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Posts: 2485
What is a Sociopath?

You're assuming I've done a considerable amount of research, even though I just told you I haven't. I'm not sure why you have that assumption. Do I look like someone who is knowledgeable on personality disorders? Really...

I know enough to have a basic conversation about them, but I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as someone who has actually done considerable research. I can admit to that.

Posts: 1285
What is a Sociopath?

Why can't you just admit you've done a considerable amount of research?

Posts: 10218
What is a Sociopath?

The presence of those traits doesn't negate the other possibilities, but lets look over each one:

- Marked readiness to blame others or to offer plausible rationalizations for the behavior that has brought the person into conflict with society.
This could fit Schizoid related to the whole fantasy world bit, couldn't it? If they honestly believe their fantasies. The only real factor that changes is that what's plausible for the subject may not have to be plausible to everyone else.

Blaming others comes up in many disorders, especially ones where they don't connect with people as readily, have something to hide, or maybe in a dissociated fashion do so for their own status quo needs.

- impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;
That could be present without a disorder being labeled (or labeling a range of others). By my comparative view this tends to be the majority of people, but all that does is reflect my own bias.

- Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or for sheer personal pleasure
The fantasy world factor could inflate the belief of one's charm/wit, and if it's for pleasure it's enabling itself. If the fantasy is believed strongly enough, how would the subject even know it's not really the case?

While I have my doubts that someone in the schizoid spectrum would be as likely to do this successfully (if at all), that doesn't stop them from believing that they are.

- Intense egocentrism, sense of superiority and exhibitionism
If not another fantasy result, couldn't it be a form of escapism? I've seen people who otherwise were total Debbie Downers or PTSD victims snap and become those traits. This is even in some individuals a manifestation of depression.

- Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, impulsiveness, aggression or violence
Comorbidity's the closest guess I'd have, if not just being aberrant enough traits when compared to disorders as we know it to throw a spanner into the works. Could be more fantasy fuel, but really, I suppose most things could be hand waved as that, which is what makes it so difficult to pin down.

- Unnecessary risk-taking or dangerous behaviors
Fantasy.

- Need for stimulation / Proneness to Boredom
How is Schizoid usually in the case of boredom and stimulation?

- Pathological lying
It's hard for me to take this trait seriously, and in your case I'm not sure if I'd call it "Pathological".

- Poor behavioral controls
Hm...

- Sexual promiscuity
I'd argue your views here might be closer to Schizoid: "When the individual's personal space is violated, they feel suffocated and feel the need to free themselves and be independent. People who have SPD tend to be happiest when they are in a relationship in which the partner places few emotional or intimate demands on them. It is not people as such that they want to avoid, but emotions both negative and positive, emotional intimacy, and self disclosure.[7]" You talk about preferring a slave over a person don't you?

It's also important to remember that comorbidities can manifest unique symptoms of their own when pieced together, so sometimes looking at a disorder's display like it could only be one could blind to why those traits are really there. These are closer to rough guides for understanding the labeled individual since it's handled as more of a spectrum. "Otherwise Unspecified" is a constant reminder of that.

Edit: Not going to take it down, but only some of it has any weight after the "fantasy" mistake.

Edit2: Decided to apply some crossing out.

Posts: 137
What is a Sociopath?

 

by Bundeswehr

A way to formally insult someone with ASPD.

 

I would better go to prison, wait out my 7 years and continue my life with a criminal history, than with a stupid generalization attached to my name.

 I, on the contrary, think sociopath/psychopath is a better term. It is a lot deeper than someone who just doesn't conform to the laws. It's someone with the freedom to make choices unencumbered by conscience, guilt or anxiety. Lots of people with ASPD diagnoses are not psychopaths. 

I'm in the process of getting a "personality assessment" and it better not be ASPD.

Posts: 3645
What is a Sociopath?

This response always reminded me of the scene from Ice Age where the little critter screams "I'M ON THE VERGE OF AN EVOLUTIONARY BREAKTHROUGH!"

Believing he can fly, he takes a running start and jumps off a cliff. lol

Posts: 10218
What is a Sociopath?

"A lot of sociopaths have a history of child abuse in some form or another. There is strong indication that this may have caused stunted brain development, which in turn created many of their sociopathic traits."

What differences would you say there are in this case that could help identify someone's case as sociopathy as opposed to a form of PTSD? Both can have things like emotional numbing and violent impulses.

Also, for your specific case, how much of it can you be sure is sociopathy and not just manifestations of schizoid personality disorder?

Posts: 2485
What is a Sociopath?

 

by Pink01

So you have stunted brain development?

 I have no idea.

A psychologist, who also works in neuroscience, told me that I could possibly have it, but without a brain scan we can't know for certain.

Posts: 2485
What is a Sociopath?

 

by Turncoat

"A lot of sociopaths have a history of child abuse in some form or another. There is strong indication that this may have caused stunted brain development, which in turn created many of their sociopathic traits."

What differences would you say there are in this case that could help identify someone's case as sociopathy as opposed to a form of PTSD? Both can have things like emotional numbing and violent impulses.

There are several characteristics of PTSD that separate it from sociopathy:

People with PTSD often experience feelings of panic or extreme fear, similar to the fear they felt during the traumatic event. A person with PTSD experiences four main types of difficulties.

- Re-living the traumatic event – The person relives the event through unwanted and recurring memories, often in the form of vivid images and nightmares. There may be intense emotional or physical reactions, such as sweating, heart palpitations or panic when reminded of the event.

- Being overly alert or wound up – The person experiences sleeping difficulties, irritability and lack of concentration, becoming easily startled and constantly on the lookout for signs of danger.

- Avoiding reminders of the event – The person deliberately avoids activities, places, people, thoughts or feelings associated with the event because they bring back painful memories.

- Feeling emotionally numb – The person loses interest in day-to-day activities, feels cut off and detached from friends and family, or feels emotionally flat and numb.

source: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/ptsd

I doubt any psychologist in their right mind would confuse PTSD for sociopathy, or vice versa.

 

 

Also, for your specific case, how much of it can you be sure is sociopathy and not just manifestations of schizoid personality disorder?

There are some significant differences between schizoid PD, AsPD and psychopathy.

 

The antisociial and psychopathic traits I exhibit that do not relate to schizoid PD are:

- Marked readiness to blame others or to offer plausible rationalizations for the behavior that has brought the person into conflict with society.

- impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;

- Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or for sheer personal pleasure

- Intense egocentrism, sense of superiority and exhibitionism

- Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, impulsiveness, aggression or violence

- Unnecessary risk-taking or dangerous behaviors

- Need for stimulation / Proneness to Boredom

- Many short term relationships

- Pathological lying

- Poor behavioral controls

- Sexual promiscuity

 

It could be argued that these traits I exhibit could relate to schizoid PD instead of sociopathy:

- Gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules, and obligations;

- Callous unconcern for the feelings of others;

- Incapacity to experience guilt or to profit from experience, particularly punishment;

- lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another;

- Disregard for right and wrong

- Shallow affect (superficial emotional responsiveness)

- Parasitic lifestyle

- Lack of realistic long-term goals

Posts: 1285
What is a Sociopath?

Wheres the schizotypal you were diagnosed with come into play?

Posts: 2485
What is a Sociopath?

I was never diagnosed with Schizotypal PD.

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