On psychopathy and social conditioning

[Ardent15]

Four days ago was the 11th anniversary of the tragic, horrific Columbine High School massacre. In FBI profiling of the shooters, it was determined that one of them, Eric Harris, was a psychopath with a sadistic streak.

Had Harris not met the suicidal depressive Dylan Klebold, or had he gotten his psychopathic tendencies under "control", he could have grown up to be a career criminal or, if he wanted, a cruel businessman who could have committed fraud and other white-collar crimes that would have ruined other people's lives.

He could have been Timothy McVeigh, or he could have been Bernie Madoff. That's what psychopaths are usually-white-collar criminals, seductive politicians, ruthless businessmen, authoritarian bullies, and-in some cases-outright homicidal terrorists.

We seem to live in a society, unfortunately, that encourages and rewards psychopathic behavior. Look at Wall Street, or politics, or business in general. Look at the cliques at high schools.

But here's the thing...for most of us, it's not natural. So this makes it all the more tragic, that we are coerced into bringing out the worst of the human condition when we try to "advance" in society.

[cbayer]

1. The vast majority of psychopaths die young or end up incarcerated. It is only the

occasional brilliant one that gets away with it... at least for awhile.

Interesting post. Thanks.

:hi:

[Ardent15]

4. Well, the violent ones fail.

Most of them are not violent.

[cbayer]

6. Not just violent, IMO. Mainly inept.

[cutlassmama]

7. sounds about right

:toast:

[havocmom]

2. ethics and empathy seem to be liabilities in capitalism as practiced now

Sociopathic tendencies get rewarded. Sociopaths get on quite will and that illustrates the mental health of the society/economy as currently practiced.

[Ardent15]

5. Agreed

nt

[Kceres]

3. Sociopath, not psychopath, although one can be both.

I agree with you 100%.