The definition of a psychopath

(Narcissistic personality disorder)

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1) has 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 unique
4) requires excessive admiration
5) has a sense of entitlement
6) is interpersonally exploitative
7) lacks empathy
8) is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

I know a lot of people who have five or more of those qualities and they are ALL men. What does that say about the future of our society? These people emerged recently during the 'good times'. I don't believe the current environment is going to change anyone, some people have been saying people will care more about each other, I just think some people will become more violent and will either take the aggression out on others or themselves (suicide). it was recently discussed in the media that suicides and divorces and petty crime is already up since this economic downturn. Are these men causing all the problems? and will it get worse?

If the personality of a psychopath could be simplified so easily, well then there wouldn't be all those half ass pharmaceutical attempts to get rid of the shit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Are these men causing all the problems? and will it get worse?

---

Are you honestly medically qualified to diagnose someone as having 5 or more of these problems, or are your merely projecting your bias against men by taking what are in fact extremely generalized descriptions and applying them towards men via Forer effect in much the way we believe that horoscopes rule our lives?

Because, I can quite honestly look at that same list and apply it to women I have known. But my opinion of them is admittedly biased by my interactions with them.

Now, there is a problem with men and empathy, but pretty much you could vaguely define every man and woman as a psychopath via the above poorly defined standards.

Any psychiatrist will tell you that it is a combination if things used to diagnose, not just one or two. For example, I can run through a Rorschach test and provide a whole bunch of scary interpretations, simply because I know what the negative answer already are. But, if the person testing me did not know this and based their diagnosis upon my answers to this one test alone, I'd be locked up.

Crime generally increases during times of economic hardship. The lower in the financial pecking order you go, the more desperate many people become. People end up suppressing emotions in general, especially empathy as they become more absorbed in dealing with the problems of their day-to-day lives. The greater those problems, the greater the suppression becomes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by doppelgaenger [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

If the personality of a psychopath could be simplified so easily, well then there wouldn't be all those half ass pharmaceutical attempts to get rid of the shit.

---

I suggest you read Brave New World if you haven't already. Aldus Huxley paints a rather grim and scary version of a world controlled by medication. Another would be the movie Equilibrium.

no i'm not medically qualified to make any kind of judgment (that list is real tho for qualified people to judge from) but i have to say Ireland used to be be so different about 15 years ago, people really did care more. they didn't complain; now it's acceptable to abuse someone else who's paid to accept it who doesn't run the organization and policies.

i feel people get annoyed quicker, want to impress people with their success and material things, are preoccupied with how great and superior they are when in actual fact we all die with nothing in the end. Where is anyone taking all their riches? they are leaving it all to their sons in -law and daughters in-law.

i see some people i know and they really do believe that they are entitled to everything and feel that they are special. it is weird to me coz it's a new thing here in Ireland to be allowed to 'demand' a service all just coz one has the 'right' (money) over someone else. people are very rude and yet the people they are being rude to have no control over the policy or rules in place. it has become the norm to be like this coz one has the cash. this is crazy to me. i know many rude people who live in a 'special' world of their own. it has actually become more than just acceptable but admired. and they feel that they should control everyone around them involved (or not even involved but just in the vacinity) in ther crazy self involved life. this is a crazy attitude imo

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

(Narcissistic personality disorder)

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1) has 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 unique
4) requires excessive admiration
5) has a sense of entitlement
6) is interpersonally exploitative
7) lacks empathy
8) is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

---

Where's Cain? I wonder whether his ex has most if not all these qualities. From the information I get from him, I would say she is indeed "suffering" from this or other personality disorders.

was that a description of friz?? haha

raverboy

imo no-one is superior to anyone else, people have different qualities and life experiences but it doesn't mean any ONE person is any better than another. thats a fact and i don't care who thinks they are better than another and disagrees with me. the people i believe are low quality are the ones who don't empathize with people's life and experiences and believe that don't need to, they are indeed the lower quality people, just my thoughts

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lite [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Crime generally increases during times of economic hardship. The lower in the financial pecking order you go, the more desperate many people become. People end up suppressing emotions in general, especially empathy as they become more absorbed in dealing with the problems of their day-to-day lives. The greater those problems, the greater the suppression becomes.

---

That's very true but there are rich psychopaths too.

Ecojeanne was your last past to a particular poster?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lite [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Are you honestly medically qualified to diagnose someone as having 5 or more of these problems, or are your merely projecting your bias against men by taking what are in fact extremely generalized descriptions and applying them towards men via Forer effect in much the way we believe that horoscopes rule our lives?

---

Actually, those ARE the criteria used by professionals to diagnose this psych disorder. They appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). And yes, I can think of a couple of women who fit this criteria, and quite a lot of people have less than 5.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vashti [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Actually, those ARE the criteria used by professionals to diagnose this psych disorder. They appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). And yes, I can think of a couple of women who fit this criteria, and quite a lot of people have less than 5.

---

OOoo the DSM-IV. My bf would love to go over it with me. :P I have partial information in my bookshelf somewhere and the info Ecojeanne gave is definitely in there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lesa [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

That's very true but there are rich psychopaths too.

Ecojeanne was your last past to a particular poster?

---

no not at all lesa, i'm just feelin a bit like a lot people haven't realised that everyone is the same, lol sorry, it may have looked like that but no, i'm just feelin like some people don't have a concience and it seems to be acceptable and admired in some cases

Narcissists have a conscience. The ones that *don't* are the ones with anti-social personality disorder.

Of course, many people have more than one personality disorder at the same time, so there could be overlap.

how can they have a conscience if they don’t empathize? is the conscience when they realize that they hurt themselves by being terrible to someone else therefore in turn hurting themselves? is that a conscience?

I'm not really sure about the difference, but having a conscience is to be able to distinguish whether a person's actions are right or wrong. Maybe the narcissist knows, but just doesn't care? Anyway, who cares? They are both nuts. :D

Conscience deals with your morals and empathy deals with your understanding other people feelings.

Someone can empathize (understand your feelings) but still do you wrong.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vashti [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Actually, those ARE the criteria used by professionals to diagnose this psych disorder. They appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). And yes, I can think of a couple of women who fit this criteria, and quite a lot of people have less than 5.

---

Right, but that wasn't what I asked. I asked if she was medically qualified to diagnose those particular qualities to such an extent that one could make such a determination about a person.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vashti [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I'm not really sure about the difference, but having a conscience is to be able to distinguish whether a person's actions are right or wrong. Maybe the narcissist knows, but just doesn't care? Anyway, who cares? They are both nuts. :D

---

Narcissism is not Pyschopathy/Sociopathy.

One is simply self obsession, the other is gratification via commission of immoral acts while not feeling remorse.

Though generally you see the term sociopath used far more often than psychopath. Even if the terms are interchangable.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lesa [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Conscience deals with your morals and empathy deals with your understanding other people feelings.

Someone can empathize (understand your feelings) but still do you wrong.

---

Where as a sociopath does not empathize with those they have harmed. They simply do not care.

A Narcissistic personality is not the same thing as a psychopath. Number 1 and 3 is done by a lot of people, in fact it is a preferred quality in men by women.

Evidence of Insanity:

1.)Believes in things that do not exist(god)
2.)Makes stupid threads listing what classifies someone as crazy
3.)Has no logic and reasoning skills
4.)Thinks they are always right and will not admit being wrong even when presented with evidence
5.)Women who think that all men will do anything for sex
6.)Jumping around while screaming "duhhhh duhhhhh duhhhh"
7.)Believes that Pot somehow induces creativity

Number 3 is a huge problem among our women in today society. What does that say about our future? we are doomed.

and lite i said no i wasn't medically qualified. your point lite? coz i'm pretty sure that you have an opinion just as much as anyone else has about who they are surrounded by to make an judgment and relate to those qualities that i listed. do you have anyone you know that comes to mind? maybe you you don’t, but i am not diagnosing anyone but just listed those qualities which happen to be factual, but i do think that we can all relate in some way and that’s all i was sayin' coz bad attitudes are becoming an epidemic, that’s ultimately what i'm sayin' and lots of people may have or may develop more qualities from that list, i'm sure you know a few people

My list owns yours.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

do you have anyone you know that comes to mind?

---

Actually, I do know someone who is officially diagnosed as a sociopath. And.. Well. He is one.

One can't exactly call him a friend, as how can one be friends with someone who cannot care about or empathize with you? A close acquaintance would probably be the best way to describe it.

And, I wasn't going after you again, merely re-stating to Vashti why I asked the question, not that I was doubting your description of the qualifications used to diagnose.

I could look at someone and think, "They're rather high on themselves." Which, me being a self deprecating person some of the time doesn't take much. But exactly how high does a person have to be on themselves to meet the necessary criteria for that particular piece of the diagnosis.

Which, wasn't covered by your statement.

Pretty much only about 1% of the world's population is actually diagnosable as being Sociopathic last I knew.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

(Narcissistic personality disorder)

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1) has 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 unique
4) requires excessive admiration
5) has a sense of entitlement
6) is interpersonally exploitative
7) lacks empathy
8) is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

---

My ex-husband had all of those qualities... seriously.... :horror:

This thread is making me glad my psych rotation is over. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

(Narcissistic personality disorder)

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1) has 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 unique
4) requires excessive admiration
5) has a sense of entitlement
6) is interpersonally exploitative
7) lacks empathy
8) is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

---

I got a better definition: Misombra and Indi.

The next question is were they born that way or are they products of the society they grew up in?

^^^lol!!!! so do you think indi does qualify? *giggle*

Yea, Indi is definitely a psychopath. With her science degree, intelligence, and normal happy life. What a psychotic bitch she is.

Given that I know I function better in society than most of you, I'd have to say that 'diagnosis' isn't all that bad.

Pretty sure Obama would also fit most of those criteria, as would Bill Gates and other successful ppl.

Don't hate on those who are better than you, just try your best to emulate them. :lol:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Only-virgins [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Yea, Indi is definitely a psychopath. With her science degree, intelligence, and normal happy life. What a psychotic bitch she is.

---

I really like that House quote. I think I'll have to download a few episodes to watch. Any particularly good ones you'd recommend to start?

Actually, OV, I am rather sociopathic. I would be perfectly happy to leave 99% of society behind and sail away in my boat. Alas, my upbringing and conscience prevents this. For now. I feel I have to 'earn' that privilege. Another 10 years and its a done deal, I think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IndiReloaded [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I really like that House quote. I think I'll have to download a few episodes to watch. Any particularly good ones you'd recommend to start?

Actually, OV, I am rather sociopathic. I would be perfectly happy to leave 99% of society behind and sail away in my boat. Alas, my upbringing and conscience prevents this. For now. I feel I have to 'earn' that privilege. Another 10 years and its a done deal, I think.

---

You have to start at the first season really :)

Yes but wanting to get away or just dealing with a few people doesn't make you a psychopath.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lite [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I suggest you read Brave New World if you haven't already. Aldus Huxley paints a rather grim and scary version of a world controlled by medication. Another would be the movie Equilibrium.

---

I've read that and many others like it. The Giver, 1984, Paradise, so many of them.

Never seen Equilibrium though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Only-virgins [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

You have to start at the first season really :)

Yes but wanting to get away or just dealing with a few people doesn't make you a psychopath.

---

I actually really hate season one. Season two is much better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lite [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

I actually really hate season one. Season two is much better.

---

LoL, I agree. I still would start at the first one though I guess.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ecojeanne [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

(Narcissistic personality disorder)

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1) has 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 unique
4) requires excessive admiration
5) has a sense of entitlement
6) is interpersonally exploitative
7) lacks empathy
8) is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

---

I haven't read any replies, but just wanted to add that MOST people display those symptoms at various points of time. Just based on these symptoms alone most of us can be diagnosed as NPD. Which is why it really takes a specialist to diagnose a person based on displayed severity. Someone with lots of clinical experience in the field.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lite [Dear Guest/Member you have to reply to see the link.click here to register]

Right, but that wasn't what I asked. I asked if she was medically qualified to diagnose those particular qualities to such an extent that one could make such a determination about a person.

---

No, she can't diagnose but she can suggest seeking medical or psychological attention if she notices too many "abnormal" behavior. It is the way many people seek medical attention is it not? That is, either you notice something wrong or someone else does.

Can someone point out the issue to me?

i know somebody who i think has that narcististic thing going on.

he always has to be talking about himself, and if you change the conversation to something else he either gets tired of it or tries to get the topic back to himself again. plus he thinks he can get any woman he wants and he thinks he can beat up any guy.

it's kinda funny, but i'm glad i'm not married to him or anything.