Reply #86: Just what are SOCIOPATHS?

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

Ahh, with a little spit and polish demopedia tells us more than we want!

THEY'RE REALLY REALLY CRAZY!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/demopedia/index.php/Sociopathy

Interpersonal dimension
¨ Glibness/superficial charm
¨ Grandiose sense of self-worth
¨ Pathological lying
¨ Conning/manipulative
¨ Lack of remorse or guilt
¨ Shallow affect
¨ Callous/lack of empathy
¨ Failure to accept responsibility for own actions

Affective dimension
¨ Need for stimulation/-proneness to boredom
¨ Parasitic lifestyle
¨ Poor behavioral controls
¨ Early behavioral problems
¨ Lack of realistic, long-term goals
¨ Impulsivity
¨ Irresponsibility
¨ Juvenile delinquency
¨ Revocation of conditional release

Behavioral dimension
¨ Promiscuous sexual behavior
¨ Many short-term marital relationships
¨ Criminal versatility

and this (yay!)

1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
4. irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others
6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
7. lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another

I betcha just about all the "black hat" characters in the Dramatis Personae of this little sElection2004 play have recorded proof of some or even all these characteristics!

Has anyone seen a comprehensive list of "the players" around on DU or on the net? Demopedia could use it as a repository for these kinds of "tidbits" (only because of Jon Stewart's take on Bernie Kerik is so fresh I'll mention him as an example!)

Just finding this list makes me sick to think of the people (mis-)counting our votes!

I want to do something! Any pscychologists out there know how to counter Sociopaths? I mean _really_ counter -- with extreme prejudice ... How do you shut down a socio-path? There must be an achilles heel for these heels!

Anyone?