Sociopath Community

The test is a very shitty one, but I took it just for you. Here's what I got, giving my honest answers:

14 which put me in the low range.

How I got that:

When I see someone being taken advantage of, I feel kind of protective toward them.
     Does NOT describe me well  1  2  3  4  5  Describes me well

I selected three because this question was poorly worded. There are many variables that would affect whether I feel protective. 1. Do these people have something that I could get from them? If yes, then it may be in my interest to protect them.2. Who else is around? If I wanted to impress someone else around there or thought I could get some positive recognition that could benefit me, then I would also intervene.

But for the most any other reason, I can't see why I should care?

When I see someone being treated unfairly, I sometimes don't feel much pity for them.
     Does NOT describe me well  1  2  3  4  5  Describes me well

I selected 3 again for the same reasons listed in the first question.

I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me.
     Does NOT describe me well  1  2  3  4  5  Describes me well

Unless I need someone to believe I am tender hearted, I couldn't care less about others and usually consider them to be in their situations they've gotten themselves into and thus deserving of their fate.

I would describe myself as a pretty soft-hearted person.
     Does NOT describe me well  1  2  3  4  5  Describes me well

Few people would consider me soft-hearted. The only ones being the ones I've manipulated into thinking that.

Sometimes I don't feel very sorry for other people when they are having problems.
     Does NOT describe me well  1  2  3  4  5  Describes me well

Unless it is affecting me on some level (i.e. they are transferring anxiety onto me, I need something from them, or they're performing badly on a group project) then I couldn't care less.

Other people's misfortunes do not usually disturb me a great deal.
     Does NOT describe me well  1  2  3  4  5  Describes me well

Same as above

I am often touched by the things that I see happen.
     Does NOT describe me well  1  2  3  4  5  Describes me well

If an emotional event can be beneficial, then I allow it to motivate me.

Nothing makes me different. That's just it, you think there is a hard line in the sand, when in actuality everything is just shades of grey...

Sociopathy is nothing more than a set of personality traits.

I responded exactly as you did to this test.

by Daddy

Nothing makes me different. That's just it, you think there is a hard line in the sand, when in actuality everything is just shades of grey...

Nothing makes you different from the average person, yet this somehow equates to you being a psychopath?

How exactly does that work?

Sociopathy is nothing more than a set of personality traits.

Those traits are what differs a sociopath from the average person.

Two traits of sociopathy are lack of empathy (affective empathy) and lack of a moral conscience. The very same traits you seem to possess.

Sociopaths are no more special that the depressed, or the anxiety ridden... they simply another set of traits that fall on the gamut of mental states we can experience.

And when you take the plsr, they don't need you to have everyone of the traits... just like when they diagnose someone with add, bipolor or any other mental illness... These are nothing more than guidelines.

You ain't fuckin special kiddo, you're just an asshole with no selfcontrol... and i'm just an asshole with self control...

by Daddy

Sociopaths are no more special that the depressed, or the anxiety ridden... they simply another set of traits that fall on the gamut of mental states we can experience.

And when you take the plsr, they don't need you to have everyone of the traits... just like when they diagnose someone with add, bipolor or any other mental illness... These are nothing more than guidelines.

This has nothing to do with sociopathy being special. Though, I'm surprised you're claiming it's not when you're the one who seems to think it's the next step up in evolution. I disagreed with you on that, remember.

I'm simply pointing out the error in your thinking. It's a little contradictory to admit to being no different from the average person while calling yourself a socio or psychopath, don't you think?

Which traits of psychopathy do you actually possess?

You ain't fuckin special kiddo, you're just an asshole with no selfcontrol... and i'm just an asshole with self control...

 AsPD = Asshole Personality Disorder

I can't say I disagree with you there.

by Daddy

I think the thing that bothers you most about my stance is your own fears of being labeled a sociopath. Something you obviously associate yourself with, even though you deny being one. Don't you find that peculiar?

 

 You are right about this Jay, from what I've read in your posts I'm very close to your idea of a sociopath, and I'm pretty sure I'm not one in my (and the doctors) book. It's the few key differences and not the common traits that tilt the scale.

He posted three articles that were explaining one publication/study: http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1093/brain/awt190

You should always go to the source. Media tends to warp the story. I checked the study and it didn't seem to have any obvious flaws other than the limited number of subjects diagnosed with psychopathy.

If this is the only study that found sociopaths having empathy, then it doesn't mean aything. There are so many things that can go wrong that you can't trust an article if there are no other independent studies making similar findings. If you do, you are cherry picking the statistics.

I figured I'd look more into it if/when it becomes more commonly accepted. As is I only need the simple version so that I can contribute to discussion. I don't quite agree with the study, but it still made for an interesting read.

Still, thanks for the link. If I start hearing of other studies related to the same idea, I now have that much more to cross-reference, with enough searching to avoid paying the site to read the articles at least.

You are right about this Jay

Congrats! You're not as dumb as you look.

Well I assure you dear Ed, You're a perfectly well functioning member of society and have nothing to worry about. But you would be remiss to believe you are incapable of the very things a sociopath is capable of. Because in fact you are.

Given the proper circumstances you would kill, lie, cheat, steal... just like anyone else. This doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you a smart animal and that's exactly what you are. As much as you can cling to your higher ideals of morality and ethics. If the shit hit the fan and survival was your paramount. You would survive and to that end. You are no different than a sociopath.