Editor’s note: Steve Becker has a very dry sense of humor, and the following post is written tongue-in-cheek. If you have a humorous story about a sociopath, feel free to add it as a comment.
Well, thanks to the Investigation Discovery Channel, the latest estimates are that 85% of the general population is sociopathic, and likely to commit a horrific, calculated exploitation of another human being within the next three weeks.
Even leading researchers on psychopathy laud this cable channel (which, admittedly, is absolutely riveting) for getting their own estimates properly realigned. Only in the last two months, just on my street alone, two of my neighbors killed a spouse (one for insurance money, the other for the chance to be with someone else); two other neighbors, separately, kidnapped and tortured hitchhikers over a two-day period, during which both missed their kids’ respective travel soccer tournaments; my neighbor across the street, a great friend, is now believed to be a suspect in eight abduction/missing children cases since 2010; and the identical twins of another neighbor, three houses down, are believed to be responsible for the serial mutilation of dozens of dogs in the area since 2011 (they are 19, and my principal babysitters since 2009; and, because it’s so damned hard to find babysitters these days, they will remain my babysitters because apparently, at least as best i know to this point, they just mutilate and savage dogs).
And let me tell you something else–the street I live on is filled with relatively “normal” people. I’m told that what happens in my “neck of the woods” is nothing compared to the psychopathic crimes being perpetrated at a newly estimated rate of every 12 minutes around the corner, on my friends’ streets. They want to move to MY block.
Last month, my best friend learned that his wife of 16 years, a strikingly stable, well-adjusted individual (I still regard her as such), while mixing herself screw-drivers at night, was mixing him vodka-anti-freezes. He lies in critical condition at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ, but his wife is still a great neighbor and, admirably, visits him daily in the CCU unit (albeit one assumes she is scoping out chances to slip him some extra poison to finish him off.)  Last week, when I visited my buddy in the hospital I warned him firmly to beware his wife’s visits, but he’s in a coma, so I doubt he heard me.
It’s gotten to the point where I, myself, have become a bit paranoid. Recently I went to my internist, feeling weak and lethargic, just not myself, and asked him, “Could it be antifreeze, doc?,” to which he replied, “Well, how much antifreeze have you been drinking, Steve? More than a glass a night?”
Ha ha. He’s so funny. A real rip.
Anyway, it’s all very sobering. It seems you really can’t trust anyone anymore, not your neighbors, friends, kids, spouses, family, co-workers, not even yourself. Everyone, or almost everyone, it seems, thanks to the disconcerting revelations of ID Discovery, Â is a sociopath.
(This article is copyrighted (c) 2013 by Steve Becker, LCSW.)
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Doh! It turns out there are only 5 parts/sections to this particular documentary. Below are the links to the rest of it (at YouTube).
The part about criminal and non-criminal psychopaths coming from all kinds of home environments: good homes, bad homes, and in-between, begins at the end of Part 3, but gets cut off (a few words of Dr Hare’s are missing, it appears) and continues in Part 4.
This is the link to “Psychopath” part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f5hUCcckjg&list=PLsfK2kCQzM1-YbzkbwYpq1soc-35Nwxxv
part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfOaij60ss&list=PLsfK2kCQzM1-YbzkbwYpq1soc-35Nwxxv
part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr1RFSTihk&list=PLsfK2kCQzM1-YbzkbwYpq1soc-35Nwxxv
part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt4Gwfg4Y74&list=PLsfK2kCQzM1-YbzkbwYpq1soc-35Nwxxv
Although different etiological theories are popular with different researchers, they all do seem to be converging/agreeing with each other, at least in this documentary and in other research sources I’ve located (like at the Mayo Clinic site) that the exact causal factors are not simple; its not just nature and its not just nurture, but a combination of both, and further research is needed before we understand the details regarding just exactly how and why these factors combine to generate mental disorders like psychopathy.
The newest, cutting-edge research tools such as real-time 3-D computerized MRI brain scanning seems to be adding a whole new perspective on the study of mental disorders like psychopathy RE their causes and possible new, more effective treatments.
One researcher (in the documentary) spoke of a possible research study that would attempt to “boost” amygdala function in diagnosed psychopaths, to see if that had any impact in increasing their ability to experience empathy.
Only time will tell what these new research directions, with these new research tools, will turn up. It does give me some hope, though. I’m all for trying new approaches, as long as they’re ethical and moral, to find something that can help treat psychopathy. Right now (according to the documentary) criminal psychopaths who have undergone psychotherapy actually have a higher recidivism rate than those who did not undergo psychotherapy.
Dr Hare speculates that psychotherapy is like sending a psychopath to acting class; it just teaches them how to be more convincing when they mimic the emotions of empathy, remorse and compassion: it teaches them to be more effective, more efficient predators. Scary.
Babs,
Thank you so much for posting the rest of the videos in the sequence! I’m going to look at them now before I get off.Just wanted to say that I agree with Dr Hare in that pychopaths can LEARN to ACT empathetic,compassionate,etc.My husband has learned to act like a morally righteous man,lol!
Babs,
Wow,
That took awhile to go through! I was impressed with the MRI scanning!James Blair’s study was a neat way of testing visual and emotional responses to a picture.It always troubled me that my husband could look at pictures of Jews and Christians who suffered during the Holocaust;I was repelled by them because it hurt my heart so much!
My husband used to tell me that he was “a good actor”.I now understand what that statement actually meant!
I agree if there’s a way to treat psycopaths,it should be done.But I felt like I was watching science fiction when they started talking about putting a micro chip in the malfunctioning brain! What if the micro chip starts malfunctioning?! Does the spath have a ‘seizure’ while waiting for some switch to be flipped on a giant screen?!!
Yes, that is a pretty extreme, science-fiction type of theory to try. There was an original series Star Trek episode that featured a whole population with microchips implanted in their heads that zapped them painfully whenever they had “bad” thoughts… its called “For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky.”
I don’t think implanted emotion-modifying microchips are remotely feasible at this point in time, for both medical and ethical reasons. But at least there are efforts being made RE researching possible treatments and hopefully finding *something* that will help treat psychopathy, since traditional methods like psychotherapy (“talk therapy”) don’t work on psychopaths and can even make them more crafty, more successful predators.
Right now, its kind of a no-win situation; all we can do at this point in time is educate ourselves and the general public about psychopathy and learn ways to minimize the damage done by these intra-species predators.
Thanks to Steve for this astute and wryly comic critique of whatsounds like an absurd and fear mongering ratings grabber.
Tea Light, thanks for your mercifully astute reading of my humor-intended piece.
Where have all the LoveFraud readers (and the many with such acute senses of humor) gone?
Okay…one interpreter of my actual intention is gratifying enough for me. To any or all who question my intention, i refer them back to you. 🙂
I see that territory around here has changed quite a bit. Interesting.
Sometimes we lose our sense of humor being subjected to psychopaths. Right now I feel like the facts you portray are true. My ex, my daughter, our politicians, etc. I did get the humor though.
Steve, tough crowd. What can I say.
I understand that some members of the LF community are currently pooling their energies into a Facebook page whose aim is to lobby for the DSM-VI to include ”enjoys laughing” as an add on to the existing criteria for all of the Cluster B disorders.
And I’m sure you’ll want to join with us in wishing them all the very best of luck with that.
On a personal note, your articles helped me a great deal six months ago when I was in crisis. Sincere thanks.
Tea Light
Thanks Steve. That was even more over the top than my comments, and I totally loved it. I know these behaviors are on the rise. Wherever I go, whatever I’m doing I get constant reminders that I am less important than that person, and that one, and definitely this guy over here. As I pull my shopping cart back to avoid being rammed, or have to take a different rout home because I was boxed out of the lane. There was plenty of room. The other driver just felt that one less vehicle in front of him was important enough to nearly cause an accident. Whatever the scenario I just usually say to myself ‘ wow I see you’re definitely more important than me ‘ I seem to get these reminders daily. I think the universe is trying to tell me something. Ok I get it already !
Steve
I don’t know where you live but it can’t be anywhere near us. We don’t have, to my knowledge, that kind of horrific activity.
Not in our neighborhood.
But on jobs I have experienced psychopaths, sociopaths, and narcissists…hell…my own parents. It is real.
Babs94540: I agree. It sounds fabricated or at least highly exaggerated. He is a sensationalist. I don’t believe in most of it.
I agree with that comment (that approx 85% or people are sociopaths).
Sociopaths “kiss up” and “abuse” down. If you’re in a position of power, you would think that there are fewer sociopaths (because they don’t reveal themselves to you, instead they charm you). If you are in an inferior/dependent position . . you see their true sociopathy. This is one of the reasons why powerful people, just can’t believe that statistic. For them, it is not reality. (Noody would dare rage/bully/abuse the queen of England). Also, sociopaths do not exploit/abuse everyone. They may exploit their wives (or close relatives) but their co-workers (maybe 100’s of them) might think they’re wonderful. If you have a very naive demeanor (which I do) and are aware of this pathology (which I “NOW” am, they very readily expose their true selves (i.e., bullying, lying, raging, blaming). I spot them almost immediately . . Not because I’m so smart, but because they don’t expect I’d be onto them. IMHO 85% is about right. Remember, a serial killer needs to only kill 2 or 3 people to be a serial killer. He is not defined by the hundreds of his acquaintances/friends he DIDN’T kill. He is defined as a serial killer by the few he DID kill. Same for an abuser/bullier/exploiter/rager. An abuser/bullier/exploiter/rager, is not defined by the hundreds of people he didn’t abuse/bully (but could have). He is defined as an abuser/bullier by the few people people he DID abuse/bully. So IMHO the 4% statistic freqently quoted by the “so-called” experts . . is total hog-wash. Also consider, that a major hallmark characteristic of the sociopath/Psychopath/narcissist . . is that they are “MASTERS” of covering up/masking their pathology (true self). How can those idiots say 4% of the population are sociopaths (in one breath) and then say their major characteristic is that they are masters of deception & cover up (in the other breath). That is an idiotic statement on it’s face!
I agree that the estimates are very understated at 4%. By the nature of the disorder, they easily escape diagnosis whereas the victims do not. And from what I hear about TV, which I do not watch, they are all over the “reality TV”. The humor intended may have beeen too close for comfort.
How about politics, finance, and corporations? Where people with “power” and good “impression management” skills call the shots.
Hi Sarah999,
I think you have made some very astute and observations, specifically, the fact that psychopaths will “kiss up” and “abuse down”. Good call; those in power positions are not subjected to a spath’s bullying: they’re being seduced by the spath’s mesmerizing charm. The spath wants the superior’s job, or wants the superior to share their power/status with the spath. If the superior is charmed into sharing power, then the spath will eventually undermine his/her superior and take all their power, and boot their former superior out.)
And of course this dichotomy of behavior would impact the perception of how many spaths there really are in the population. (Me personally, I think its more like 10% than 4% or 85%; one out of every ten people you know could just as easily put a bullet in your skull as shake your hand, with as little concern, if it benefitted them in some way and they felt they could get away with it.)
Also an important observation you made is that it doesn’t take more than two or three corpses to make a serial killer. The masks that serial killers wear, fascinates me. The jolly, friendly ones are usually described as “such a nice guy” or “such a sweet gal” by their neighbors and coworkers, after they’ve been caught. The more secretive, sly ones are often described as “quiet”, “intelligent”, “studious” and “shy.”
But that very specific behavior that spaths seem to have, of being able to appear normal, appealing and “OK” when they need to charm and gain trust, but then when they feel its safe for them to do so, like when their target is alone, to unmask and display their open naked contempt, hatred and abuse… I don’t think this aspect of psychopathy gets enough attention and discussion. I think it needs a bigger spotlight.
LF readers, as Tea Light divined, my article was intended to be humorous, as she said a “wry” take on the ubiquity of sociopathic case studies, courtesy of the addictive ID channel.
I apologize for any misunderstanding. I thought the satiric tone of the piece came through pretty obviously, but evidently not clearly enough. No, I do not estimate the incidence of sociopathy at 85%. I was joking. But if you watch ID enough, you might think so???? I locate the true incidence right at, or below, Hare’s estimations.
Nor do I actually live on a block quite as dysfunctional as the one I described, and no…however desperate for a babysitter, I wouldn’t settle for an animal-torturer. So readers who were alarmed at that prospect can relax and not burden DYFS with fictitious cases when it’s got real ones to handle.
Wow…I need to be careful. For those of you who wondered whether i’d written anything else, I assume (and hope)with all changes to the site, that my previous 98 articles are still archived somewhere–most of them are serious, a few (i warn) are satiric.
Best to all.
Steve
Oh Steve….!!
Please continue to write regularly!! Your insights and dry humor are welcome and necessary. Yes your previously written articles are a treasure trove and many people on the blog have said that they love your style!!
No I am not a troll even though I do believe in the power of flattery!!
But seriously, your articles are balm to an aching heart and may God bless you for that!!( and nudge you to do more writing for LF)
Thanks much for your generous response. It was very welcome. Incredibly sweet. Very much appreciated. 🙂
It also depends on the culture. In certain cultures, i.e., where men are allowed to beat their wives, relatives are supposed to MURDER their daughter/sister/cousin being an innocent victim of rape. Amputations occur for A minor theft. Murder for drawing a cartoon. IMHO That culture is sociopathic !