The Mask of Sanity

[Jonathan50]

An interesting book on psychopathic personalities.

1.4 MB PDF file

http://www.cassiopaea.org/cass/sanity_1.PdF

[Triana]

1. Another...

http://www.amazon.com/Sociopath-Next-Door-Martha-Stout/dp/0767915828/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7540247-9258342?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176430118&sr=8-1

[melody]

2. An excellent website on sociopaths

http://www.bullyonline.org/

[solara]

3. "He looks like the real thing."

Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) by Dr. Robert Hare

1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM -- the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.

2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM -- an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.

4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING -- can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.

5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.

6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT -- a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one's victims.

7. SHALLOW AFFECT -- emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.

8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY -- a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.

9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE -- an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.

10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS -- expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.

11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR -- a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.

12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS -- a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.

13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS -- an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.

14. IMPULSIVITY -- the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.

15. IRRESPONSIBILITY -- repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.

16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS -- a failure to accept responsibility for one's actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.

17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS -- a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.

18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY -- behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.

19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE -- a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.

20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY -- a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.

http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/narcissism/psychopathy_checklist.html


The world does not hate us for our freedom, they fear us because our leaders are psychopaths and if they can see it, why can’t we?



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[Demeter]

4. Thanks for the List--Many Points I'd Not Seen Raised Before

Have you given up on the impalement and incineration, then?

[solara]

7. I thought the list was pretty interesting too

:hi: I didn't give up, but those two little words got me in trouble so I had to remove them


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[H2O Man]

5. Dr. Robert D. Hare

is widely recognized as the leading authority on the topic. I recommend his book "Without Conscience: the Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us" (Pocket Books; 1993). Another high quality book is J. Reid Meloy's "The Psychopathic Mind" (Aronson; 1988). Reid was Dr. Hare's student. Their books are of a superior quality, in my opinion, than some of the more recent ones.

[solara]

8. Thanks for the tip

:hi: "Without Conscience" sounds like a must read...


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[Jonathan50]

6. they fear us because our leaders are psychopaths and if they can see it, why can’t we?

We can't see it because psychopathy is considered a positive quality in the USA.

Or at least many of the behavioral traits of psychopathy are considered positive here.

Psychopaths are charming.

"Bush is the candidate you'd like to have a beer with".

[Demeter]

9. It's a Matter of Degree, Though, Isn't It?

A little bit of confidence is helpful and healthy, a massive dose of arrogance isn't. If the confidence is justified, it works. A lot of people get really bent out of shape by justified confidence (and I find they are usually the psychopaths in the room).

A little bit of charm is good manners--using it like paint is a con artist's trick.

Ambition gets us out of bed in the morning, it is the engine of the American dream. It doesn't have to involve stomping on other people's faces and livelihoods, Dick Cheney style.

Etc.