141. Psychopathy and Psychopaths.

Regretably, there exist in the world people who are totally ruthless. They do not care what happens so long as they gain an advantage. In all things, a certain level of ruthlessness is necessary - otherwise nothing would be achieved. We are not talking about that here. What we are considering here is a medically recognised condition - psychopathy.

The psycopath is often highly intelligent.(And this makes him even more dangerous). He believes that self-gratification is the highest good. He indulges his whims and impulses regardless of the rights of others. He is indifferent (in the uncaring sense) to the suffering of others. In the same way, a psychopath will have no regard for the truth (save where it suits his book) and is capable of the most bare-faced of lies. It is very unwise to take anything said by one at face value. A psychopath may be possessed of a superficial charm which he uses to his advantage. He is ingratiating and manipulative. He is an expert at using others to gain his ends. The psychopath will often only plan for the short-term, losing sight of the bigger picture. He is glib, superficial, impulsive and lacks any sense of responsibility.

A psychopath usually has a grossly inflated sense of his own importance and covets grand titles and trappings of office. They often have an exaggerated faith in their own abilities and fail to see their own shortcomings which are obvious to others.

A psycopath is often impulsive and easily bored.

The psychopath often has his own complex moral code taking elements from religions and philosophies that suit his own beliefs.

They are devoid of conscience and never show remorse.

They are chillingly in control of their emotions.

Differential Diagnosis :-

A PSYCHOTIC is not rational and is unaware of what they are doing or that it is wrong. A PSYCHOPATH underststands the difference between right and wrong and acts violently or criminally because he knows but DOES NOT CARE that his actions have terrible consequences for others.

The psychopath is incapable of feeling guilt. They like to exercise power over others. They lie continuously and are unmoved when found out. They are narcissistic, egocentric and see themselves as above the law and justified in living according to their own rules. Their plans are often on a grand scale. They will justify their actions to the end.

True psychopaths are far more common than one might expect. The estimated occurance in the USA is 1 in every 125. - approximately 2,000,000. New York City has 100,000. Psychopathy does not have a cure. The psychopath sees no reason to change.

These people are extremely dangerous and you should avoid them. For this reason it is importand to recognise the symptoms and identify them. If you work for one, quit. If one works for you, fire him. If you are married to one, annul the marriange.

Cleckley's original list of symptoms of a psychopath:

1. Considerable superficial charm and average or above average intelligence.

2. Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking

3. Absence of anxiety or other "neurotic" symptoms considerable poise, calmness, and verbal facility.

4. Unreliability, disregard for obligations no sense of responsibility, in matters of little and great import.

5.Untruthfulness and insincerity

6. Antisocial behavior which is inadequately motivated and poorly planned, seeming to stem from an inexplicable impulsiveness.

7.Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior

8.Poor judgment and failure to learn from experience

9. Pathological egocentricity. Total self-centeredness incapacity for real love and attachment.

10. General poverty of deep and lasting emotions.

11. Lack of any true insight, inability to see oneself as others do.

12. Ingratitude for any special considerations, kindness, and trust.

13. Fantastic and objectionable behavior, after drinking and sometimes even when not drinking - vulgarity, rudeness, quick mood shifts, pranks.

14. No history of genuine suicide attempts.

15. An impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated seX life.

16. Failure to have a life plan and to live in any ordered way, unless it be one promoting self-defeat.

These people are like M.Scott Peck's "People of the Lie" in that while they exist in every walk of life, they are very often found within religious orders and schools of esoteric teachings (philosophies). These are often the last place one might expect to find them, but they hide there nonetheless.


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