14 Comments

The Startling Accuracy of Referring to Politicians as 'Psychopaths' By James Silver

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/the-startling-accuracy-of-referring-to-politicians-as-psychopaths/260517/

Why Psychopaths Rise to Power

https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/corrupt-systems/

Washington, D.C.: the Psychopath Capital of America

A new study ranks each state, plus D.C., by their psychopathic tendencies. The race for first? It isn’t even close.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/06/23/washington-dc-the-psychopath-capital-of-america-218892/

Are Politicians Psychopaths? Can egotism alone explain why so many elected officials seem to get caught telling lies, having affairs, committing financial improprieties or engaging in other scandalous behavior?

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/are-politicians-psychopaths_b_1818648

Expand full comment
Jan 4Liked by LawyerLisa

We perhaps have met more than we care to admit. Our first response is to imagine that everyone else is like us, experiences the same reactions. When we realise that one person is too manipulative, over dominant, we possibly dismiss this and liken it to over enthusiasm. Even when we recognise a marked difference in another we might use kinder words rather than the condemnatory. We say they are possitive, or have excess energy, or even that they are a bully. But then they calm, are charming and we think perhaps it is us who have miss-judged. Very quickly though we notice that there is yet another reason for their flare up of emotion, excitement, or anger. Then we notice that they consistently dominate, in conversations, in what direction a group might go, deriding and manipulating the more pliant for their own ends. The bullying psychopath however will always keep the weak close because they, in their respect and desire to be liked by the dominant psychopath, give him a kinder facade. The psychopath can then in most normal company seem affable, but their dominance must be maintained and a subtle tweak on the lead of their acolyte, or even a verbal kick keeps their attention whilst to others it appears a bit heavy handed. In this way we often miss-identify them and the psychopath continues, as we are reluctant to realise their anti-social aggression. Such behaviour should never be tolerated but alas it is often respected. We admire the gang leader, the dominant in a group, the football hero, just walk away!

Expand full comment
author

the part in the video where he coldly said, the market would provide, and that if he didn't participate someone else would. He seemed stunned that he should have any guilt whatsoever. and was the source of his wealth the property he collected from the Jews sent to death camps. then any wonder that he can social engineer with death in communities at all consequences. do you think the psychopath is the cure to the psychopath. if one is interested in the opposite side. but then the psychopath is only self interested?

Expand full comment
Jan 4Liked by LawyerLisa

So true. These people are like a cancer on society, but too often they and their wealth are adored. Why is true philanthropy ignore today? Why, if people find themselves in the enviable position of having so much wealth, (let's leave out how this may have been acquired) do they not derive pleasure and reward from kindness? Even major NGO's and charities are corrupt, with so very little of donations finding the truly needy and executive more interested in acquiring personal wealth. Empathy is lacking in all. How could one live with oneself knowing that one's personal wealth was stolen, especially knowing the dreadful fate facing the owner during WW2. That take a very special kind of souless, heartless callousness.

Expand full comment
author

yes it chilled me watching him.

Expand full comment

If a psychopath has an inability to feel empathy, which I believe, then I cannot see how a psychopath can also be seen as or effectively be a cure. How can one 'cure' someone of their nature? He demonstrated that from an early age, that the callous theft, lies and deceit were his nature, self enrichment at the expense of others was his nature. I don't think there is a cure for such psychopathy. Do I understand your question correctly?

Expand full comment
author

No. I meant that it may take another psychopath to take someone like Soros down. To calculate without emotion.

Expand full comment

I was around an empathyless person. They oohed and aaaawed, and gave hugs etc. Mostly appropriately. But occasionally they would respond ‘emotionally’ very inappropriately. A situation arose a couple of times where this person responded a certain way and it was way outside normal Behaviour. The situation had been misread. They didn’t know they were not responding correctly because they never felt anything. They always faked it.

Expand full comment

It was weird. And a bit scary.

Expand full comment
author

if they only hug wrong they get a pass. it is what else they do when we arent't in arms reach.

Expand full comment

I have met what I cal a ‘benign sociopath’. More than one. They aren’t committed to hurting others. But they don’t really feel anything other than ‘how does this affect me...’. Whatever the circumstance. They are socially adept. Do well. But their only emotion is tension. Positive tension. Negative tension. When they aren’t feeling tension they feel horribly empty. They feel fear too. Most of them are sexually loose. That is an easy form of tension to ramp up or down. But the ones I’ve met are not obviously ‘slutty’. They appear prim.

Expand full comment

You Might Be a Redneck If…

By American comedian Jeff Foxworthy.

I guess he can now update his stand up routine with.

You Might be a Psychopath If…

Sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying.

Expand full comment
author

Right!!

Expand full comment