Sociopathic Co-worker

[GodsChild77]

So is being a psychopath mad or bad? Guess that is a hard question as I know there is a lot of debate about it. Cant quite weigh my neighbour up. If I knew she was a psychopath/sociopath, it would help me a lot, to deal with her.

I've wondered the same. I have read something that gave a good point I'd never thought about: psychopaths and sociopaths found guilty go to prison. Why? Because they have a personality disorder - not a mental illness. People with personality disorders are fully aware of what they are doing, they just do it anyway. This has been clinically proven, so that's why they cannot plead insanity in a court case. They aren't sent to a mental institution, they are sent to prison - they are held accountable for their actions because they are aware of the difference between right and wrong. I'm sure it's not always this cut and dry, but it does give you something to think about. They typically do know what they're doing and know what is acceptable in functional society.

 

[GodsChild77]

Yeah, I don't agree that you can fit a whole person into one box. We are not boxed shaped for a reason! People can even have mixed PD - so can be borderline PD, narcissistic PD and anti social PD all at once. Which to me, often suggests that the person doesn't fall neatly into any category, so they just try and spread them around just so they have a diagnosis.

Have you looked at Narcissistic and Histrionic PD?

True. So I've read, and it makes sense to me, a sociopath or psychopath by default fits the criteria to be a narcissist as well. You have to have a grandiose sense of self, a sense of entitlement, be interpersonally exploitative, be arrogant, etc. to commit the acts of a socio- or psychopath. BUT... a narcissist isn't necessarily a socio- or psychopath. Sociopathy and psychopathy are the most extreme of personality disorders.

 

[joey_downunder]

Actually from what I hear, Joey, NPD and sociopathy are very similar. Both are very self centred and lacking in empathy and both will sell their own mothers down the river if it suits their purpose.

Where it comes to "personality" I have also got the impression that NPD and psychopathy are very similar. He did have some limits unlike extreme textbook psychopaths. It was either due to a conscience buried deep beneath the self-obsession - there were glimmers of hope from time to time or perhaps just some basic insight into potential personal penalities if he got "caught". e.g. he knew if he cheated on me I would break up with him, but he also knew how to manipulate me with nasty mind games. However the glimmers of hope I found out later are a major part of the abuse cycle. Promises, then good behaviour, then tension, then abuse, then promises again...