Martin Seligman, former president of the American Psychological Association, wrote in an essay about the differences between crazy and evil.
Better mental health services won’t stop evil, on PressOfAtlanticCity.com.
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How to recognize and recover from everyday sociopaths - narcissists
Excellent article, someone finally said the word EVIL.
Well, other than M. Scott Peck, anyway.
Evil is a difficult word because it makes us turn away, just as we need most to look directly at it.
That’s what happened to me, when I read Dr. Peck’s book, “People of the Lie”
Still, I’m glad someone is bringing up evil in regard to mental illness.
The only problem I have with this article is that he ended it with a discussion on guns. I wish we didn’t need guns, but as long as there is evil, I think we do.
Skylar, I believe that people associate the term, “evil,” with religious connotations. Personally, evil is as evil does, and spaths are, without a doubt, “evil” because they do what they do with clear intent, even if they don’t acknowledge this fact.
For me, “evil” has an intrinsic definition. Someone who is “evil” isn’t simply a person who’s made errors in judgment, but someone who deliberately makes choices to deceive, betray, defraud, and destroy another person for their own personal gain.
Brightest blessings
Truthy, I agree with your definition of “evil”—and spaths march to that definition.
What if your parents are evil, as pointed out to me by my current therapist? She came right out with it: “Your parents were evil.” I left her after that because of the shock value…but I returned when I realized she was right.
My mistake was not leaving at age 24 when a golden opportunity availed itself to me. When the person who could have helped me decided I could not handle the road trip (total garbage)…my sensitivities kicked in and I returned to my creepy mother…the mother of total selfishness.
That therapist I mentioned above told me that my mother had been diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Very interesting article, the more so because the author is a well-known psychiatrist with a great deal of experience and training RE mental illnesses. I think that’s the first time I’ve read the word “evil” used by a doctor of psychiatry. And, its interesting that he very specifically did NOT refer to the term “psychopathy”; I wonder why? Because all the criteria or factors he used to define “evil”, also define psychopathy!
I agree that CRAZY PEOPLE should not only not be allowed to buy guns, truly psychotic or psychopathic people should not have *access* to other people’s guns!!
The only way I can figure to accomplish that AND protect the public’s second amendment right to own guns at the same time, is to make sure that those who are diagnosed with psychotic disorders or psychopathy, are NEVER, EVER allowed to be left alone to their own devices. They need 24/7 supervision, either incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital or if they’re not incarcerated, they need a “babysitter” or team of “sitters” watching them AT ALL TIMES.
Hey, it would generate a lot of new jobs, which we need in this country! “Psychopath/Psychotic Patient Wrangler, First Class”.
Babs,
24/7 supervision, behind glass, like at the zoo.
skylar,
I mentioned visualizing seeing spaths caged at the zoo with a sign PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE SPATHS remember?!!!
As for spathsitting….I wouldn’t wish that on my enemies!
on 2nd thought,yes….while they’re in that cage they can ‘mirror’ each other…..oh no,now I have the creeps!
I thought it was a horrible article. The only thing he said that made any sense is that people can be crazy, evil, neither or both.
“We know evil when we see it: “mean,” “violent,” “full of hate,” “selfish,” “grandiose,” “without a conscience” and “bullying” all signal evil.”
The only thing here that signals evil is “without a conscience”. The others signal anger, frustration, victimization, etc.
Without a conscience can be mild mannered, soft spoken, calm, well respected, and pure evil. It is cold, calculating, usually perfectly sane and the most dangerous thing existing here on earth. We can all attest to that.
I hate mental health and crime being linked. Mental health is depression, anxiety, fear, PTSD, stress reactions, battle scars, victims. It is caused by trauma and abuse. Psychopaths and sociopaths are evil. Some of the other illnesses and personality disorders can seem evil but they are not without conscience. They are often tormented souls.
Without conscience = pure evil. Pure evil = psychopath/sociopath It has nothing to do with mental illness. People can be crazy, evil, neither or both and still be a decent person or a psychopath.
Pure evil can inflict harm for pleasure, notoriety or to gain satisfaction. They are the only ones who can do this. So get rid of gun free zones and let an armed citizen protect our children and stop these psychopathic murderers in their tracks.