WHAT IS A SOCIOPATH?...
So many different definitions of Sociopaths exists out in the world. These are just a few of them.
*Sociopathy: a lack of interest in, or care for, the rules of a society. (From listverse.com)
*Sociopaths are generally characterized as people who have problems with their conscience.Psychologists say sociopaths may lack a conscious entirely, have holes in it, or are somehow able to neutralize any sense of conscience or future perspective (www.ncwc.edu).
*Sociopaths are extremely selfish and egocentric, leaving them only to care about themselves, their needs and desires. A sociopath warps those that he/she comes into contact with into objects that they can potentially use to fulfill a goal or sense of gratification. Their goals are generally sexually in nature .They will not stop until they get the pleasure and gratification they desire. (www.wright.edu)
*Sociopaths often report that they feel like their abnormal behavior is doing something good for society or nothing terribly bad.Most sociopaths are substance abusers (www.crimelibrary.com).
*Psychopath and sociopath are terms with an intertwined clinical history, and they are now largely used interchangeably. Due to this, both are excluded from the DSM. (Confessions of a Sociopath)
SOCIOPATHY- THE MISCONCEPTION...
So, I’m under the assumption that sociopathy has a very narrow view in the eyes of the ‘general’ public. When someone hears the noun ‘sociopath’, they immediately think of a murderer, a torturer or the like. Sure, we sociopaths haven’t built the best reputation for ourselves, and I know it sounds contradictory, because the definition of a sociopath is ‘a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behaviour.' - This is half right.
Firstly let me stress that not every sociopath is the same. Some of us are violent, some of us are manipulative, some of us murder, steal or cheat. It really does depend on the specific person as to what ‘floats your boat’. But, what we do have in common is the fact that we view other people as ‘objects’ rather than equals.
The misconception I wanted to talk about today is the fact that ‘sociopaths lack the ability to feel empathy’. This isn’t entirely true. Yes, it’s true that empathy doesn’t affect us the same way it does with the ‘average human’. Some of us, I am sure, cannot feel empathy at all, but there are some of us who understand it. I understand the feeling of, lets say, your child’s death. I know socially how to act, and I know how you feel. I just have the ability to turn it on/off. Again, not in the same way that you’re thinking. I don’t care that you’re hurting, and I don’t care about your ‘feelings’, but I can access that emotion inside of my head and know what you’re feeling. I don’t know if this is a product of what we are taught when we are growing up, or if it’s just something that is naturally occurring inside of our heads, but what I do know is that empathy will get you in trouble. You’re more likely to be fooled, or tricked.
This may, to you, sound like we are monsters, simply because we do not care. Again, this is your issue, not ours. We don’t care what you’re thinking/feeling and therefore don’t care what you think/say about us. Actually, the whole thought of it makes me laugh. Society dictates that all humans must be ‘nice’ or else society would collapse as we know it, but without people like us, the world would stop spinning (obviously not to be taken literally). Companies, such as Apple or Google, would be no where without the minds of a few sociopaths. We as humans would not be where we are today without the sociopathy of Vikings, or Romans.
So before you’re quick to judge, use your head and think logically. Or else you’re just a sheep, falling for society’s trap.
Do you disagree?
Firstly let me stress that not every sociopath is the same. Some of us are violent, some of us are manipulative, some of us murder, steal or cheat. It really does depend on the specific person as to what ‘floats your boat’. But, what we do have in common is the fact that we view other people as ‘objects’ rather than equals.
The misconception I wanted to talk about today is the fact that ‘sociopaths lack the ability to feel empathy’. This isn’t entirely true. Yes, it’s true that empathy doesn’t affect us the same way it does with the ‘average human’. Some of us, I am sure, cannot feel empathy at all, but there are some of us who understand it. I understand the feeling of, lets say, your child’s death. I know socially how to act, and I know how you feel. I just have the ability to turn it on/off. Again, not in the same way that you’re thinking. I don’t care that you’re hurting, and I don’t care about your ‘feelings’, but I can access that emotion inside of my head and know what you’re feeling. I don’t know if this is a product of what we are taught when we are growing up, or if it’s just something that is naturally occurring inside of our heads, but what I do know is that empathy will get you in trouble. You’re more likely to be fooled, or tricked.
This may, to you, sound like we are monsters, simply because we do not care. Again, this is your issue, not ours. We don’t care what you’re thinking/feeling and therefore don’t care what you think/say about us. Actually, the whole thought of it makes me laugh. Society dictates that all humans must be ‘nice’ or else society would collapse as we know it, but without people like us, the world would stop spinning (obviously not to be taken literally). Companies, such as Apple or Google, would be no where without the minds of a few sociopaths. We as humans would not be where we are today without the sociopathy of Vikings, or Romans.
So before you’re quick to judge, use your head and think logically. Or else you’re just a sheep, falling for society’s trap.
Do you disagree?
