Neocon =sociopath?

[undergroundpanther]

"From recorded observations, we do know that sociopaths, by various names, have existed in all kinds of societies, worldwide and throughout history. As an illustration, psychiatric anthropologist Jane M. Murphy describes the Inuit concept of kunlangeta, which refers to a person whose "mind knows what to do but does not do it."
Murphy writes that in northwest Alaska, kunlangeta "might be applied to a man who, for example, repeatedly lies and cheats and steals things and does not go hunting, and, when the other men are out of the village, takes sexual advantage of many women." The Inuits tacitly assume that kunlangeta is irremediable. And so, according to Murphy, the traditional Inuit approach to such a man was to insist that he go hunting, and then, in the absence of witnesses, push him off the edge of the ice.

Though sociopathy seems to be universal and timeless, there is credible evidence that some cultures contain fewer sociopaths than do other cultures. Intriguingly, sociopathy would appear to be relatively rare in certain East Asian countries, notably Japan and China. Studies conducted in both rural and urban areas of Taiwan have found a remarkably low prevalence of antisocial personality disorder, ranging from 0.03 percent to 0.14 percent, which is not none but is impressively less than the Western world's approximate average of 4 percent, which translates to *****one in twenty-five people.******


And disturbingly, the prevalence of sociopathy in the United States seems to be increasing. The 1991 Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, reported that in the fifteen years preceding the study, the prevalence of antisocial personality disorder had nearly doubled among the young in America, It would be difficult, closing in on impossible, to explain such a dramatically rapid shift in terms of genetics or neurobiology.

Apparently, cultural influences play a very important role in the development (or not) of sociopathy in any given population. Few people would disagree that, from the Wild West of the past to the corporate outlaws of the present, American society seems to allow and even encourage me-first attitudes devoted to the pursuit of domination. Robert Hare writes that he believes "our society is moving in the direction of permitting, reinforcing, and in some instances actually valuing some of the traits listed in the Psychopathy Checklist—traits such as impulsivity, irresponsibility, lack of remorse."

http://ranprieur.com/readings/americanpsycho.html


Although Lake understood concepts of morality and right versus wrong, in
true sociopathic style, he placed his needs above the rights of others. It has been
estimated that 3% of all males in our society could, like Leonard Lake, be con-
sidered sociopathic, also referred to as having the antisocial personality type
(American Psychological Association, 1994). Most sociopaths are not violent....

http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:yNPjVemD-KkJ:www.sagepub.com/Fox%2520Final%2520Pages-4%2520Chapter%25205_5397.pdf+sociopathy+individualism&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=21

[rucky]

1. Only 4%?

I'd bump it up to at least 10. They seek positions of power & that's why there's so many of 'em in politics. Their behavior is actually rewarded in that venue.

[undergroundpanther]

4. It'sd been increasing

For sadistic serial killers, however, the presence of empathy—even
intensely heightened empathy—may be essential in two ways. First, their
crimes require highly tuned powers of cognitive empathy in order to trap their
victims (Gabbard, 2003). Indeed, killers who do not understand their victims’
feelings would be incapable of “conning” them effectively. For example,
Theodore Bundy understood all too well the sensibilities of the female college
students who were taken in by his feigned helplessness. He trapped attractive
young women by appearing to be disabled and asking them for help. Many
complied and died for their troubles.
Second, a well-honed sense of emotional empathy is essential for a sadis-
tic killer’s enjoyment of the suffering of his victims. That is, for sadistic objec-
tives to be realized, a killer who tortures, sodomizes, rapes, and humiliates
must be able both to understand and to feel his victims’ suffering in order to
enjoy it. Without the capacity for empathy, there would be no excitement or
sexual arousal. Thus, he experiences his victims’ pain, but he feels it as his
own pleasure.
In the literature of psychiatry as well as that of criminology, lack of
empathy—along with a manipulative and calculating style, an absence of


Lack of remorse, and impulsiveness—is frequently regarded as a defining characteristic of the psychopathic or antisocial personality disorder (Hare, 1993). An earlier study by Heilbrun (1982), however, came to quite a different conclusion. In interviews with 168 male prisoners in the Georgia correctional system, he observed two kinds of psychopaths—those who had poor impulse control, low IQ, and little empathy (the Henry Lee Lucas type) and those who had better impulse control, high IQ, sadistic objectives, and heightened empathy (theTheodore Bundy type). In fact, the most empathic group of criminals in Heilbrun’s study were intelligent psychopaths with a history of violence.

He found the greatest empathy in high IQ prisoners who had committed rape—the violent crime in which sexual sadism seems most likely to play a systematic role. According to Heilbrun, violent acts inflicting pain and suffering are more intentional than impulsive. In addition, empathic skills promote the arousal and satisfaction of sadistic objectives by enhancing the criminal’s awareness of the pain being experienced by his victim. Heilbrun’s finding of empathic sadistic psychopaths was all but ignored in the literature until very recently, when forensic psychiatrists began to question the commonly held view that antisocial types necessarily lack the ability to feel their victims’pain, noting that in many cases they instead possess “enormous powers of empathic discernment—albeit for the purposes of self-aggrandizement” (Heilbrun, 1982, p. 557).

In the 1930s, social philosopher George Herbert Mead (1934) identified
“role taking” as a basic human quality, whereby an individual is able to adopt the viewpoint of another person. Many serial killers apparently share this ability, even if they use it to enhance the pleasure they derive from inflicting pain and suffering on others. In the research of symbolic interactionists, role-taking ability has been shown to take the form not of a dichotomy (able versus notable), but of a continuum along which any given individual’s degree of empathy can be plotted. Thus, there are some individuals whose empathy is so profound and broad that they commiserate with the plight of starving children on the other side of the world. Many individuals are closer to the middle of the continuum, identifying with the grief of victims in proximity to them but emotionally oblivious to the pain and suffering of most strangers, especially those who are physically removed.

At the other end of the continuum, however, there may also be **millions of Americans, according to the American Psychiatric Association, who are antisocial personality types and completely lacking in empathy.** They may not be serial killers, because they are not sadistic in their aims, but they are nonetheless insensitive to human tragedy...

There's the RIGHT WING for ya!.


Maybe this is how Bush can charm the public and appear to be a teflon prezeldent? He empathizes...but it's in service to his own self aggrandizing.
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:yNPjVemD-KkJ:www.sagepub.com/Fox%2520Final%2520Pages-4%2520Chapter%25205_5397.pdf+sociopathy+individualism&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=21

[boobooday]

2. My friend from India made this observation to me:

"You Americans are the friendliest, loneliest, people in the world."

It struck me as true. I relayed it to my mother, and it totally pissed her off.

I watched my son struggle with this during adolescence. "The world sucks!" he would rage, and I remembered the same feelings, but sadly, I think our young people are even more justified in their disillusionment than I was in the 1970's.

It's easy to give up on people. It takes effort sometimes to see the good, and the hope. I think it is about feelings of helplessness, and hopelessness.

Oh, and edit: I do believe that the Republican party offers solace to the sociopath, legitimizing the anger and fear of others.

[undergroundpanther]

6. For some people

Thier sociopathy is incurable,unfixable.
Societies have tried from the dawn of time to help these sociopaths.
Sometimes you have to draw the line.

[boobooday]

7. Yes, but the article suggests a strong cultural influence

Most noticable in the "every man for himself" societies.

[Jon8503]

3. Thanks for the post. There is another essay out which has an

article on this. The book is called "Greed" A treatise in two essays by Julian Edney.

In one part there entitled "Psychopath". he states that today in our society and the corporate culture in the high stakes game of empire-building business climate; sociopaths are some of the fastest rising starts. In corporate maneuvering they have no loyalty, virtually no emotion, and no conscience. Promiscuous in friendships as in sex, they start instantly and leave an alliance instantly it creates advantage.......................

Thought you might enjoy the essay he wrote.

Jon

[undergroundpanther]

5. Yeah I know that one

I posted that on DU a long time ago,found it in a google search..Glad you read it too!
Was a good read.

[Jon8503]

8. Thanks, I missed your post on it but ya, it was a good read. I have

bookmarked your post and will check out the links you have when get time.

Have a good day.

Jon