"He got on his knees and begged, ‘No, Daddy, no,’ and he pulled the trigger,"

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by MILK

1 in 25 people are thought to be Sociopaths. 1 in 25 is a scarily large number of people..

I think narcissism coupled with society's current gravitation toward selfishness often gets confused as sociopathic behavior, but I believe true sociopaths are more rare than 1 in 25.

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by Kaneman

I think narcissism coupled with society's current gravitation toward selfishness often gets confused as sociopathic behavior, but I believe true sociopaths are more rare than 1 in 25.

And my belief is that people are narrowing the definition of sociopath, so that they don't fall into it themselves. There is a tendency in the mental health care profession to sub-compartmentalize various larger illness groups, and create definitions for illnesses out of whole cloth, so that they can create their own "syndrome" discovery.

How many people you know, from their mid-teen years on, exhibit the following pathology?

- not learning from experience
- no sense of responsibility
- inability to form meaningful relationships
- inability to control impulses
- lack of moral sense
- chronically antisocial behavior
- no change in behavior after punishment
- emotional immaturity
- lack of guilt
- self-centeredness

The more that I think about it, the more I come to believe that we're currently raising a generation of sociopaths.

[Riceaholic]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

And my belief is that people are narrowing the definition of sociopath, so that they don't fall into it themselves. There is a tendency in the mental health care profession to sub-compartmentalize various larger illness groups, and create definitions for illnesses out of whole cloth, so that they can create their own "syndrome" discovery.

How many people you know, from their mid-teen years on, exhibit the following pathology?

- not learning from experience
- no sense of responsibility
- inability to form meaningful relationships
- inability to control impulses
- lack of moral sense
- chronically antisocial behavior
- no change in behavior after punishment
- emotional immaturity
- lack of guilt
- self-centeredness

The more that I think about it, the more I come to believe that we're currently raising a generation of sociopaths.

I agree but the problem is nobody's "raising" them. If you're surrounded by bad behavior, that's all you're gonna know.

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by Riceaholic

I agree but the problem is nobody's "raising" them. If you're surrounded by bad behavior, that's all you're gonna know.

Raising them in a vacuum is also a parenting choice.

[MILK]

4% of the population are thought to be Sociopaths, 1% of the population Narcissists.

According to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV" of the American Psychiatric Association the clinical diagnosis of Antisocial Personality disorder is considered when a person has at least 3 of the following characteristics:

1) Failure to to conform to social norms
2) Decitfulness, manipulativeness
3) Impulsivity, failure to plan ahead
4) Irritability, aggressiveness
5) Reckless disregard for the safety of others.
6) Consistent irresponsibility
7) Lack of remorse after having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another person.

Sociopaths have no conscience, not necessarily that they are simply selfish. Sociopaths can't grasp what they are doing to other people, they lack empathy for others.

Narcissism

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a pattern of self-centered or egotistical behavior that shows up in thinking and behavior in a lot of different situations and activities.

1. An exaggerated sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
2. Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. Believes he 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
6. Selfishly takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends
7. Lacks empathy
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him
9. Shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes