Last night Larry King Live of CNN hosted a discussion about whether criminals can be rehabilitated. I think it will be re-aired this weekend so try to watch. One of the guests drew a distinction between “learned” criminal behavior and psychopathy. She stated she believed that criminals who have learned to be that way can unlearn but psychopaths cannot be rehabilitated. I know many of you also hold this belief so I would like to tell you why I strongly disagree.
First I will tell you my position:
ALL criminality stems from an interaction between a person and a situation. A person is a product of his/her genetics and experiences. So in a sense what makes up personality (the “person”) is learned for everyone including the psychopathic. We are preprogrammed by our genetics to learn certain things better than others.
In terms of situational variables solid research has demonstrated that antisocial associates, poor work and educational performance, substance abuse, poor family ties and poor recreational achievement are all associated with criminality. These variables operate independently from personality variables and are important for even the most psychopathic individuals.
The more psychopathic a person is, the more deeply ingrained is the lifestyle of parasitism and predation BUT even those with lower levels of psychopathy can be very resistant to change and very dangerous to society. The definition of response to treatment depends on what you are looking for. If a person cheats 8 people a week, then goes into a program and cheats 1 person a week, that is a change. Everyone has a different definition of “rehabilitation”.
Coincidentally, I just read a great book, Persons in Context: Building a science of the individual. It is a tribute to Walter Mischel, Ph.D. one of the great thinkers of modern psychology. In his chapter “Intelligence as a Person-Situation Interaction”, Robert Sternberg lists five fallacies of thinking. He says, “There is another dimension to person-situation interaction: the extent to which particular situations elicit ‘stupid’ thinking in intelligent people.” All of his 5 fallacies occur in the context of perceived power or dominance. They are:
- The unrealistic optimism fallacy. This occurs when one believes that one is so smart and so powerful that it is pointless to worry about the outcome of what one does.
- The egocentrism fallacy. This occurs when one comes to think that one’s own interests are the only ones that are important.
- The Omniscience Fallacy. This occurs when people think they know more than they do.
- The Omnipotence Fallacy. This results from the power one wield or believes one wields.
- The invulnerability Fallacy. This derives for the illusion of complete protection.
Dr. Sternberg is one of many scientists who have discovered that the experience of power changes the mind/brain. Some people are more prone than others to these effects of power. Since psychopathic individuals seek out power constantly like a heroin addict seeking a fix, they are never free from all of the above fallacies of thinking. Life is a situation of constant power or perceived power.
In the absence of a loving nature all power pursuit becomes antisocial. Now power pursuit and attainment can also stomp out a person’s loving nature, if it was ever present in the first place.
To rehab the psychopathic we have to strip them of any power and teach them to love and care for others. To my knowledge there is no program that has yet succeeded in doing this even for those “sociopaths” who score at the lower end of the psychopathy scale.
Skylar, the reason you and everyone else has a bout with Narcissism is because that is what the world does to everyone. Pumps you up and up and up until narcissism is a way of life.
If you want to get off the narcissism ride, step back, realize that you are more than human flesh. You are a spiritual being housed in human form.
Christians call this paying attention to the world and it’s antics.
The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in those who walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 says,
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Those who walk by the Spirit do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. And what is the lust of the flesh? It is breaking the law of God. The deeds of the flesh are all contrary to the law of God, as Galatians 5:19-21 illustrates.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:
adultery,
fornication,
uncleanness,
lewdness,
idolatry,
sorcery,
hatred,
contentions,
jealousies,
outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions,
dissensions,
heresies,
envy,
murders,
drunkenness,
revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
All of these things are against the law of God. But, those who walk by faith, who walk in the Spirit, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14); and these are those who fulfill the righteous requirements of the law (Matthew 22:40; Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:14). They do not covet (Exodus 20:17). They do not steal (Exodus 20:15). They honor their father and mother, etc. (Exodus 20:12). They live godly lives as a result of their trust in Christ (Romans 10:9-10; James 2:14-26).
in the new covenant, we keep the law in Christ, by not walking according to the flesh, but by the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
Moreover, the believer views the law as wisdom from God and that which brings knowledge, comfort, and hope.
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4).
Amen … which means “so it is”, “that it is” or “so be it” depending on what was written above.
Peace.
I think a lot of us have issues. My self-ranking on the above list:
1.The unrealistic optimism fallacy — Strong.
2.The egocentrism fallacy — Weak.
3.The Omniscience Fallacy — Moderately strong, but I am finally smart enough to know I don’t know everything and when I am wrong I admit so.
4.The Omnipotence Fallacy — Physical strong, emotionally weak.
5.The invulnerability Fallacy — Moderate.
At one time in the past, I have experienced trouble with drinking too much, drugging too much, sexing too much, spending too much. I have relationship problems.
With my x-spath, I was stunned and very concerned with how much we have in common and the fact that I would “match” so highly with him.
There is are two huge differences. First, I admit my problems and I am doing all I can to be a better person. Second, I know and deeply regret that I have hurt others.
I do believe I can be a better person because I admit my flaws.
Can a sociopath redeem? The evidence is no. More important, for those victimized by sociopaths, the answer ***must be no***!!!
Part of our falling for a sociopath was based on hope for redemption, our hope that we could fix the part of them that was triggering our red flags. To believe that redemption is even remotely possible is very, very dangerous for us.
true hens…but the P has a small dick and I’m proud to tell everyone about that! not that he would feel the slightest twinge of embarrassment…
behind blue eyes
Yes..I admit..I have a generous splattering of all of the above…and yes I admit to wanting him to melt into a loving human being and believed I could “fix it” so he could experience being totally loved for who he was flaws and all…he used all MY flaws to exploit me in every way possible before dumping me..And did I tell you he has a small dick?
We all have flaws and issues – I tapped into his and he mine – like we had finally found another that didnt judge on past deed’s we were not proud of and together we would be stronger and united and become one…that lasted about 3 months and then he pointed his finger and judged me for every thing I had told him that I would of never told anyone else and I felt so ashamed that he knew my deepest darkest secret’s and could now use them to torment me with, and he did just that, twisted my reality, became superior. never again will I be so open..I hope Wini is right and someday I will be a sexless spirit – now that sounds like heaven to me
Henry, Henry, Henry … I hope you look up and thank your aunts who took you to hear His word every Sunday when you were a kid (SMILE).
Bride of Christ
All this happens on the 7th trump, 7th vials, 7th seals ” (When the true Jesus comes back, destroys Satan (who comes back at the 6th trump, 6th vial, 6th seal aka 666 pretending to be Jesus deceiving the whole world) and all evil (those who follow and worship Satan) in the world aka END OF DAYS in human flesh, we all are in spiritual form again (aka no male or female form … just spirit again …. YOUR SPIRIT IS THE INTELLECT OF YOUR SOUL)” the test of life in human flesh is over).
Here’s Wikipedia’s explanation …
The Bride of Christ or bride, the Lamb’s wife is one of the metaphors used in the New Testament. It is mainly taken from Revelation 21:9-10:
One of the seven angels…came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.[Rev. 21:9-10].
It implies, but is not specific, that the “Bride” is the body of believers that comprise the universal Christian EkklÄ“sia (Church) (lit. “called-out ones”). In that verse the “New Jerusalem” is explicitly “the bride, the wife of the Lamb,” almost universally considered to refer to Christ and his church.[1] It illustrates the closeness of Christ’s relationship with his followers, and the depth of love and service that he holds for the Church as the body of believers. They are variously described in the New Testament as the ekklÄ“sia (meaning “church”), the body of Christ, the koinÅnia of the Spirit, flock, Israel of God, elect race, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s own people, temple of God, seed of Abraham, and otherwise.
The ekklÄ“sia is never explicitly called the bride of Christ in the New Testament. That is approached in Ephesians 5:22-33 and in Revelation 21:9. A major analogy is that of the body. Just as husband and wife are to be “one flesh,”[Eph. 5:31] this analogy for the writer describes the relationship of Christ and ekklÄ“sia (v. 32). Husbands were exhorted to love their wives “just as Christ loved the ekklÄ“sia and gave himself for it (v. 25). When Christ nourishes and cherishes the ekklÄ“sia, he nourishes and cherishes his own flesh. Members of the ekklÄ“sia are “members of his own body” (vv. 29-30).[2]
Paul of Tarsus used similar imagery elsewhere in his epistles. Paul calls this a mystery because marriage is a prophetic act of the depth of our relationship with Jesus. This love surpasses our knowledge.[Eph 3:19]
As one metaphor for the Church, the “Bride of Christ” reflects that any relationship between humans and God can only be hinted at and poorly described using any earthly terms. Although the role of bride and bridegroom captures some aspects of our relationship with God, demonstrating the strength of God’s love for us and His eternal commitment to those who chose Him, many other aspects of our relationship with God cannot be described using this metaphor (or any other human concept).
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And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation 22: 17.
The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth.
Psalms 25:8.
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners (that’s ALL OF US down on earth) in the way.
MEEK (meaning those who get rid of their egos and go humble to hear/read/comprehend and abide in His Truth).
Hens – this is how I feel TOO!
‘like we had finally found another that didnt judge on past deed’s we were not proud of and together we would be stronger and united and become one”that lasted about 3 months and then he pointed his finger and judged me for every thing I had told him that I would of never told anyone else and I felt so ashamed that he knew my deepest darkest secret’s and could now use them to torment me with, and he did just that, twisted my reality, became superior.’
the dark secrets is one of the reasons i fear the smear campaign….but that means i am (as aways) afraid of bien g humiliated…but i don’t really have anything to be ashamed of….lots of stuff that people don’t know and that wouldn’t play well at all in pretoria…but these things are all just ‘me’…why should i be afraid/ fearing humiliation???? i thnk it’s the comobo that’s potent – ashamed of hooking up whith her- whack-jobness herself and what she could do with the info she has about me.
my goal is to take back my power. and grow.
Hey OneStep and Henry, we should learn from Hollywood … bad news is still news … you’re front headlines no matter what anyone says (LOL). It’s when they stop talking is when it’s over.
We can always turn it around to anyone that approaches us “oh, is he/she still complaining about that we dumped him/her?” He/she needs to get over it. Then just smile and ask the person that’s telling you what your spath said … and how is your day?
OneStep – Let them smear away..My x bf told me he would ROCK MY F==KING WORLD with the info I had given him.. At this stage in my life I have nothing to hide and I am not running for president ..2 thy own self be true….I wont ever see him again thank goodness..
oou wini – good idea. i know EB has done lots of this. boink. i just woke up. 😉
hens – it’s that my work is very public, and the town is so small. a bad rep would be hard to deal with (along with being nuts ;))but as wini points out, I could USE IT!