Sociopath Community

by A_Parker

I'm doing a little research and you could help by answering a few questions.
Thank you in advance.

1. It is known that most "organised" serial killers are psychopaths/sociopaths.
But I believe, that psychopathy is not the only factor in play. There is something else, in conjunction with ASPD that creates a serial killer.

I think that "normal" psychopaths are much more about indifference than deliberate, especially unmotivated violence.

What's your opinion?

First of all, I'd like to know where you got the information that most 'organized' serial killers are psychopaths/sociopaths.

Any sources in particular you can share on that?

I believe that most serial killers are created by a combination of factors, both environmental (upbringing) and psychological (mental health).

Nobody suddenly wakes up one day and decides to kill people. The thoughts, fantasies and urges develop over time and all it takes in some situations is a stressor to take that step from fantasy into reality.

2.What's your take on "pro-social" sociopathy? I know, it sounds like an oxymoron, but such thing exists. =)

Can you explain to me what you mean by that.

3. What do you think sociopathy/psychopathy really is?
I believe it is an adaptational specialization, but I don't insist.

 I believe a sociopath is someone with some mental health issues that are negatively impacting their life.

I believe a psychopath is someone with a brain abnormality that affects their personality.

Of course, they're just generalizations. I don't mean to infer that everyone with mental health issues is a sociopath or that everyone with a brain abnormality is a psychopath, obviously.

I don't believe in sugar-coating anything. Calling sociopathy and psychopathy an 'adaptational specialization' sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me because it completely disregards the negative aspects of both personality types.

1. I can't really put my finger on an exact source, but it is pretty much a statistical fact that most "organized" SKs are (relatively)high-functioning S/P-paths and "disorganized" SKs are psychotic, paranoid or a combination of both.

I never said that somebody wakes up one day with that decision.

I absolutely agree with you, that it is a combination of factors, actually that's what I was asking about. Factors that add-up on top of S/P-pathy.

2.To explain that I can give you an example of several friends/acquaintances of mine. Among them there are a couple of doctors (surgeons in particular), some "buisness people" and a bunch of military guys, all of whom are as sociopathic as it gets. Yet they manage to use their uhm..."mental condition" rather pro-socially.

3. I don't think I'm sugar-coating it. Aspects being negative/positive are relative. That's a matter of perspective.
And there are certain adaptational "bonuses" in s-pathy that increase survivability and efficiency. Which is what matters at the end of the day, from evolutionary point of view.

1. It is known that most "organised" serial killers are psychopaths/sociopaths.
But I believe, that psychopathy is not the only factor in play. There is something else, in conjunction with ASPD that creates a serial killer.

I think that "normal" psychopaths are much more about indifference than deliberate, especially unmotivated violence.

What's your opinion?

Many serial killers are dysfunctional, and have had dysfunctional upbringings. There are common themes among that population which have been complied into lists such as these:

http://listverse.com/2013/01/02/10-most-common-traits-of-potential-serial-killers/

http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/188

Others had normal lives, but harbored sadistic thoughts and lacked empathy and emotion in general. There are different reasons why people do things.

My opinion is that a person is the summation of their genetic makeup and experiences.

2.What's your take on "pro-social" sociopathy? I know, it sounds like an oxymoron, but such thing exists. =)

Lacking empathy and having a neurological pattern of development leading to low baseline arousal does not preclude a person will behave in an antisocial manner.

3. What do you think sociopathy/psychopathy really is?

I believe it is an adaptational specialization, but I don't insist.

I think "sociopaths" and "psychopaths" are two different things. I can go into that more later if you want, but for now I'm annoyed with typing on my tablet.

Thank you for your answer.

I happen to agree with dr.Hare who thinks that psychopathy is mostly a biological condition, while sociopathy is a result of development.

by A_Parker

1. It is known that most "organised" serial killers are psychopaths/sociopaths.
But I believe, that psychopathy is not the only factor in play. There is something else, in conjunction with ASPD that creates a serial killer.

I think that "normal" psychopaths are much more about indifference than deliberate, especially unmotivated violence.

What's your opinion?

2.What's your take on "pro-social" sociopathy? I know, it sounds like an oxymoron, but such thing exists. =)

3. What do you think sociopathy/psychopathy really is?
I believe it is an adaptational specialization, but I don't insist.

1. there is no such thing as unmotivated violence its always motivated with some thing

with ted bundy & many serial killers it was inappropriate sexual deviation for others it may be some thing else

2. this question insults my intelligence so i choose not to answer

3. both psychopathy & sociopathy r man made labels tools to explain certain behavior by personality traits when they manifest in people to explain their deviant deeds

1. I won't even bother arguing about this. It's petty.

Lacking parental care at young age, being raised in an unstable environment, being mistreated, bullied by peers etc. and/or surviving some traumatic experience that leads to desensitization, all this in itself is what creates a sociopath.

And the biological factor (genetics), especially when combined with mentioned above, creates a psychopath.

But none of that creates a serial killer. There is something else (assumingly connected to self esteem issues) that creates hypercompensation in form of exerting power through destroying things/people.

"Normal", usual psychopaths don't have any self-esteem problems.

2.No, I don't mean that they're just law abiding citizens.
I mean that they are full-blown sociopaths who use their sociopathic traits to benefit society.

A surgeon who is as cold and unempathic as only a psychopath can be, and who basically views his patients as broken mechanisms. But who is very good at repairing them.

A buisnessman who is ruthless and calculating, and who actually despises his employees, but is absolutly brilliant at organizing them, and makes profits that help to feed their families

Guys in the military (who actually are a part of recon team, which means that they are the the first to make contact with the enemy) Who kill people on regular basis, and as far as I know kinda enjoy it...

They're praised as heroes. Of their country at least....

So there are areas where sociopathic traits are actually good.
You know what I mean now?

3. What you are reffering to is just a textbook example.
No real psychopath thinks that about himself.

I'll try to explain my point of view. 

Just ask! =)

I don't mean to say that P/S-paths are a new evolutionary step.
There is such a theory, but it's wrong.

Though, ego-boosting nonetheless... =)

In fact it has to do with a defined amount of personality types, occupying their societal niches.

I'm sorry I can't give you an In-depth answer right now.
I have to go now, but I'll be back.

"I believe that [sociopathy/psychopathy] is an adapational specialization."

Agree. 

However, it would seem that there is some miscommunication wrt what that term actually means. This time it is worth clarifying for the community here.

Brb with some links.

:)