Page 18 | Psychopath

Namechange50008 · 2023-08-06T18:10:19+00:00

I've just learnt apparently one per cent of the population is a psychopath. But generally not in the film way (e.g American Psycho) but in an actual mental health way (e.g high impulsivity/low boredom threshold/egocentric/superficially charming/liars). There's the Hare Checklist which I've got really into. But what it boils down is that they don't seem to feel emotions. I can't comprehend this - I get angry and sad and anxious and all the emotions - and am fascinated. One per seems huge. Does anyone think they know a psychopath? Genuinely? This isn't an AIBU BTW. I'm honestly just really interested.

JibbaJab · 14/08/2023 13:36

thelinkisdead · 14/08/2023 13:20

Exactly. I like being perceived as friendly but ultimately this is because I am an extrovert and I enjoy being with people. Should they not like me then my view is that they’re missing out. I’m very selective with friends though; if you’re not as intelligent as me (not simply from an academic perspective) then I’m really not interested. I get very bored very quickly. My husband is far cleverer than I am (he would funnily enough say the same about me) and I find him infinitely interesting and engaging. Not many other people compare I’m afraid.

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Lol, see that way of thinking makes sense to me but I dunno if I'm the same or it's that logical side.

I'm the same in that respect, although I don't think myself as more intelligent or better and I will interact with anyone. More of a case of I am insignificant as are you and everyone else in this world. Everyone is equal in that sense whether they are intelligent or not, their age, social status, culture or background.

I'll be friendly and help anyone should they need it. If they take advantage of my kindness multiple times, I'll remove them from my life. Should someone not like me, I may ponder why as I'm not nasty or a bad person but so be it, not worth knowing.

Sheog · 14/08/2023 13:52

@JibbaJab @Arabels
I think both of your descriptions of necessary and unavoidable hurt make sense.
Would you use people or situations that might hurt them to gain an advantage or succeed?

JibbaJab · 14/08/2023 14:01

Sheog · 14/08/2023 13:52

@JibbaJab @Arabels
I think both of your descriptions of necessary and unavoidable hurt make sense.
Would you use people or situations that might hurt them to gain an advantage or succeed?

No, because I would then be in the wrong.

Success to me is only earned or valid by achieving that through my own effort and without any detriment to others. If I was to do that, I would be cheating and therefore the success wouldn't be true success.

Sheog · 14/08/2023 14:11

JibbaJab · 14/08/2023 14:01

No, because I would then be in the wrong.

Success to me is only earned or valid by achieving that through my own effort and without any detriment to others. If I was to do that, I would be cheating and therefore the success wouldn't be true success.

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Ok interesting. Thanks!

Arabels · 14/08/2023 15:58

Sheog · 14/08/2023 13:52

@JibbaJab @Arabels
I think both of your descriptions of necessary and unavoidable hurt make sense.
Would you use people or situations that might hurt them to gain an advantage or succeed?

No. I hate lying-in fact a lot of what passes for kindness I find underhand, confusing and stressful. So I wouldn’t double cross someone on purpose! In fact the personality type I come off worse against is manipulative/victim, or people who are just very politically strategic. I’m blunt and open, which is fine when everything is above board and we’re all on the same team-my colleagues value this and will push back when I’m going in the wrong direction. But I’m easily played by people with other angendas and I’ve only just learned how to avoid that! I imagine a psychopath wouldn’t have this problem.

Sheog · 14/08/2023 16:12

Arabels · 14/08/2023 15:58

No. I hate lying-in fact a lot of what passes for kindness I find underhand, confusing and stressful. So I wouldn’t double cross someone on purpose! In fact the personality type I come off worse against is manipulative/victim, or people who are just very politically strategic. I’m blunt and open, which is fine when everything is above board and we’re all on the same team-my colleagues value this and will push back when I’m going in the wrong direction. But I’m easily played by people with other angendas and I’ve only just learned how to avoid that! I imagine a psychopath wouldn’t have this problem.

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No. Means to an end. I expect others to do the same to me to do I’m always on my guard

thelinkisdead · 14/08/2023 17:37

Sheog · 14/08/2023 16:12

No. Means to an end. I expect others to do the same to me to do I’m always on my guard

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Will it get me what I want? Then I’ll do it. The only thing preventing me doing underhand things is if there’s a high risk of getting caught. I don’t want the inconvenience of that. I don’t make a habit of lying about big things but I see myself as lying daily when I ask questions about people and they think I care about the answers. I wonder if everyone feels like that

Sheog · 14/08/2023 18:57

thelinkisdead · 14/08/2023 17:37

Will it get me what I want? Then I’ll do it. The only thing preventing me doing underhand things is if there’s a high risk of getting caught. I don’t want the inconvenience of that. I don’t make a habit of lying about big things but I see myself as lying daily when I ask questions about people and they think I care about the answers. I wonder if everyone feels like that

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I kind of enjoy it because it can be exciting. But then i get bored so easily

SweetButAPsycho2023 · 16/08/2023 17:41

Interesting thread. I've never thought about myself as a psychopath but I did the Hare test and scored 32 (there's a few different variations but this was out of 40).
I have zero empathy, I can look at a friend or family member crying and feel nothing but comfort them out of a need to "do the right thing" rather than because I want to. At funerals I'm always the one to read the poem/words out as I don't cry. I feel nothing at all.
I'm married but cheat on my husband constantly because I can. The men I cheat with, I am charming and say the right things until they fall for me. Then I laugh to myself about how I've screwed them up and it's a game. I love my kids and would fiercely protect them with my life so I can't identify with the poster who would let a baby die.
I lie compulsively to everyone I know and put a facade on so they think/assume I care and am interested in them. I'm not. I'm usually thinking how can I gain from them in any way.
I steal money from my clients and am not fazed, I'm more bothered about being found out than the actual act.
I'm a despicable individual...but I don't care.
Writing this down has been cathartic.

ArabeIIaKarenScott · 16/08/2023 17:44

stbrandonsboat · 06/08/2023 19:31

My mother was a diagnosed psychopath. I was taken into care because she was harming me. I still have nightmares about her.

I'm so sorry.

Arabels · 17/08/2023 15:50

SweetButAPsycho2023 · 16/08/2023 17:41

Interesting thread. I've never thought about myself as a psychopath but I did the Hare test and scored 32 (there's a few different variations but this was out of 40).
I have zero empathy, I can look at a friend or family member crying and feel nothing but comfort them out of a need to "do the right thing" rather than because I want to. At funerals I'm always the one to read the poem/words out as I don't cry. I feel nothing at all.
I'm married but cheat on my husband constantly because I can. The men I cheat with, I am charming and say the right things until they fall for me. Then I laugh to myself about how I've screwed them up and it's a game. I love my kids and would fiercely protect them with my life so I can't identify with the poster who would let a baby die.
I lie compulsively to everyone I know and put a facade on so they think/assume I care and am interested in them. I'm not. I'm usually thinking how can I gain from them in any way.
I steal money from my clients and am not fazed, I'm more bothered about being found out than the actual act.
I'm a despicable individual...but I don't care.
Writing this down has been cathartic.

Ooooh I have questions. It reads like you enjoy the power that being non-empathetic gives you, is that right? It’s the laughing about people you’ve hurt that really stands out. Do you know why you do that?

Somewhereovertherainbowweighapie · 21/08/2023 01:58

montecarlo7 · 07/08/2023 05:27

I was told by a therapist that my mother was a sociopath. She was a registered nurse and she told her now husband that if he ever had a heart attack she would pretend she didn't notice and walk in the other direction, leaving him to die. She didn't want the bother of living with someone whose health might be impacted negatively by having had a heart attack. He was very hurt by this and they used to argue about it.

My mother was a registered nurse and told me she would if she saw my baby had just died from Sids she wouldn’t resuscitate them because of the child then having a brain injury.