| | characteristics of a sociopath/psychopathPage 2 of 13 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) | Insert such personality disorders such as narcistic, dependent, borderline (extreme manipulative behaviour), anywhere. (there are more... just can't think of them).
Yes men and women show characterisitcs of each label.... yet there are certain tests and requirements for someone to be labelled as such.
I thinks it's great you have an interest in this..... just remember that most of these are full blown disorders when it disrupts a persons life and they can't function in society. These are not written in stone. Lots of room for error.
No wonder I lost interest in my major... psychology...  | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 7:13:51 AM | is this what you were talking about? you wanted to know how an eval was done. i think part of the reaction this thread is getting is that people don't understand the characteristics, or what the criteria for a diagnosis are. maybe it's just disturbing to some how common this is....
In contemporary research and clinical practice, APD is most commonly assessed with the Hare Psychopathy Checklist- Revised (PCL-R), which is a clinical rating scale with 20 items. Each of the items in the PCL-R is scored on a three-point scale according to specific criteria through file information and a semi-structured interview. The items are as follows:
Interpersonal dimension
Glibness/superficial charm
Grandiose sense of self-worth
Pathological lying
Conning/manipulative
Lack of remorse or guilt
Shallow affect
Callous/lack of empathy
Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
Affective dimension
Need for stimulation/-proneness to boredom
Parasitic lifestyle
Poor behavioral controls
Early behavioral problems
Lack of realistic, long-term goals
Impulsivity
Irresponsibility
Juvenile delinquency
Revocation of conditional release
Behavioral dimension
Promiscuous sexual behavior
Many short-term marital relationships
Criminal versatility
Score 0 if the trait is absent, 1 if it is possibly or partially present and 2 if it is present. The item scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 40 which is then considered to reflect the degree to which they resemble the prototypical psychopath. A score higher than 30 supports a diagnosis of psychopathy. Forensic studies of prison populations have reported average scores of around 22 on PCL-R; control "normal" populations show an average score of around 5.
A note of caution: the test must be administered by a trained mental health practitioner under controlled conditions for it to have any validity. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 7:26:53 AM | I find it odd how all those traits I have seen in my ex and to think he fathered a child with me. Just glad I am no longer with him. And I mean all of those traits he has!!!..Scary.
Thank you sidheanwwyn.... and yes women can possess these traits as well. It's just how many of those traits... or what score determines whether you have APD or not. And if there are diferent levels of APD. That's where it gets tricky. Perfect example of APD Jeffrey Dahmer.... well in it's extreme case.
Thinking I'm gonna go for my Master's in psych and become a psychometrist and administer such tests. HA HA!!! | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:01:15 AM | have studies enough psychology to be sceptical of putting people in categories, but in this case i think people really need to be more aware of this personality type. quite a few of my exes fit this profile almost exactly, especially the last one. he was truely evil.
since they usually are intelligent and can talk a good game they can be difficult to spot at first. the stats i've seen say that an estimated 3-6% of men and about 1% of women are like this. that's more than one in twenty people. that's a lot. these people have no conscience and are often dangerous in one way or another because of that.
my own mother fits the profile, and that made for a pretty fucked up childhood. it took me a long time to figure out that there was something wrong with her, and even longer to put a name to it. i thought for a long time that there was something wrong with me, because these people never take the blame for anything, no matter how wrong their behavior. still working through the hang-ups i developed from having to grow up with this person.
these people are pure poison.
random, i just get tired of people who don't read something, don't understand it, and feel the need to make snide comments. i thought this was pretty self-explanatory. i also get tired of being nice to people who act like an ass. not including you in that btw, as i usually really enjoy your posts. i am not in here to meet someone, as i have found the man i want. don't feel the need to bite my tongue when someone makes an asinine comment. didn't feel this thread required a long explanation. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:04:11 AM | too bad we gotta learn to live.........
I was in counselling while with my ex.... and my counsellor never even thought to suggest anything like this concerning the emotional, mental and financial abuse going on. WHatever.... I'm over it and happy now. I have the best part of him!!!!! | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:09:44 AM | | the problem with this is that councillors and such are reluctant to make a diagnosis that pretty much says the person is hopeless, with no redeeming qualities. often they fail to put the pieces together because they don't have all the information, because this personality type is very good at blending in, with it usually being the ones nearest them who know how fucked-up they really are. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:19:31 AM | So long as you all live in fear we will remain happy knowing that it us you fear.
Many long nutz imagining you quivering near hysteria as we laugh maniacally. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:21:25 AM | there is another term for these people - "emotional vampires". lacking the ability to feel any real emotion, they can suck the life right out of a person. one good sign that you are dealing with this kind of person is that you feel emotionally drained after an encounter with them.
off to google that and see if i can't find some more info... | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:23:30 AM | NOW this... is a worthwhile and excellent thread. It pertains to relationships and something useful not only to know in general but in dating and meeting new people.
EXCELLENT...
WORTHWHILE...
INSIGHTFUL.... would like to see some more posts of an objective nature pertaining to relationships and less to do with people seeking validation for having unrealistic expecations in finding someone. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:26:17 AM | In your attempts to root us out you only succeed in alienating anyone who would actually show you any real emotion.
Continue your fear, as the more alone you are, the easier it is to attack.
We will leave you breathing while taking your life. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:33:52 AM | here we go. very often sociopaths are narcissistic. it is one of the critical criteria for diagnosis. i didn't write this, btw...
Narcissism Symptoms Checklist
How to Spot An Emotional Vampire
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In my opinion, the DSM IV criteria (listed at the bottom) for Narcissistic Personality Disorder do not really help the average person. Sometimes people have narcissistic traits that overwhelm us, and we feel drained by their behaviour. When an aura of confusion surrounds an encounter with someone grossly narcissistic, it helps us to recognise this red flag, and to take measures to deal with that person. Narcissistic Personality Disorder does not run rampant in our population, but dealing with narcissistic people may be a challenge for many of us across our respective lifetimes.
Even though I have a Master's in psychology, it did not help me identify and deal with people who are severely narcissistic. The cues, the verbal abuse and emotional abuse, and the manipulation, can be subtle and insidious; our sense of self erodes over time as the narcissist slowly undermines us.
Albert Bernstein's book, (see website: Emotional Vampires) has helped me immensely to see narcissistic people for what they are and how to cope with that knowledge, and them. And it has also helped me to recognise that there may be hope for them as well as those of us dealing with them. Even if it means letting go of someone beloved, because they are not self-aware, and because to remain means we progress in feeling astoundingly diminished and damaged and small till nothing seems left of us. ~Invicta, 08/20/03
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The Narcissistic Vampire Checklist
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THE SMARTEST, MOST TALENTED, ALL-AROUND BEST PERSON IN THE WORLD TEST:
True or false? Score one point for each true answer.
1. THIS PERSON HAS ACHIEVED MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE HIS OR HER AGE.
2. THIS PERSON IS FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT HE OR SHE IS BETTER, SMARTER, OR MORE TALENTED THAN OTHER PEOPLE.
3. THIS PERSON LOVES COMPETITION, BUT IS A POOR LOSER.
4. THIS PERSON HAS FANTASIES OF DOING SOMETHING GREAT OR BEING FAMOUS, AND OFTEN EXPECTS TO BE TREATED AS IF THESE FANTASIES HAD ALREADY COME TRUE.
5. THIS PERSON HAS VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE THINKING OR FEELING, UNLESS HE OR SHE WANTS SOMETHING FROM THEM.
6. THIS PERSON IS A NAME DROPPER.
7. TO THIS PERSON IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LIVE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND ASSOCIATE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
8. THIS PERSON TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE HIS OR HER OWN GOALS.
9. THIS PERSON USUALLY MANAGES TO BE IN A CATEGORY BY HIM OR HERSELF.
10. THIS PERSON OFTEN FEELS PUT UPON WHEN ASKED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITIES TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR WORK GROUP.
11. THIS PERSON REGULARLY DISREGARDS RULES OR EXPECTS THEM TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS IN SOME WAY SPECIAL.
12. THIS PERSON BECOMES IRRITATED WHEN OTHER PEOPLE DON'T AUTOMATICALLY DO WHAT HE OR SHE WANTS THEM TO DO, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR NOT COMPLYING.
13. THIS PERSON REVIEWS SPORTS, ART, AND LITERATURE BY TELLING YOU WHAT HE OR SHE WOULD HAVE DONE INSTEAD.
14. THIS PERSON THINKS MOST CRITICISMS OF HIM OR HER ARE MOTIVATED BY JEALOUSY.
15. THIS PERSON REGARDS ANYTHING SHORT OF WORSHIP TO BE REJECTION.
16. THIS PERSON SUFFERS FROM A CONGENITAL INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE HIS OR HER OWN MISTAKES. ON THE RARE OCCASIONS THAT THIS PERSON DOES RECOGNIZE A MISTAKE, EVEN THE SLIGHTEST ERROR CAN PRECIPITATE A MAJOR DEPRESSION.
17. THIS PERSON OFTEN EXPLAINS WHY PEOPLE WHO ARE BETTER KNOWN THAN HE OR SHE IS NOT REALLY ALL THAT GREAT.
18. THIS PERSON OFTEN COMPLAINS OF BEING MISTREATED OR MISUNDERSTOOD.
19. PEOPLE EITHER LOVE OR HATE THIS PERSON.
20. DESPITE THIS PERSON'S OVERLY HIGH OPINION OF HIM OR HERSELF, HE OR SHE IS REALLY QUITE INTELLIGENT AND TALENTED.
Scoring: Five or more true answers qualifies the person as a Narcissistic Emotional Vampire, though not necessarily for a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality. If the person scores higher than ten, and is not a member of the royal family, be careful that you aren't mistaken for one of the servants.
By ALBERT J. BERNSTEIN, Ph.D.
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The DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder are: (don't try this at home, folks):
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy, as indicated by at least five of the following:
1. a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favourable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
6. is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
7. lacks empathy and is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
8. is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitudes | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:41:28 AM | I find it amusing watching the little ants run around attempting to understand something that is far beyond their own comprehension.
Run little ants run, but you cannot escape my magnifying glass. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:46:45 AM | @sid....Excellent post!!! VERY informative and a FINE read!!!
As a student of psychology myself, (long ago!) and a thinking woman...I'm always interested in the analytical aspect of relationships as I analyze people like I breathe!!! LOLOL
As far as this description being useful to the average layperson in being able to "identify' these individuals...NOT gonna happen!!! Most people when emotionally involved with another person are large caught up in projecting their own patterns and neuroses onto those they are infatuated with...As (I believe it was diggy?) said, even when in front of a trained professional there was a failure to recognize these characteristics on the part of the person who is SUPPOSED to be trained to spot it!!!
What I usually tll people is that you are far better off to inform yourself to a certain degree, but instead to clean up your own issues enough that your tendancy to project at the beginning of a relationship is eliminated and you have a much more finely attuned ability to utilize ALL of your senses including your "gut" to "feel" your way...
I firmly believe that the most reliable way to identify socio/psychopaths, is to just pay attention to how you YOURSELF feel when you are around them. We are all hard-wired to some extent to identify predators...even human ones! Dee | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:47:53 AM | How egocentrical of any you that think by listing categorization and characteristics you will be giving anyone a chance at stopping us before we attack.
Even the top professionals stand no chance of even knowing that we are near until we actually attack. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:49:52 AM | because you don't believe in the professionals... you think they are all whack jobs...
I know I've heard all this before... from sociopaths | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:58:07 AM | | you're right dee. it is hard to identify these people. that's why i posted this. they are everywhere and they are dangerous because they are incapable of empathy. the biggest factor that makes them so hard to identify inside a relationship is that people who are not like this have a hard time absorbing the fact that they are involved with a person who is incapable of caring for them. to most, admitting this would be tantamount to admitting to themselves that they aren't worthy of love, which isn't the case. we do tend to believe the best of people, a fact which the sociopaths exploit to their advantage. we try to see the qualities we posess in others, whether they are there or not, and make excuses for the vampires when their behavior shows their true colors. i used to do this, but my last ex was so obvious that it really opened my eyes. that experience made it much easier for me to see people, by observing their actions, the way they really are, rather than the way i want them to be. it's a common mistake. women especially tend to make way too many excuses for people. it's very difficult to really be objective about the behavior of someone you are emotionally involved with, but it can be done. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 8:59:25 AM | The problem with this thread and the professionals is that you actually think that you understand how we work.
Do you not think that we are capable adapting to any situation, being whoever we want, whenever we want.
We are the people with a thousands faces.
Create a category, we will change.
Notice a characeristic, it will change.
You assume those that lash out(crazy ex's) and exhibit these symptoms are the dangerous ones. I am the quiet unassuming person at the party.
We have ultimate control of ourselves and our environment, we will never lash out uncontrollably unless it is to serve a purpose that only we know. | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 9:01:33 AM | Your ego will get the best of you Sid.
There's nothing cute about it.
You can't grasp the possibility of somebody being honest.
As this is the internet, and you only know what I show you. What do I have to fear about revealing myself? | |
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| characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath
Posted: 5/12/2005 9:10:22 AM |
Your ego will get the best of you Sid.
There's nothing cute about it.
You can't grasp the possibility of somebody being honest.
As this is the internet, and you only know what I show you. What do I have to fear about revealing myself?
troll, troll, troll. agrees that there's nothing cute about you.
diggy, don't let him run you off. that's the idea when trolls spam the threads. either that or they are trying to start fights. | |
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