Lets play a little game that I like to call:
"Who do you know that behaves like that?!?!?"
We'll begin with a little background information.......
What is a Psychopath?
"Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate and ruthlessly plow
their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered
expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret. Their bewildered
victims desperately ask, 'Who are these people?'"
We often think of psychopaths as the disturbed criminals who capture headlines
and crowd the nation's prisons. But not all psychopaths are killers. They are
more likely to be men and women you know who move through life with supreme
self-confidence -- but without a conscience.
"What makes them the way they are? How can we protect ourselves?"
-- Robert D Hare, "Without Conscience"
Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us
Robert Hare, in his 1993 book says: "Psychopaths are social predators who charm,
manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of
broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets."
"Completely lacking in conscience and feelings for others, they selfishly take
what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations
without the slightest sense of guilt or regret."
"He will choose you, disarm you with his words, and control you with this
presence. He will delight you with his wit and his plans. He will show you a
good time, but you will always get the bill. He will smile and deceive you, and
he will scare you with his eyes. And when he is through with you, and he will be
through with you, he will desert you and take with him your innocence and your
pride. You will be left much sadder but not a lot wiser, and for a long time you
will wonder what happened and what you did wrong. And if another of his kind
comes knocking at your door, will you open it?"
http://www.hare.org/index.html
Next a simple checklist:
Characteristics of a Psychopath
(Sociopath, Anti-social Personality Disorder)
Glibness/superficial charm.
Grandiose sense of self-worth.
Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
Pathological lying
Conning/manipulative
Lack of remorse or guilt
Shallow affect
Callous/lack of empathy
Parasitic lifestyle
Poor behavioral controls
Promiscuous sexual behavior
Early behavior problems
Lack of realistic, long-term plans
Impulsivity
Irresponsibility
Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
Many short-term marital relationships
Juvenile delinquency
Revocation of conditional release
Criminal versatility (Hare, 1986)
(Narcissism also a characteristic)
There is no actual diagnosis of Psychopathy in the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), but it is a highly studied area. A
psychopath is not the same as an antisocial personality. Antisocial
personalities may or may not be psychopathic. The antisocial personality is
primarily a problem involving a failure to respect the right of individuals, the
law and rules of society. Psychopathy involves poor emotional intelligence, the
lack of conscience, and an inability to feel attached to people except in terms
of their value as a source of stimulation or new possessions. There are many
expressions and forms of psychopathy. For instance, a sexual psychopath is one
form of a psychopath.
There is a significant amount of evidence to suggest that:
There may be a genetic influence that creates a psychopathic personality.
Adult psychopaths do not benefit from traditional counseling therapy and may in
fact offend again and sooner because of it.
The brain of a psychopath may function and process information differently from
those of non-psychopaths.
Less intelligent psychopaths end up in prisons (highly intelligent psychopaths
can run companies)
Psychopathic behavior may have once had a strong genetic "survival of the
species" value
Psychopathic personalities are much more common than most of us realize
Narcissism background information.....
NARCISSISM (n. sing.)
A pattern of traits and behaviors which signify infatuation and obsession with
one's self to the exclusion of all others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit
of one's gratification, dominance and ambition.
Narcissism is named after the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus who was a handsome
Greek youth who rejected the desperate advances of the nymph Echo. In punishment
of his cruelty, he was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool
of water. Unable to consummate his love, he pined away and changed into the
flower that bears his name to this very day.
WHAT IS NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder)?
The Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) has been recognized as a separate
mental health disorder in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistics
Manual (DSM) in 1980. Its diagnostic criteria and their interpretation have
undergone a major revision in the DSM III-R (1987) and were substantially
revamped in the DSM IV in 1994. The European ICD-10 basically contains identical
language.
An all-pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for
admiration or adulation and lack of empathy, usually beginning by early
adulthood and present in various contexts. Five (or more) of the following
criteria must be met:
Feels grandiose and self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents
to the point of lying, demands to be recognized as superior without commensurate
achievements)
Is obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or
omnipotence, unequalled brilliance (the cerebral narcissist), bodily beauty or
sexual performance (the somatic narcissist), or ideal, everlasting,
all-conquering love or passion.
Firmly convinced that he or she is unique and, being special, can only be
understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special or
unique, or high-status people (or institutions).
Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation -or, failing
that, wishes to be feared and to be notorious (narcissistic supply).
Feels entitled. Expects unreasonable or special and favorable priority
treatment. Demands automatic and full compliance with his or her expectations.
Is "interpersonally exploitative", i.e., uses others to achieve his or her own
ends .
Devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the
feelings and needs of others.
Constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about him or
her.
Arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated,
contradicted, or confronted.
Clarification:
What is Antisocial Personality Disorder?
A common misconception is that antisocial personality disorder refers to people
who have poor social skills. The opposite is often the case. Instead, antisocial
personality disorder is characterized by a lack of conscience. People with this
disorder are prone to criminal behavior, believing that their victims are weak
and deserving of being taken advantage of. Antisocial tend to lie and steal.
Often, they are careless with money and take action without thinking about
consequences. They are often aggressive and are much more concerned with their
own needs than the needs of others.
Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder:
Disregard for the feelings of others
Impulsive and irresponsible decision-making
Lack of remorse for harm done to others
Lying, stealing, other criminal behaviors
Disregard for the safety of self and others
I encourage you to do your own research on the subject.
Ignorance isn't always bliss!
Read more:
surgeongeneral.gov
Malignant Self Love -
Narcissism Revisited
Narcissism 101
"Are You
Involved With A Psychopath?"
Stop The Madness
By: Michael G. Conner, Psy.D
Robert Hare's Page for the Study of Psychopaths, "Sociopaths", Violent
Offenders, Serial Killers...
http://www.hare.org/
Download The Mask
of Sanity by Hervey Cleckley as a PDF.
http://www.bullyonline.org/