“Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret.
Psychopaths often come across as arrogant, shameless braggarts—self-assured, opinionated, domineering, and cocky. They love to have power and control over others and seem unable to believe that other people have valid opinions different from theirs. What makes psychopaths different from all others is the remarkable ease with which they lie, the pervasiveness of their deception, and the callousness with which they carry it out.
The most debilitating characteristic of even the most well-behaved psychopath is the inability to form a workable team.
The majority of people and therefore workplaces are easy prey, because we still want to believe that people are inherently good. We don’t really want to believe that such people exist. Wherever you find money, prestige and power you will find them. We are far more likely to lose our life savings to an oily-tongued swindler than our lives to a steely-eyed killer.” – Robert D. Hare, Without Conscience
An inordinate number of this type may be found in Washington, D.C.
…And they are not all male! Someone I know married a petite woman who looks a lot like actress Anna Kendrick, complete with a childlike voice. She lied to me about her background and education within moments of my being introduced to her. My friend finally escaped the marriage to this monster with his life — only because she thought she might want more money from him later. This woman was terrifying: completely without a conscience and willing to do anything — including robbery, kidnapping and felonious assault — to get what she wanted. She is currently a fugitive from justice and fled the US.
You never know when you’ll meet a psychopath or sociopath. I hope I never encounter another one!
If I had missed the name sociopath I would have taken this as a description of a career politician or an attorney.
Psychopath, thy name is politician. Virtually all the Democrats are psychopaths. Probably 70% of the Republicans also qualify. The same goes for 50% of the folks at the Cato Institute and at Reason magazine and in the Libertarian Party (Libertarians in name only, LINO’s). We have our problem children too.
Psychopaths are also usually highly organized & intelligent individuals who, while lacking a conscience, understand the consequences of their actions, and are usually very good at ‘covering up’ their crimes. Most ‘successful’ serial killers are true psychopaths. Psychopaths are genuinely dangerous people.
Sociopaths similarly lack a conscience, but are usually highly disorganized personalities. They usually ‘trip themselves up’ by failing to cover up their bad behavior. Consequently they often have long rap sheets.
According to at least one study, our capitalist system selects for people of this ilk.
Note these last two lines of the passage above: Wherever you find money, prestige and power you will find them. We are far more likely to lose our life savings to an oily-tongued swindler than our lives to a steely-eyed killer.”
Thus, I have equal suspicion for big government and big business.
Carry on