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The confessions of a high-functioning psychopath

#1
C C Offline
https://thedebrief.org/the-confessions-o...sychopath/

INTRO: As of 2021, approximately 1.2% of the general adult population is estimated to suffer from some form of psychopathy, based on data using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Statistically speaking, that means that it is almost guaranteed that many of us have met a psychopath. In fact, you might have met hundreds of them.

When considering disorders of the mind, psychopathy is surprisingly common. It is twice as common as anorexia, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, and nearly as common as narcissism, bulimia, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, and panic disorder.

Before the dawn of modern psychology, the considerable prevalence of psychopaths was largely unknown. It wasn’t until the 1980s, with the development of the aforementioned Psychopathy Checklist (PCL) by Canadian psychopathy expert Dr. Robert Hare, that those displaying psychopathic traits could effectively and accurately be diagnosed and treated.

However, while many psychopaths display anti-social and violent behaviors that tend to be problematic for those that they encounter, are feelings of fear really warranted for the rest of us?
High-Functioning Psychopaths

There is an atypical group of psychopaths that exist in the greater populace. Known as high functioning psychopaths, they do not possess violent tendencies, and are in many cases highly successful, contributing members of society. They may still retain the tell-tale characteristics of a psychopath (callousness, lack of empathy, grandiosity, etc.) but they do not engage in the aggressive behavior that one may see associated with a violent psychopath.

Think Dexter Morgan, as portrayed in the hit tv-series Dexter, but with way more charm, and much less murder.

The reasoning behind this success remains a mystery. However, psychopathy experts Emily Lasko and David Chester argue that a high-functioning psychopath’s likelihood of success in life is dependent on their level of conscientiousness. If they can plan for the future, self-regulate, and make good decisions, then their psychopathic traits were, as they stated in their paper, “compensated for.”

Known as the “compensatory model of successful psychopathy”, the researchers’ model was found to be accurate after comparison was made between psychopathic adolescent offenders who reoffended and those that did not. What they discovered was that psychopaths who were high in grandiosity and manipulativeness at a younger age developed stronger inhibitory regulation when they reached adulthood... (MORE - details)
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#2
Magical Realist Online
Seems to me that our corporate capitalistic system provides a protective niche that psychopaths can survive in and exert their particular set of "skills" in. Wolf of Wallstreet. American Psycho. A system they can thrive in and empower themselves thru manipulating and bullying their way towards grandiose delusions and an extravagant hedonistic lifestyle.
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#3
confused2 Offline
(Jan 28, 2022 06:14 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: Seems to me that our corporate capitalistic system provides a protective niche that psychopaths can survive in and exert their particular set of "skills" in. Wolf of Wallstreet. American Psycho. A system they can thrive in and empower themselves thru manipulating and bullying their way towards grandiose delusions and an extravagant hedonistic lifestyle.
Isn't that 'The American Dream'?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream
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#4
Magical Realist Online
I never bought into the American Dream..College was about the time I was exploring my gay sexuality, so the idea of "not fitting into the system" was accepted and appreciated for the freedom it gave me. To this very day I look cynically at Mcmansions in the suburbs with their 2 car garages and rejoice that I didn't end up in one of those. I am a born renegade. It's in my DNA.
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