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laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)

18. Psychopathy is not a mental illness and there is no such thing as help for psychopaths

Sun Dec 8, 2013, 06:30 PM

Dec 2013

It's a personality disorder - far different than a mental illness - and there is no therapy that helps psychopaths - in fact if you can even get them to get therapy (rare, they don't think they need it, as they are far superior to YOU in their mind) it makes them far, far worse. Therapy gives them a chance to learn how to exploit new victims, studies show.

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How to leave a psychopath [View all] darkangel218 Dec 2013 OP

The first line said it all Warpy Dec 2013 #1

My ex was one. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #2

I count myself lucky to get stuck with a garden variety alcoholic Warpy Dec 2013 #3

My ex hurt me so much. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #4

Many times, especially for lower functioning people with antisocial personality disorder.... moriah Dec 2013 #70

But more common than we would like to believe. Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #13

Not rare enough. Vattel Dec 2013 #35

People should be free to associate as they choose, but isn't it interesting HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #5

You are misunderstanding. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #6

No, I actually do understand HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #8

If you had bothered to read the whole article which i libked to darkangel218 Dec 2013 #9

Neither is it ethical to leave a recognizably ill person to get no help. HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #16

Psychopathy is not a mental illness and there is no such thing as help for psychopaths laundry_queen Dec 2013 #18

^This and Shankapotomus Dec 2013 #19

we wouldn't abandon a horse with a broken leg, why abandon a person? HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #21

Do you realize what happens to people who stay with psychopathic partners? gollygee Dec 2013 #24

The naivete from that poster is jaw-droppingly astounding. nt laundry_queen Dec 2013 #26

I really didn't ever say a person should stay with such a partner to be abused HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #30

You don't see gollygee Dec 2013 #31

two wholly separate concepts, and conflating the two responses is invalid and misleading. LanternWaste Dec 2013 #75

Borderline is not untreatable and it's accepted that it can be treated when there is will from the laundry_queen Dec 2013 #25

Right marions ghost Dec 2013 #66

Recommending allowing the professionals Shankapotomus Dec 2013 #27

It's not a curable condition, it's a personality disorder LadyHawkAZ Dec 2013 #37

I 100% agree with everything you said especially the advice on what one MUST do - However, Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #38

Is this for real? Dorian Gray Dec 2013 #69

"They shoot horses, don't they?" nt raccoon Dec 2013 #74

You are correct ConcernedCanuk Dec 2013 #32

DSM V is no longer differentiating personality disorders on a different axis. They're all illnesses. moriah Dec 2013 #40

You have obviously never been involved with someone with the ability and possible VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #52

Theyre lucky. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #58

Yes you are sooo right... VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #62

Exactly. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #63

there is no treatment for psychopathy, and they enjoy being that way- having no empathy bettyellen Dec 2013 #14

^This nt Shankapotomus Dec 2013 #20

Yep phil89 Dec 2013 #7

Welcome to DU. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #10

Umm phil89 Dec 2013 #12

What is your take on psychopats? darkangel218 Dec 2013 #11

Huh? phil89 Dec 2013 #15

BTW you would seem...ahhh...shall I say, more 'credible' if you at least attempted HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #17

wow take a break elehhhhna Dec 2013 #22

Yeah, go defend Cheney LOL marions ghost Dec 2013 #67

Disagree pipi_k Dec 2013 #23

What about alcoholics? moriah Dec 2013 #41

Alcoholics cant even be compared with psychopats. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #43

The alcoholic's brain becomes wired differently, too. Addict's brains change because of it. moriah Dec 2013 #45

Alcoholism is a condition which can successfully be reversed. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #46

Tell that to an AAer re: alcoholism. moriah Dec 2013 #47

Please post stats of the cured psychopaths. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #48

I've known quite a few who got off their asses and started paying their bills. moriah Dec 2013 #50

Not paying bills and smoking pot are not criteria for psychopathy. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #51

Please read my post where I mentioned the DSM-IV-TR criteria. moriah Dec 2013 #54

Again, You fail to realize that even if the symptoms may appear similar darkangel218 Dec 2013 #57

The stats are immaterial when the diagnosis is being given to people without the disorder. moriah Dec 2013 #60

You were trying to compare alcoholics with psychopaths. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #61

Yes, I can. Alcoholics, by definition, cannot ever be "cured". moriah Dec 2013 #65

Oh my. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #71

I'm done, DA. You aren't even understanding what I'm speaking of. moriah Dec 2013 #72

Read post #3 gollygee Dec 2013 #28

Yes phil89 Dec 2013 #39

Thank you for sharing gollygee Dec 2013 #29

They don't care about you like you care about them XemaSab Dec 2013 #33

That is exactly correct. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #49

Although it is a "wiki", answers.com is not part of or related to Wikipedia FarCenter Dec 2013 #34

not so easy because they make love part of the abuse cycle sometimes transforming their cruel nature Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #36

I've had a couple as bosses. And they were well thought of amongst their superiors... devils chaplain Dec 2013 #42

Different "wiring" in their brains. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #44

Sometimes that is hard to do, with both people rooted in the same small town. Rex Dec 2013 #53

+1 darkangel218 Dec 2013 #59

How do you leave a psychpath? JimboBillyBubbaBob Dec 2013 #55

LOL!! darkangel218 Dec 2013 #56

Psychopathy is a choice derby378 Dec 2013 #64

The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes".... moriah Dec 2013 #68

I've known at least two psychopaths and was lucky not to be involved... polichick Dec 2013 #73

The problem is many people are unaware of psychopathics traits. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #76