If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?Depends how you define care.
On an intellecular level I can be glad that someone exists and want them to remain in my life. The difference (I can only say what I believe since I have as much understanding of your views as you do of mine) is that I don't feel it- there is no emotion involved. Since I don't form emotional bonds and don't empathise I don't really care about their feeling as long as they behave normally.
This is a very crucial point. If you feel concern at the idea of being a psychopath you are not one. Without guilt you can't be upset about not feeling it so psychopaths are either happy the way they are or indifferent."if you're worried about being a psychopath, then you're probably not a psychopath"Last edited by Aoide; 23-07-2012 at 00:07. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?A lot of people don't factor in sociopaths into this equation.
By definition, a psychopath is someone who is diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder(simply meaning their behaviours go against societal norms) who's behaviours manifest into perverted, criminal and aggressive acts without feeing remorse/empathy.
A sociopath is someone who is affected with a personality disorder, often marked by behaviour that is antisocial.
See the difference? Those who claim that not all psychopaths are dangerous are incorrect in that, the dangerous behavior is what switches someone from a sociopath label to a psychopath.
I'm a licensed psychiatric technician(here in California) and I spent 3 years working at a maximum security forensic hospital. The unit I was assigned to housed 50+/- of California's top sexually violent predators. There were about 600 in the entire hospital. Thankfully a law was passed in 1998 to keep these guys off the streets after their prison sentences were up. ALL of them had some form of psychopathy and/or sociopathy.
Anyway, to answer the question of the OP, the chance of you coming in contact with a psychopath/sociopath is probably greater than you think. But that doesn't mean you will necessarily ever be hurt by one of them.Last edited by AndromedaLight; 23-07-2012 at 00:18. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?The 1% figure is incorrect. I would agree that 1% of people are not 'the full ticket' mentally, but if that was really the case of being a psychopath, that would mean there are ~ 10 psychopaths in my school LOL.
I think the figure stating about 0.00001% before may be more accurate.
Edit: Thank you for the negs. You are obviously an idiot if you can't even reply to my post. My statement was very general, so I don't see what there was to neg...Last edited by Coke1; 23-07-2012 at 16:18. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?just browsed a few threads on there... very eye opening and very interesting.(Original post by Ham22)
Visit http://www.psychforums.com/antisocial-personality/ if you want to explore the mind of the psychopathic. A bunch of them hang out there and it's quite eye opening.
Can't say I have personally known any people who I suspect were psychopaths that I can think of. I have come in to contact with a few people who gave off extreme predatory vibes though. There was also an incident in my extended social circle with an individual who committed a truly heinous crime and then reportedly showed zero remorse throughout the trial. He must have been a psycho. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?Yeah, highly likely. But you don't know when it will manifest itself in really psychopathic behavior like that Batman shooting guy.(Original post by Bellissima)
it would mean it's highly likely I've come into contact with psychopaths, whatever way their psychopathy makes them behave... but if 1/100 people are psychopaths does that mean, in my school of 200 people in each year, at least one of those people were likely to have been psychopaths? and in my entire school which had around 1000 people in... it is highly likely that there was one or more psychpaths? -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?not sure i'll be able to sleep tonight after looking at that website...(Original post by Ham22)
Visit http://www.psychforums.com/antisocial-personality/ if you want to explore the mind of the psychopathic. A bunch of them hang out there and it's quite eye opening.
Can't say I have personally known any people who I suspect were psychopaths that I can think of. I have come in to contact with a few people who gave off extreme predatory vibes though. There was also an incident in my extended social circle with an individual who committed a truly heinous crime and then reportedly showed zero remorse throughout the trial. He must have been a psycho. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?Lol. They can't get you through your computer screen...It is shocking isn't it. You'll get over it. I was appalled at first, but now it doesn't bother me so much. Its made me aware of the breadth of types of people in the world.(Original post by Bellissima)
not sure i'll be able to sleep tonight after looking at that website...
I avoid the crap they post about animals. Its moderated so usually there's nothing too bad posted. I guess it's solid proof that the notion 'all people are basically good' is b.s. Some people are basically very bad. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?i'm not so much appalled at them so much... i don't know... i accept that is what they are like, they can't help it... it's more disturbing and unsettling than appalling for me... it puzzles me that some of them have spouses that know what they are like... i can't judge them but it makes you wonder whether they have low self esteem to be with someone they know holds no emotional feelings towards them... some of the discussions on there do make me feel rather sick though... like you said with the animals, i just shut the page off... the way a couple talked about their children with extreme detachment or as a belonging... it's not something i can understand.(Original post by Ham22)
Lol. They can't get you through your computer screen...It is shocking isn't it. You'll get over it. I was appalled at first, but now it doesn't bother me so much. Its made me aware of the breadth of types of people in the world.
I avoid the crap they post about animals. Its moderated so usually there's nothing too bad posted. I guess it's solid proof that the notion 'all people are basically good' is b.s. Some people are basically very bad. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?It isn't that black and white. I can't talk for the people on that site since I only exhit sociopathic tendencies rather than having the condition (and even I find many of them disturbing) but relationships are possible even without strong emotional connections. I have friends who I value and would work hard to keep. It is possible to value someones company without emotions.i can't judge them but it makes you wonder whether they have low self esteem to be with someone they know holds no emotional feelings towards them -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?If one such friend who you valued and worked hard to keep died, what would go through your head?(Original post by Aoide)
It isn't that black and white. I can't talk for the people on that site since I only exhit sociopathic tendencies rather than having the condition (and even I find many of them disturbing) but relationships are possible even without strong emotional connections. I have friends who I value and would work hard to keep. It is possible to value someones company without emotions. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?i'm not sure i would feel comfortable knowing my gf/bf didn't love me... just valued me for the feeling i give them... which i suppose is what love is a response to... but i just wouldn't be happy.(Original post by Aoide)
It isn't that black and white. I can't talk for the people on that site since I only exhit sociopathic tendencies rather than having the condition (and even I find many of them disturbing) but relationships are possible even without strong emotional connections. I have friends who I value and would work hard to keep. It is possible to value someones company without emotions. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?I'm not entirely sure. Over the last few years i've lost friends and distant family and it doesn't affect me, I would just carry on as usual. Unlike others I would not dwell on it. At worst I would just feel nothing (an actual blank feeling). I would have angry moments when I can no longer do the things I used to because they aren't alive. It sounds cold but I would try and find some one or thing to replace them as soon as possible. I wouldn't take this as the typical sociopath response because I care a lot more than most.If one such friend who you valued and worked hard to keep died, what would go through your head? -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?Just interested in how people like yourself react to that sort of thing. It sounds like your response would be somewhat egocentric - it's about the effect their presence or lack of has on you.(Original post by Aoide)
I'm not entirely sure. Over the last few years i've lost friends and distant family and it doesn't affect me, I would just carry on as usual. Unlike others I would not dwell on it. At worst I would just feel nothing (an actual blank feeling). I would have angry moments when I can no longer do the things I used to because they aren't alive. It sounds cold but I would try and find some one or thing to replace them as soon as possible. I wouldn't take this as the typical sociopath response because I care a lot more than most.
I haven't had anyone die, and am very interested to see my reaction when it does happen. I did have a family member recently get very ill, and it didn't worry me whatsoever. I don't think I'd have any distinction between a person dying, and a person moving to live abroad without internet. Egocentric again.
I don't have the emotional connection in the first place, so there's nothing to sever. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?Well those terms must be unique to California, as they are not the definitions the rest of the world uses.(Original post by AndromedaLight)
By definition, a psychopath is someone who is diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder(simply meaning their behaviours go against societal norms) who's behaviours manifest into perverted, criminal and aggressive acts without feeing remorse/empathy.
A sociopath is someone who is affected with a personality disorder, often marked by behaviour that is antisocial. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?That is how I would feel. Rather than lacking the ability to care, i just don't form emotional bonds so I haven't lost anything.I haven't had anyone die, and am very interested to see my reaction when it does happen. I did have a family member recently get very ill, and it didn't worry me whatsoever. I don't think I'd have any distinction between a person dying, and a person moving to live abroad without internet. Egocentric again.
I don't have the emotional connection in the first place, so there's nothing to sever. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?I was under the impression that a sociopath is someone who's behaviour reflects anti-social personality disorder (DSM-IV), whereas a psychopaths behaviour reflects ASPD, but they also score high on the personality test. (In other words, sociopathy is a behaviour, psychopathy is an attitude)(Original post by AndromedaLight)
A lot of people don't factor in sociopaths into this equation.
By definition, a psychopath is someone who is diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder(simply meaning their behaviours go against societal norms) who's behaviours manifest into perverted, criminal and aggressive acts without feeing remorse/empathy.
A sociopath is someone who is affected with a personality disorder, often marked by behaviour that is antisocial.
See the difference? Those who claim that not all psychopaths are dangerous are incorrect in that, the dangerous behavior is what switches someone from a sociopath label to a psychopath.
I'm a licensed psychiatric technician(here in California) and I spent 3 years working at a maximum security forensic hospital. The unit I was assigned to housed 50+/- of California's top sexually violent predators. There were about 600 in the entire hospital. Thankfully a law was passed in 1998 to keep these guys off the streets after their prison sentences were up. ALL of them had some form of psychopathy and/or sociopathy.
Anyway, to answer the question of the OP, the chance of you coming in contact with a psychopath/sociopath is probably greater than you think. But that doesn't mean you will necessarily ever be hurt by one of them. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?Would there be any scenarios where you'd probably want others to succeed in life? Scenarios where there'd be little to no real impact on your quality of life.(Original post by Aoide)
That is how I would feel. Rather than lacking the ability to care, i just don't form emotional bonds so I haven't lost anything.
At the moment, it just sounds like a very neutral and detached way of living. Sort of just like minding your own business. -
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Re: If ~1% of people are psychopaths, do I know one?lol. Kelvin McKenzie(Original post by zaliack)
Psychopaths are really good at blending into society. They basically don't care about lying and are able to manipulate themselves to suit different people. Apparently, psychopaths are also good at holding high level jobs in businesses, because of their ruthless approach to getting the job done. So it's likely there are a few psychopaths *cough*Bob Diamond *cough* who regularly appear in mainstream news.
