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Sociopaths and danger?


Posts: 24

There is this commonly held notion that sociopaths don't experience fear. This is somewhat connected to this so it's a relevant topic. I am not diagnosed with aspd but I score quite high on tests. What I really would like to ask is how you experience danger? For me it's like I'm unafraid and sometimes unaware of the danger until something almost happens. Sometimes I'm theoretically aware of danger, but that's usually not enough to stop me from doing something. Other times, I'm not at all aware that the danger exists. I become aware when something has almost happened (like getting killed) or someone tells me about it. This was most dangerous for me when driving cars, riding bikes or motorcycles.

How I react when I am aware of the danger? Well sometimes I just tell myself not to do it again if it was a close call. I tend to happen to do it again though. Other times I can become pretty obsessed with avoiding situations similar to the one that caused the danger. That is going from being quite "fearless" to maybe being overly cautious. When I'm in situations I can be pretty amazed by how "unafraid" I am. Also afterwards when I'm very calm, almost as if nothing has happened. Occasionally I react in what I believe is a more normal manner. I don't seem afraid during the confrontation (or whatever it is) but afterwards I notice I'm shaking and filled with adrenaline. 

So could this in anyway be connected to sociopathy? I don't know how most people are. If they are always aware of danger and cautious, or if they mostly become so after something that's happened (or almost has).

Posts: 5426
Sociopaths and danger?

From my experience, this is definitely a trait that all the people I consider ASPD have in common.

Posts: 9
Sociopaths and danger?

Ok, so you're saying that all people with ASPD experience it as I described? I didn't know about that. I even told my psychiatrist about it. I don't want him to think I'm a sociopath. I don't really think I'm a sociopath though since I'm probably "too nice". I've never seriously hurt people for instance. I may be somewhat inconsiderate though. Also that I don't mind using people when it's necessary. Committing crimes... Yes, but none that hurt people particularly much. 

Posts: 24
Sociopaths and danger?

To be exhilarated by doing something hazardous yes. But being unaware of danger in situations that are dangerous? I doubt this is a common trait of sociopathy. I could of course ask presumed normal people about this but it's kind of a strange question.

Posts: 24
Sociopaths and danger?

I know this symptomatology is somewhat reminiscent of what is seen in some people with autism. I'm pretty certain I'm not an autist though, since I'm much too social and good at handling people. 

Posts: 1231
Sociopaths and danger?

Sociopaths and danger?

I thought that adventures were all about that.

Posts: 1231
Sociopaths and danger?

Take it as you will, but danger is not a stimulant of itself.
The allocation of anger is the precursor, pain is the reprecussor and surviving is is the melody to the tune.
Satisfaction stems from memory after all.

Posts: 1231
Sociopaths and danger?

Isn't being unaware a part of the excitement?

And then only a search for the same sensation remains...

Posts: 1231
Sociopaths and danger?

Hmm, I've had bruised lungs, bashed in muscles, lacerations over a large part of my body (Though I never broke a bone), and I still think I had fun.

Perhaps the satisfaction lasts only as long as the memory allows.

Posts: 24
Sociopaths and danger?

I dunno... Like when driving a car fast I was sometimes aware that it was potentially dangerous. Like when hitting max speed on the highway. When driving very fast in city traffic however, I wasn't really aware of the danger though. I was just proud that I could handle a car so well that I could drive really fast when needed. This is was of course "reckless" but in a way it wasn't since I didn't deem it so dangerous. I kind of "need" some kind of incident to really alert me to it.

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