Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TECO]

Ego Maniacs or Narcissists.

[meangradin]

I studied Forensic Psychology with Dr Robert Hare at UBC. For those who don't know who he is, he devised the Psychopathic Checklist, and is one of the worlds leading authorites on Psychopathy. In his book "Without Conscience" he argues that psychopaths make up 1-4% of the criminal population, but commit 50% of the crime. He further argues that they occupy all levels of society and are life long criminals that only "slow down" due to age. One point that intrigued me (and this was a long time ago) was that he was doing work in comparing the brain waves of psychopaths with "normal" people. Basically, when most people hear certain words we have an emotional reaction that can be measured in brain waves, ie. when I hear the word rape my brain waves "spike." However, the brain waves of psychopaths remain flat; hence he was trying to argue that they were prewired somehow to have no empathy and be emotionally flat. In fact, he likened there reactions to a two year old. His goal was to detect (PCL), then remove from society (Dangerous Offender Laws).

As mentioned earlier, its been a while since I read the book so I assume it has been reprinted and updated, but check it out if you want to.

[jajdude]

I knew the 1% guess was not outlandish. Christ, half the people everywhere are nuts.

[PigeonFart]

Don't forget, we tend to move in specific social circles and socialize with people that are kind of similar to ourselves.

So if you're normal then you're unlikely to even encounter a psychopath/sociopath/ (or someone with Antisocial Personality Disorder). So that 1% can be misleading because maybe that 1% are locked away in prison, or they're down some backalley waiting to rape some grandmother. You're unlikely to meet a fellow English teacher who could be placed in such a category! That's comforting for those who share an apartment with other teachers.

[peppermint]

[Tiger Beer]

My female coworker from Australia and I were talking about this the other day.

She said something that made sense, that it is quite easy for someone to be a sociopath. She commented that as a woman, you frequently meet men who promise you the world...assist to help you move, all kinds of stuff. Then try get you in bed, and they are gone.

She was saying that is 'sociopathic' behavior, just the intention of that one thing, and wooing all along, and then out the door moving on real quick after getting the one thing they wanted from you.

From our conversation, I gathered that most men don't attract it, so I don't personally experience direct sociopathic behavior, but that many women do encounter it. It made me rethink the concept of 'sociopathic' behavior.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

So this friend of yours offered sex in exchange for some heavy lifting?

[blaseblasphemener]

People like these are actually not hard to spot.

Most people are normal, and follow very standard forms of behavior. We may differ in our likes and dislikes, but we behave according to standard norms.

Sociopaths/Psychopaths/Narcissists however, will betray themselves with subtle clues. They will be a little too friendly, or will start off with little telling behaviors that many people are quick to dismiss. They may be just oh so charming or oh so agreeable. They can be men or women.

They will try to find targets who are too trusting. Once they see that you are fair game, the fangs will come out. If you are wise to them, they will knowingly move on to the next sucker.

[tfunk]

I don't think that someone who exhibits sociopathic behavior is necessarily a sociopath. For example, somebody living in a poor inner city ghetto may have learned to adapt 'sociopathic like' behavior in order to appear tough or to emotionally survive a tough environment.

I can think of examples in the media where apathetic, cynical and manipulative people are heros. Eminem, Jack Ass...

Troubled teenagers can exhibit a lot of the characteristics of a sociopath but I would be hesitant to label them as such.

[jajdude]

Yeah, it's a psychological disorder, not just an act. A lack of conscience or empathy for others is not a choice. That's what makes it disturbing and incurable.