Have you met or know a psychopath/sociopath?

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Nat

and from http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

Profile of the Sociopath:

- 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.

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Other Related Qualities:

Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive
Paranoid
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
Conventional appearance
Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
Incapable of real human attachment to another
Unable to feel remorse or guilt
Extreme narcissism and grandiose
May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

This description gives great insight into politicians
and wall street types.

[AtLast]

Certainly have - both professionally and personally.

Very cunning, often quite charming and bright- which makes them all the more dangerous. And they are not just what forensic TV shows demonstrate- they are all around us in various forms as in personality disordered people on one axis of mental illness diagnosis.

[Quintease]

My ex. Told me she has a Psychology degree which she couldn't prove, was a fellow at an organisation which didn't have her listed, and went around telling people that her parents were very well off - I met them. Told me she was in the military.. I know people in the military and she wasn't. Told us she had been in close protection.. she doesn't even have a security license!
Said she'd been a trader in her 20's - not only does she not have any money, and I know how much traders earn, she tried to do online trading while we were together and failed miserably. She also claims to be strictly religious, yet seriously assaulted me while we were together and lied through her teeth to me and everyone I know. To be honest I'm not even sure she's gay. She was really inexperienced regarding lesbian sex and accidentally admitted to me at one point that she prefers blokes!

I'm still in shock that I dated her, she's not even attractive! But I was in a very dark place when we got together and she was very charming. Later I realised that she'd met most of her ex-partners and friends while they were going through some personal struggle. I supposed that way she can avoid difficult questions and suspicions. Luckily my friends had pegged her correctly from the beginning and were there to support me until I wised up.

I assume she's still out there, sleazing up to broken women and stealing mine and my friends stories as her own. I'm really sad that I dated her. I feel I wasted precious years of my life which I could have spent with someone more worthy.

[Miss Scarlett]

Many...in the past and currently.

[bkisbutchenuff]

Originally Posted by AtLast

Certainly have - both professionally and personally.

Very cunning, often quite charming and bright- which makes them all the more dangerous. And they are not just what forensic TV shows demonstrate- they are all around us in various forms as in personality disordered people on one axis of mental illness diagnosis.

yes...both professionally and personally....nicely stated AtLast.

[Nat]

Originally Posted by Kobi

This description gives great insight into politicians
and wall street types.

I know - the people I kept picturing as I was posting that were a few prominent politicians here in Texas.

But really - you never know what's going on on the insides of other people and maybe that's a blessing.

[Kenna]

Yes.....
One almost killed me in 1994, when I was very pregnant, by inflicting a bone jarring, knock-me-blind, rattle-my-teeth Traumatic Brain Injury (that put me in the hospital for 2 weeks) and repeatedly inflicting various other ways of causing great pain and mental torture that gave them great satisfaction. My oldest son and I still suffer from extreme PTSD and mental anguish.... my youngest son did not make it.

The other individuals (one of which I filed a Protection From Abuse Order against in early 2008/2009) that have been in/out of my life that I, as a health care professional, have thought are psychopaths/sociopaths will never compare to the first one...

Each one were "MASTER Manipulators"....

For all of them that have in one way or another been in my life...the words "no remorse", "no conscience", "pure evil" (in reference to the first one) and "are only sorry when they get caught" come to mind....

I know being affected by their actions, abuse, manipulations and lack of remorse has ruined my trust in general people and affected my ability to form healthy relationships without the PTSD in the background....