I saw some estimation of how much the damage psychopaths (and sociopaths) inflict, costs the society. It was 100's of millions of dollars. But how much money do psychopaths generate? Some run big corporations, are politicians and so on... But even "low functioning" sociopaths generate income for lawyers, therapists, councellors, writers (both fiction and non-fiction) movie makers and so on. So in general...are sociopaths beneficial or not?
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I think a better question would be: Are humans beneficial or not?
We are little more than a highly successful virus that is rapidly liquidating and expending our resources and destroying our ecosystem. Whether we are "good or bad" is of little relevance...
As to the social impact of psychopathic characteristics. It's a simple one. High functioning sociopathic behavior leads to gain and success in many areas. Leading to the richest 1% having around half of the worlds wealth. Is that good for the world? Who knows... who cares... I get mines... ;)
Great post! If one sees humanity as whole as something negative for the planet, that puts the most destructive actions of sociopaths in a new light. If humanity is a virus then perhaps sociopaths are the cure? I'm not claiming to be a sociopath but I sometimes hate the civilisation humans have made for themselves. I also like nature more than than man made things, and I admire "primitive man". I have most of my life felt that I was born in the wrong age. That I don't really belong here...
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