Skip to comments.
Psychopaths versus sociopaths: what is the difference? (includes a quiz to see if you are one)
The Conversation ^
| July 27, 2015
| By XANTHE MALLETT — Senior Lecturer in Forensic Criminology at University of New England
Posted on 08/02/2015 1:54:20 PM PDT by Swordmaker
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-99 last
To: sparklite2
"I only scored ten. But I still prefer dogs to people."I like mine BBQ'd. /sarc (just in case)
81
posted on
08/02/2015 4:18:41 PM PDT
by
semaj
(Audentes fortuna juvat: Fortune favors the bold. Be Bold FRiends.)
To: Swordmaker
Lucky Number 7!
I guess that Manifest I always talk about writing is going to be one long Snooze-a-thon, LOL!
82
posted on
08/02/2015 4:25:50 PM PDT
by
Diana in Wisconsin
(I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
To: Admin Moderator
83
posted on
08/02/2015 4:26:08 PM PDT
by
Diana in Wisconsin
(I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
To: Swordmaker
I got a perfect score of 40!
84
posted on
08/02/2015 4:31:12 PM PDT
by
50mm
(Trust nobody and you'll never be disappointed.)
To: Gay State Conservative
I took the test three times and discovered that *I* am not a psychopath but our Community Organizer-In-Chief *and* the Former Twelfth Lady *are*. I was considering going back and putting on their personnas and doing the quiz as each of them and seeing how it would come out. You did it. I suspected it would come out that way. Thanks for doing that.
85
posted on
08/02/2015 4:31:51 PM PDT
by
Swordmaker
( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
To: Swordmaker
Sociopath is a typical APA euphemism. No doubt created so that they didn’t have to tell the subjects doting parents ( i.e. the ones footing the psychiatrists’ exorbitant bills) that their spoiled brats had become monsters.
86
posted on
08/02/2015 4:32:17 PM PDT
by
chb
To: stylecouncilor
I scored 4 because I’m shy, timid and demur. I better go hide back under the bed clutching my pearls. I feel a bit of the vapors coming on.
To: PA Engineer
It makes some sense that the brain could have abnormalities in the areas that control emotion just like it sometimes has abnormalities in other areas. It sounds like they compared people who had head injuries with some of these people. Still, unless you know the nature of their brain when they were young, you could not entirely conclude it was nature and not nurture. Or it could even have been an unknown head injury — baby shaking, falling, concussion, sports, etc. Could it be that they had some head injury along the way that caused damage or were they truly just born unable to empathize or feel guilt, at least in the way that it connects with their ability to feel fear and restraint?
Do you think since it is an abnormality that they cannot be held criminally guilty of crimes? That it is not their fault they were born that way?
88
posted on
08/02/2015 5:05:37 PM PDT
by
The Ghost of FReepers Past
(Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
Could it be that they had some head injury along the way that caused damage or were they truly just born unable to empathize or feel guilt, at least in the way that it connects with their ability to feel fear and restraint?
I think they are born that way. Many other studies indicate there were no traumatic causes in childhood.
Do you think since it is an abnormality that they cannot be held criminally guilty of crimes? That it is not their fault they were born that way?
That is an interesting question. Canada just finished an extensive study and came to the conclusion Psychopaths are not mentally ill and are very conscious of their behavior. Great Britain on the other hand lumped them in with the mentally ill, allowing for guilty by reason of insanity.
My opinion is even if they were born that way, they are aware of their actions. If they are aware of the legal right and wrong, then they should be punished according to society.
A very good link on the subject is here:
Welcome to "Without Conscience" Robert Hare's Web Site devoted to the study of Psychopathy
This is best resource on the subject.
89
posted on
08/02/2015 5:26:31 PM PDT
by
PA Engineer
(Liberate America from the Occupation Media. #2ndAmendmentMatters)
To: Swordmaker
Sociopaths are opportunistic. Psychopaths are goal-driven.
Their commonality is an utter lack of conscience.
Bill is a sociopath. Hillary is a psychopath.
Bill will watch a baseball game on TV, or cheat the law and scam millions, whichever is easier on any particular day.
Hillary will cancel the game, burn down the stadium, force the scam agreement and get signatures in triplicate on a holiday.
Big motivation difference.
90
posted on
08/02/2015 5:34:50 PM PDT
by
Talisker
(One who commands, must obey.)
To: Swordmaker
How can we get Obama, Valerie Jarrett, and Hillary to take this test? Why bother?
Obama - sociopath.
Jarrett and Hillary - psychopaths.
91
posted on
08/02/2015 5:38:35 PM PDT
by
Talisker
(One who commands, must obey.)
To: fivecatsandadog
92
posted on
08/02/2015 5:51:08 PM PDT
by
PAR35
To: Swordmaker
The question about what gender you “identify with” tells me the tests creator had disassociated with reality.
93
posted on
08/02/2015 6:36:41 PM PDT
by
Rides_A_Red_Horse
(Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
To: PA Engineer
One more thing and I won’t bother you any more.
What about Nazi phenom? I read a book about how many started out with a lot of guilt but after awhile they got used to it and stopped feeling guilt at all. They actually began to enjoy it. Isn’t it possible that those labeled psychopaths actually went through a similar transition where they became completely desensitized?
94
posted on
08/02/2015 6:40:16 PM PDT
by
The Ghost of FReepers Past
(Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
To: PA Engineer
BTW, it is not that I didn’t pay attention. I know there are differences in the brain. But differences in the brain can develop, just as with people who study music compared to those who don’t. So brain differences may or may not indicate they were born that way. The only real proof would be to study the children of psychopaths and their brains from birth onward. In my opinion anyway.
I think they are responsible as you say, because they know it is wrong even if they do not feel it is wrong.
95
posted on
08/02/2015 6:52:02 PM PDT
by
The Ghost of FReepers Past
(Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
What about Nazi phenom? I read a book about how many started out with a lot of guilt but after awhile they got used to it and stopped feeling guilt at all. They actually began to enjoy it. Isnt it possible that those labeled psychopaths actually went through a similar transition where they became completely desensitized?
I agree and have wondered the same thing. Many of the camp positions were voluntary which raises a number of questions. Maybe psychopaths were drawn to the positions and thrived.
The camps arose because of issues with the Einsatzgruppen. Hard to believe, but there was concern with mental health issues because of the mass killings. The Nazis found it simpler to send people to be killed then to hunt them down and kill them. They did this on an industrial scale with bureaucrats.
I read the interrogations of Nazi guards and administrators by the US after the war. The US debriefers were stunned at the cold and calculated methods and attitudes they saw. I was struck by the parallels with the Planned Parenthood tapes.
I'm still leaning to them being born that way. They develop their skills with time. In case of the death camps, as long as the administrators were efficient, they were showered with benefits. It may be a case of psychopaths being drawn and thriving in that lifestyle. The German Population in 1939 was 69,623,000. That leaves a population of 1,400,000 potential killers.
Many more may have tolerated killing when killing was obfuscated by language. That takes me back to the Planned Parenthood tapes.
96
posted on
08/02/2015 8:01:18 PM PDT
by
PA Engineer
(Liberate America from the Occupation Media. #2ndAmendmentMatters)
To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
I believe Romans chapter one, which teaches us that everyone is born with an intrinsic knowledge and understanding of the nature and character of God.
In other words, a conscience, a basic understanding of the simple difference between right and wrong.
But, the conscience can be seared, leaving some totally separated from God and in such a state that it is as if they had no conscience.
To: Swordmaker
lol Oh Lord. Surely, we’ll have figured out a way to neutralize them before they get that far. I mean, I agree with what you’re saying, but just how far is society going to let them go?
I got a 5, but I didn’t finish the sentence to see what that means & didn’t read the article. Obviously, I failed the impatience question. :-) Life’s too short...
98
posted on
08/02/2015 8:52:29 PM PDT
by
KGeorge
(Hell no. We ain't forgettin'.)
To: EternalVigilance
Thanks for posting that, EV. I completely agree. Being that we are also physical beings there is also some correlation between our behavior and our physical self. For example many people who are recovering from a severe head injury will go through periods during their recovery where their personality completely changes. In fact some are permanently changed. It has to do with the portion of the brain that was injured. I saw it up close and personal once. Usually they are kept in a locked area during recovery because some really wig out.
We are born with a sin nature and in one respect cannot help but sin. In another respect we are completely guilty and responsible for the sin. In that way we all face a taste of what the psychopath faces. We know what is right but we do not desire it.
I don’t know how all of this is connected. But what I know for sure is that Scripture is right. So thanks for posting that.
99
posted on
08/02/2015 9:28:47 PM PDT
by
The Ghost of FReepers Past
(Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-99 last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson