from brutal cultures.

[Neil]

TBH I'm kind of skeptical of the category; only 2,000 years ago both my Celtic and Germanic ancestry would busily slaughter captured soldiers for the glory of Tiwaz or Taranis.  That's why I'm interested in anecdotes.

Yeah, but that was well within social norms.

[DGuller]

TBH I'm kind of skeptical of the category; only 2,000 years ago both my Celtic and Germanic ancestry would busily slaughter captured soldiers for the glory of Tiwaz or Taranis.  That's why I'm interested in anecdotes.

I do not think that qualifies as Sociopathy.  Sociopathy is a mental dysfunction.  I don't think it should be confused with people from brutal cultures.

Even mentally healthy people are capable of incredible brutality if they're conditioned the right way.  In fact, it's the concept of limited warfare and mercy for the losers that's highly artificial and intellectual in nature.

[The Brain]

Pharao smiting foreigners.

[Jacob]

Pharao smiting foreigners.

Never figured you for an Egyptian Supremacist.

[The Brain]

  I'm not a superracist.