You're looking at it from the perspective of someone who has already succeeded (become the boss, the manager, the CEO whatever) and forgetting that someone with those traits has to get to that position first.
Those traits are more of a drawback in getting to that position than they are an advantage.
It's solely why I said "when paired with other advantages". Those traits alone are typically terrible, but in the right hands it could prove to be a boon when compared to those who may take fewer risks or are generally more withdrawn. If the person has the necessary education, talent, and setting, the flaws of each of those things could be worked around or used somewhat advantageously.
But yeah, just how said risk taking could have them make an investment that sets them up for life, it could also ruin them if it doesn't go as expected.
Irresponsibility is really the biggest issue. The rest could be helpful in the hands of someone intelligent in a complimentary setting. It'd at least affect what sorts of risks come up in their lives, what they'd look down on, etc.
Everyone has weaknesses. It's what we do with that that makes or breaks our chances for success. Many weaknesses can be strengths as well.
by DaddyWhile I'm sure there could be some genetic factors involved, I believe it's primarily due to the environment of the individual. I think most sociopathic traits are learned and reinforced through their ability to get an individual the things they want to succeed in life. The fact of the matter is, sociopathic behavior is rewarded, as can see by googling: "sociopath fortune 500 company"
Many of the very behaviors listed in Hares Psychopathy check list are what make up good leaders.
and if there is a genetic predisposition to psychopathy it would only make sense that it's been bread into our species as some of the character traits ensure reproduction: to include promiscuous behavior, risk taking, manipulation etc.. these things ensure that a sociopath passes on their genes.
I think psychopathy is simply the human animal at it's highest evolution.
psychopathy isn't the highest... it's the lowest
but you're being narcissistic
Isn't the estimate around 3%? Not exactly a significant number.
I'm sure there are many companies run by sociopaths - after all, that is the kind of personality society currently endorses. However, in a different kind of society I'm sure different people would come out on top. In a hierarchical, power-driven society such as this one, sociopaths are very much favoured. This is not an evolutionary advantage but a societal one - if circumstances changed, all percieved superiority would change too. I don't think the idea of superiority is applicable objectively, as there is no 'standard human' to measure against.
by Daddy
You're right, I do have my own beliefs shocker, as for putting them on a pedestal, with that I disagree. I often play devils advocate because there are two sides to every coin. The concept of sociopathic behavior has been bastardized by the media. Very few people really even understand it, including many psychologists who study it for a living. That being said, I am fully aware of the negative aspects of the "disorder". I have spent many hours figuring out ways to mitigate the negative behaviors that are natural to me in order to avoid ending up in prison, while still allowing my true self to be expressed. This is what makes me a high functioning sociopath. A deep understanding of risk analysis, consequences to behavior, interpersonal relationships, and methods of self regulation.
And as much as you hate the concept of sociopaths they exist for a reason and that reason is because there is a place in this world for sociopaths. We are needed to do the ugly things the softer people can't. To be the ones that make the difficult choices for the better of a group. To kill when necessary, to make detached rational decisions when others would be emotionally overwhelmed. Sociopaths exist for a reason and without them, our species would never have lasted as long as it did.
Truth is you're a bloody narc Jay, you fail to see the downsides because of that.
Congrats you named one of the symptoms of sociopathy... but as I said, I do see my flaws, I am fully aware of my many imperfections. But my ability to shut off empathy and detach from emotion when the time calls for it, is not one of those imperfections.
If psychopaths are so awesome why is psychopathy considered a disorder?
Omg your such a fucking sheep. Why are witches considered evil? You fear what you do not understand. Many people who practiced science in the dark ages were labeled witches because of mass hystaria and social propaganda. You can't always believe what the herd is telling you, the fact that you know nothing about this topic other than what mass media has fed you is only indicative of your deep seated ignorance.
The human animal is a social animal, but you claim that anti-social behavior is the highest form of evolution.
Humans are social animals because evolutionarily it was beneficial for us to work as a group to survive. We are a social species for that reason. To that end we will carry those genes with us for a long time. But the fact is, the need for such social structure isn't as vital to the success of our species as it once was.
But there are more successful normal businessmen than psycho businessmen
Prove it. That's just it, Most successful sociopaths don't walk around telling people they're sociopaths. You are in fact surrounded by such types, the best of whom you would never even suspect of sociopathy. It's not as rare as you would like to think.
and if you're a psychopath you have more chances of ending up in jail
than becoming a successful businessman, compared to a normal person.Wrong, whether you end up successful or in jail is more often tied to socio-economics than any other factor.
You also think leadership/ dominant behavior = psychopathy, which is bullshit.
I believe a good leader knows how to detach himself emotionally, manipulate others for the greater good, and take control when needed. These are all skills of a sociopath.
So you admit you have your own unique view of what a psyhopath is that almost everyone, including the docs that define and diagnose the psychos, disagree with. Because you have a deep, clear understanding and the rest are herd. Ok Spatial.
Sociopaths are needed/necessary you say. Saying we'd have been extinct without them is really stretching it Jay. I very much doubt that, but neither of us can prove he's right. I think the benefits would outweight the drawbacks. You know, this whole argument is pretty pointless since we disagree on what a sociopath is in the first place... You see them as these superhumans who are a necessary evil for the benefit of the "group" lmao, I see them as opportunistic, abusive, selfish assholes who chase their own whims at the expense of others.
You don't need to be a sociopath to make detached rational choices. Great leaders everywhere have done that since the beginning of time without being psychos. The psychopaths I know are anything but rational to be honest, they are pretty much unpredictable bombs, making a lot of decisions based on impulses and short term goals. There are also a lot of non-psychopaths who are extremely rational and have a lot of inner strength. You really underestimate empaths Jay, I have no idea why. You think they're weak, and that's why you're so afraid to group yourself with them and choose your twisted idea of a supersociopath.
You can't prove your claims that all these great high functioning sociopaths are all around us either. Maybe ambitious, tough, cut-throat people are just that, and not disordered. As long as they can feel guilt/shame/pity/sympathy, even if only in certain conditions, they are not psychos in my mind. But I'm sure they can be in yours.
by SyntheticI don't think that being an irresponsible, impulsive, reckless risk taker has very much benefit. Calculated risk is something else entirely. A risk with 95% success and various contingency plans is still a risk, but it's neither reckless nor impulsive.
If you're already the boss to start with, you'll be able to get away with sociopathic weaknesses, but unless you were born into power or money, you have a very small chance of ending up the boss at all. ME Thomas wrote about how her lack of respect for authority and social norms, combined with her restless impulsiveness, cost her a good job with a lot of potential at a law firm.
Someone might see a person in power make cold-hearted, rational decisions, but that doesn't mean that sociopathy=power, it just means that a person who has worked their way up the ladder to arrive at that position of power is a person who doesn't let their personal feelings prevent them from doing their job successfully. It's a mistake to view the two as inherently related. That "sociopath" on Wall Street or in the Pentagon probably loves his kids and his dog as much as anyone else would.
Good post.