A sociopath is someone who has a pervasive and persistent disregard for the rights and feelings of others. This disregard is manifested in the antisocial behavior sociopaths show. While we usually think of antisocial behavior as criminal, not all antisocial acts are illegal. A person who slips up once is not a sociopath. Sociopathy is a lifestyle.
Since humans are designed to live in society, a healthy personality has prosocial inclinations. Therefore, people who are pervasively antisocial are disordered in the sense that they are not the norm (thank God). Although antisocial behaviors are observable actions like lying, stealing and assault, there are personality traits that cause antisocial behavior. It should come as no surprise that people who have a sense of entitlement, over-rate their own greatness and have poor self-control are more likely to hurt others and show pervasive antisocial behavior.
The American Psychiatric Association has defined a group of personality disorders it calls “cluster B”. According to a recent paper* by German psychiatrist, Christian Huchzermeier, M.D., “ The cluster includes disturbances of personality that go hand in hand with emotional dysregulation phenomena, a tendency towards aggressive—impulsive loss of control, egoistic exploitation of interpersonal relationships, and a tendency to overestimate one’s own importance.”
The disorders of “cluster B” go together because what underlies them is a disturbance in three developmentally acquired abilities I have called The Inner Triangle. These abilities are:
Ability to Love
Impulse Control
Moral Reasoning
These abilities that a child gains during development are a triangle because the development of each depends on the other two. A child begins to acquire ability to love in the first year of life, impulse control begins in the second year of life. At two years of age there is already a link between ability to love and impulse control. Children with the best impulse control also are the most loving/empathetic. Moral reasoning begins in the third year of life and its development depends on a loving nature and impulse control. Similarly the most moral kids are also the most loving and self-controlled.
I think of the cluster B disorders as different manifestations of damage to the inner triangle. I think of sociopaths as individuals who completely lack ability to love and have impaired impulse control and moral reasoning.
Given the Inner Triangle, it should come as no surprise that it can be difficult to find people who have only one cluster B personality disorder. For that reason individuals with antisocial personality, narcissistic personality, borderline personality and histrionic personality often have symptoms of the other disorders. If someone gets a diagnosis of only one of these, it doesn’t mean that the person doesn’t also have one or all of the others. The person making the diagnosis simply thought that the one chosen best described the person. You should know there is a gender bias in diagnosis such that women are often labeled “borderline.” These women can also be sociopaths who leave a trail of victimized friends, lovers and children in their wakes.
A recent study reported in Behavioral Science and the Law, “The Relationship Between DSM-IV Cluster B Personality Disorders and Psychopathy According to Hare’s Criteria: Clarification and Resolution of Previous Contradictions” examines the relationship between psychopathic personality traits as defined by the screening version of the PCL and Cluster B personality disorders. The authors of this study were careful to examine people who had only one cluster B disorder. They found psychopathy to be associated with all cluster B disorders.
The authors conclude:
“One clinical implication of our results, nevertheless, is that in cases where a cluster B personality disorder is diagnosed a high psychopathy value is to be expected, especially where antisocial, borderline or narcissistic personality disorder is involved. The PCL score is a better predictor of subsequent events, such as problems during (criminal) custody or a relapse into delinquency, than a diagnosis of a DSM-IV personality disorder, especially in forensic populations; therefore, an additional investigation with the PCL should be carried out, if a cluster B personality disorder has been diagnosed.”
It is important for Lovefraud readers to be aware of this study especially if there is a divorce/custody proceeding or a cluster B personality disorder has been diagnosed. Many people might think that if the partner has been “diagnosed borderline” or “diagnosed narcissistic” that means the partner is not a psychopath/sociopath. This study suggests otherwise. IF YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS THESE YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THEIR HARMFUL BEHAVIOR AS AN INDICATION OF PSYCHOPATHY/SOCIOPATHY. There are some people with cluster B, histrionic, borderline and narcissistic disorders who are not highly antisocial. But if the person is lying, cheating and manipulating, that is antisocial behavior. This behavior in the context of any cluster B means the person is potentially very dangerous. As the authors state:
“Screening for PCL-based psychopathy can also be important for general psychiatric patients with a DSM-IV personality disorder, so that potential difficulties in the course of their treatment can be anticipated and this comorbidity can be targeted in the planning of therapy. Patients with both a DSM-IV personality disorder and PCL-based psychopathy can exhibit behavior that is particularly dangerous to therapy (Stafford & Cornell, 2003).”
If you have been diagnosed with borderline personality and reading this frightens you, I am sorry. You can improve by working on your inner triangle. Talk to your therapist about DBT a treatment that is very effective in improving the state of the Inner Triangle in people who are motivated to do it.
*The reference for the paper discussed is Behav. Sci. Law 25: 901—911 (2007).
oxy, I am aware of the grass fed vs grain fed situation.. ( I hear in NZ all the cows are grass fed by default… if only it were the same in the US! ) … what I meant to illuminate with post on environmental impact was that our agricultural practices as a whole are currently not sustainably-oriented. The ideal practice, would be to raise cattle on a stretch of land, where upon they can “refurnish” the topsoil and so farmers are thus able to plant next year’s crops ( a cycle, a sustainable one. ) … instead big AGRO corporations devastate entire plots of land and with it the animals, the soil, and the habitat ( disrupting the ecosystem )…and simply move to the next area of “Peak soil” they can then again rough and discard.
See this article “Peak soil : it’s like peak oil”
http://www.energybulletin.net/52788
I’m saying that veganism isn’t the answer. Better agricultural practices ARE part of the solution- as well as the point you brought up oxy- sustainable agriculture by doing away with factory farms… they are ALL part of the problem. It’s not mapped just to factory farming- it’s much broader than that. The problem lies within the faulty approach- make a quick buck and don’t think about the consequences- that kind of thinking is leading to the ongoing decimation of our planet and its resources.
I am never more amazed than how defensive people get about their food. I expected more measured responses from this group but, hey, live and learn. I expected this group would know there are ALWAYS exceptions to any rule and that people everywhere are very sure of their “facts” and it still doesn’t make it true. Further, I have yet to see one credible study that disproves animal abuse is not OFTEN the first stage in the cycle of violence. That’s what I was talking about and it got turned into a anti-vegan rave. Most modern vegan diets are extremely high in processed foods- the faux meats, dairy, and other substitutes that people eat trying to get the textures and flavors of meats back. That stuff is POISON and will kill you quicker than an organic piece of meat any day. Failure to “thrive” on that diet is no mystery and for every person on the planet there is a “true” story about their diet and that’s 7 billion stories. I know what I know after more than thirty years of independent, graduate level research and personal practice. You know what you know. That’s how it should be but it’s not what my comments were about. I didn’t even bring up veganism or vegetariansim and I wholeheartly agreed that in several significant ways a veggie lifestyle “may” not be much more beneficial to the environment than a meat based diet as we have structured our supply and demand chain as of present. Find another veggie willing to admit that.
I will apologize for not doing my research better in continuing this threat because I did not know that Ox Drover was an animal farmer. However, her recounting of how her animals are raised and slaughtered is the EXCEPTION to the rule. As for the baby seals, I would RATHER STARVE TO DEATH than do that “hard, nasty work”.
And last but not least, Woody Harrelson is a very good friend of mine and has many, many problems himself.
Be well all.
whybother:
I think I love you…haha! 🙂
If Woody is still living in Hawaii, he actually lives one street over from my best friend. Small world.
Again, you resort to mischaracterizations simply based on someone else possessing an opposing viewpoint. Defensive? Really? How is it an anti-vegan rave? That’s simply how you choose to perceive it- I was doing nothing but providing material for a healthy discussion. I said a vegan diet is not for everyone- it does not WORK for everyone- if that offends you(?), I have nothing to say; those are the unadulerated facts ( it is NOT a diet optimal for everyone. ). That said, SOME are able to thrive on a vegan diet- not everyone. I say this from experience ( Yes, I experimented with a vegan diet once before, am familiar with Dr. Mcdougall, Diet For A New America, Dr. Fuhrman, John Robbins, etc all the vegan rhetoric as I have once subscribed to it. )
Where is the “anti-vegan rave” again? It must have flown by me.
If I’m not wrong, I said in an earlier post :
8.17.2011
You know, I came here for knowledge and all I’m getting is an argument over something I didn’t even bring up.
Hen- not sure what has been explained to you but sensing quite a lot of sarcasm from you.
Dancingnancies- this is going in circles. I’m not offended but, yes, I choose to view your responses as defensive. I just don’t want to have this discussion any further and you aren’t respecting that. Fine but I said what I wanted to say and I’m done.
Louise- Woody lives in many places. He’s filming Hunger Games right now.
whybother- like i said before, I am entitled to debate the expressed opinions on this forum as you are entitled not to participate in the discussion. I have made that abundantly clear- I don’t understand why you relent to overlook that. When I address veganism, I’m not attacking you or your personal approach to your diet- I am simply deciding to elaborate on the misguided politics of it. That is my choice. If you don’t like the discussion, don’t participate in it. But when you choose to respond to and mischaracterize someone’s behavior or reasons for addressing a certain topic- I am going to refute and clarify it because you simply do not understand where I am coming from ( NOT a place of hostility, as you are perceiving it ). You brought to light a topic that has engendered further a discussion on the degradation of the environment- it’s just a discussion, not something you should feel personally drawn into.
Keep in mind, you initially wrote in response to my first comment ( which had absolutely nothing to do with veganism ),
And as such, i responded to what you wrote ( I did not address veganism in my initial post. ). Why you then started stonewalling, then characterizing my sharing my views as “anti-vegan” and even further, “defensive” is beyond me. I was addressing the notion implied by “there are plenty of things to eat other than meat” ( As if I am unaware of this fact? ).
Whybother,
I suggest that you read Dr. Viktor Frankl’s book “Man’s search for meaning” which he wrote about the EMOTIONAL effects of the Nazi prison camps. How some prisoners just sat down and DIED, almost willed themselves to die, others became co-abusers with the Nazis of their fellow prisoners, others were loners, some were cooperative etc. He found MEANING in the experience though he was not a religious person, his meaning was a spiritual journey.
I am a big reader and I love reading about extreme situations and how people handle it. That was what first attracted me to Frankl’s book, but actually the spiritual aspects of the book were the more important part of it and it was a TURNING POINT for me in my own healing path.
I also recently read a book about the Whaleship Essex, which was the ship sunk by a sperm whale in early 1800s that became the basis for the book ‘Moby Dick.” The Captain was one of only 3 survivors though they started out in 3 boats, but the boats got separated. When the food and water ran out, in tune with the customs of the sea, the men drew straws to see 1) who would die and become meat, and 2) who would pull the trigger on his ship mate. The Captain’s cousin was chosen to die and was shot and his body shared. There is NO doubt that his death was the thing that saved the other three.
The book ALIVE about the plane load of Soccer players who crashed in the Andes quite a few yars ago and survived on the bodies of the ones killed in the crash….some people refused to eat and died. Some ate and survived. We each make our choices according to our own culture and our own temperament. I have little doubt what my choice would be. I think I would choose to SURVIVE even if that meant drawing straws. None of us know for SURE what we would do in those circumstances, but I like to think that I would do the “honorable” thing if I drew the short stray and the necessary thing if I drew the other straw. But I don’t know for sure on that extreme case.
I DO know however, that if hunting with a club was all I could do to survive I would do it…baby seals, baby rabbits, baby birds, or whatever it took to survive. I AM glad that the leg hold trap has been outlawed in some places and I wish it was in more places. I am totally against SUFFERING for any creature…and a quick and merciful death as an end to suffering or life for an animal is I think a “good thing.” Most animals that are killed by natural predators are NOT accorded either a fast or merciful death. Have you ever watched a cat play with a mouse for an hour before killing it?
From readIng this article, I’m wondering if my mother may have a personality disorder. Growing up, she would never let us wear what she would never wear. We had to be just like she wanted almost like she was God or something. If we acted any different, we would get beat up. Whenever she looks at me, she says I remind her of her youth: abuse, neglect, and pain. So she use to give me the most hell. She would never allow us to talk any boys even now that I’m out of the house. My little sister tells us( the older two) if we don’t keep acting like my mom wants we can get beat. We were like Um lil sis we are out the house. It doesn’t matter. Oh, my mom loves to be in control as well. She seems to lean towards a more narcistic behavior.
Hurt no more: I’d say definitely a controlling N.
I like this article about N-moms
http://parrishmiller.com/narcissists.html
Whybother, I’m one of those people who tried to be a vegetarian and it didn’t work for me. Turns out I’m celiac or gluten intolerant. In the end, most carbs don’t work well for me. I have to limit grains, even rice. I’ve done the anti-candida thing and have eaten mostly a caveman diet for 20 plus years.
Still, I’m always open to any information you might present, or even links to information that might explain WHY (other than genetics) I don’t tolerate carbs. The reason I’m interested is because I’m an animal lover and an animal eater. Which causes a bit of Cog/Dis. Maybe that’s healthy. Maybe God intended us to deal with Cog/Dis in order to keep growing.
Either way, I am interested in information because I firmly believe that knowledge is power AND responsibility.