Do you ever wonder if you're a sociopath?

[Sum Dum Gai]

Not like full blown axe murderer or something, but closer to it than the average person?

Profile of the Sociopath

This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.


* Glibness and Superficial Charm

* Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

* Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

* Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

* Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

* Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

* Incapacity for Love

* Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

* Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

* Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

* Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

* Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

* Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

* Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

* Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

Let's just say that more than a couple of these resonate with me. You can't actually be crazy if you think you're crazy though right? Or is that an urban legend?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Nope, none of them resonated with me but I do see my brother in a few of them. . . .

[The J]

You can't actually be crazy if you think you're crazy though right? Or is that an urban legend?

Urban legend. Many people who are mentally unfit/insane recognize this, including numerous serial killers.

[Befferz]

Jan 12, 2011 14:46:45 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

Let's just say that more than a couple of these resonate with me. You can't actually be crazy if you think you're crazy though right? Or is that an urban legend?

Steps away from Dark quietly...

[Sum Dum Gai]

I should be clear, I'm not worried or thinking about going on any killing sprees. It's just that I don't seem to be as affected when other people do. Watching those animal commercials where they show all the abused puppies and kittens doesn't tug at my heart strings. If anything it can get my gag reflex going since some of those animals look diseased and sick. No way in hell I'd bring that into my house. When scum bag people pray on other people, I quite often have as much contempt for the victim as I do the perp. I don't think I'm heartless, but I wonder if I was born without as much empathy as other people.

Anyone else ever feel that way?

[zibazinski]

Are you my EX? No, truly, I have ZERO pity for people but plenty for animals so many would think I am cold and heartless, too.

[Opti]

< Walks away slowly, wishing she did not read this thread. >

[Miss Tequila]

Jan 12, 2011 14:53:47 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

I should be clear, I'm not worried or thinking about going on any killing sprees. It's just that I don't seem to be as affected when other people do. Watching those animal commercials where they show all the abused puppies and kittens doesn't tug at my heart strings. If anything it can get my gag reflex going since some of those animals look diseased and sick. No way in hell I'd bring that into my house. When scum bag people pray on other people, I quite often have as much contempt for the victim as I do the perp. I don't think I'm heartless, but I wonder if I was born without as much empathy as other people.

Anyone else ever feel that way?

It depends. I lack empathy when a person puts themselves in the situation (a drug addict who goes to jail for selling drugs, a drunk driver who kills himself when he could have called a cab, a victim of domestic violence who refused to leave, etc.).

However, when it comes to a situation a person can't control (children being abused or killed, animal abuse, someone getting a disease and dying) then I have been known to cry when hearing or reading about the story.

[Deleted]

Not me. I'm just your garden-variety misanthrope And the older I get, the more misanthropic I get

[Bluerobin]

Wow, now I find out I am normal! I always thought I was crazy. Whew! I don't have to worry about the guys in the white coats.

[Miss Tequila]

Reading the list I do not see me in any of those descriptions.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Dark I think you are just really cynical, not a sociopath.

I don't have to worry about the guys in the white coats

Nope, just us girls in white coats you need to watch out for!

[Sum Dum Gai]

I don't know. I still haven't made up my mind about myself, but I might be a lot closer to bat shit crazy than is really healthy.

[Peace Of Mind]

<<unfriends Dark>>

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

One of three people are crazy. If the other two people aren't, it's you.

[Befferz]

Jan 12, 2011 14:53:47 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

I should be clear, I'm not worried or thinking about going on any killing sprees. It's just that I don't seem to be as affected when other people do. Watching those animal commercials where they show all the abused puppies and kittens doesn't tug at my heart strings. If anything it can get my gag reflex going since some of those animals look diseased and sick. No way in hell I'd bring that into my house. When scum bag people pray on other people, I quite often have as much contempt for the victim as I do the perp. I don't think I'm heartless, but I wonder if I was born without as much empathy as other people.

Anyone else ever feel that way?

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Like Tina, I don't have any empathy for someone who brought the suffering on themselves. But even if it's something that could happen to anyone, sometimes the farther removed I am from it, the less I feel. And then I feel bad that I don't feel bad.

[Loopdilou]

There's a reason I don't let him own guns or play with fire

[zibazinski]

Cynical may be EXACTLY the right word for it. Too many times you read about "charities" misusing funds, bad parents getting rewarded for their bad parenting, politicians lying always, incompetent workers getting the same pay. You name it, it gets old. Criminals with all the rights.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It's human nature not to feel as much the further away we get from people we know. It's hard for human beings to empathsize with strangers and statistics. Which is why personal stories are so effective in commericals for charities than giving out numbers. We can relate much more to a personal one on one story than we can to "8 out of 10 women die of cervical cancer" or whatever.

That doesn't make us sociopaths, that makes us human.

[Peace Of Mind]

Jan 12, 2011 15:03:24 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

One of three people are crazy. If the other two people aren't, it's you.

It's a requirement that all my friends are crazy. Not THAT kind of crazy, though. The good kind of crazy. ;D

[Peace Of Mind]

Jan 12, 2011 15:08:33 GMT -5 Loopdilou said:

There's a reason I don't let him own guns or play with fire

Loopy, LMAO! Or run with scissors? Not to protect HIM, but others?

[verrip1]

Good to know that I'm normal.

Me too!

[Loopdilou]

Jan 12, 2011 15:14:18 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

Jan 12, 2011 15:08:33 GMT -5 Loopdilou said:

There's a reason I don't let him own guns or play with fire

Loopy, LMAO! Or run with scissors? Not to protect HIM, but others?

Exactly! It doesn't hurt to be cautious.

[imawino]

Well, I've got the promiscuous part covered. So, maybe.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<<< Do you ever wonder if you're a sociopath? >>>

...no...
...but why do YOU want to know? huh? huh? wwhhhyyyyy?

[Colleenz]

Dark - Stop posting Tall Guys E-Harmony profile!

[Peace Of Mind]

Colleenz, LMAO!!! I hope you didn't answer to it!

[Colleenz]

Colleenz, LMAO!!! I hope you didn't answer to it!

Of course I did:

SWF desires condescending chats in front of a blazing fire, long walks on the beach while being educated on her lack of maturity and thought provoking dinner conversation explaining why you are so superior to me that I should be greatful for the opportunity to worship you.

Still waiting for my reply

[Peace Of Mind]

I second that!!

Crap. I have to modify to get my emots to work today.

[efco]

I am a sociopath.