The MAOA link is fascinating to me though it makes sense. I've had DNA tests done and I am within the 'normal' range for the gene.
Things which lead me to believe that there's a possibility that I am a psychopath are my total lack of empathy and remorse combined with a flat affect for most all other emotions however the oxytocin resistance along with responses to drugs made me curious. I am on TRT and the clinic offered oxytocin as a libido enhancer. My girlfriend was strongly effected but it did nothing at all for me. Later after I'd had some surgery I discovered that I had no addictive response to the opioids I'd been given.
Anyway, all the different contributing factors undoubtedly cause the spectrum of psychopaths that range from surgeons who save lives to monster who are locked up 23 hours a day in a supermax prison
Factor 1 Psychopaths have homeostasis, and *have always had it* from their first breath, since their emotional apparatus does not have enough power to disrupt their Mind-Emotions-Body(Feelings) continuum.
They have therefore always find it rather easy to keep emotions in check, and use them to best advantage.
They will be also naturally inclined to have a reasonable balance of mind and body that will ward them off from such things as depressions, anxieties and
obesities.
They will tend to have good physical health overall, but they will also tend to die from sudden illness because they are naturally stubborn regards the idea of submitting themselves to the hands of doctors and medical institutions whose aptitude they won't naturally be inclined to trust.
They will rather trust their own bodies, since they've known them for a very long time.
They also trust their own mind over anyone else's, since it has always worked for them, and never against.
Their minds and bodies work in synch by default since forever = homeostasis.
Factor 2 Sociopaths, on the other hand - actually have their entire predicament derived from the fact that *they lost homeostasis* as an intrinsic part of their condition and adaptation.
So their behavior gets dysregulated. So does their thinking. So do their emotions. So does their bodies.
They will be therefore overrepresented in statistics regarding the leading causes of death, worldwide.
They will tend to have poor health overall, as well as extremes of neurosis or psychosis, depending on which polarity of the mind-emotions-body is running the show.
Unlike factor 1, factor 2's will be very likely to not only seek medical attention, but to be nagging towards doctors in pushing them to "just fix my body, man".
These are facts that can be easily looked up, it's no mere speculation.
It all boils down to homeostasis - or the lack there of.
I think psychopathy and sociopathy overlap at times. But not necessary synonymous with each other. I think the term psychopathy is just the highest general label. Then branches to sociopathy. And ASPD is about behavior. Like everyone can exhibit ASPD behaviors, but doesn't box them in to being a sociopath.
For example. I listen to my music on my car stereo kind of loud while lifting weights in the parking lot before clocking into work. Listening to music somewhat loud, and basically doing whatever I want, when people are trying to eat their chipotle burritos, that might exhibit ASPD, but I don't have a disorder. I am consciously aware of what I am doing. I just don't care. That doesn't make me a psychopath, that just makes me an asshole. I am parked 50 feet away from people anyways.
I exhibit ASPD behaviors all the time but have a fully functional brain. I don't know what I am talking about. Sorry for wasting your time. But I did read the whole answer and thought that it was really informative. I can't dare click on the links though. I did with one of them it was going on about exploring the long allele of the serotonin transporter gene of psychopathy. I was like "oh no". This is way outside of my intelligence.
This is more like what I was looking for. I've known two likely sociopaths rather well, but never met (in meat space) a psychopath. It's likely one or more of the acquaintances I have made were in fact psychopaths, but either they did not know, or at least never copped to it.
The first of the two sociopaths was someone I met prior to going to college. One couldn't believe a word he said, and the entire time he and I shared space he robbed me blind. he was almost never violent, though he lived the life of a petty criminal. He was very charismatic to women. In fact I rant across his obit several years ago, and it was clear that the woman he was living with at the time mourned him deeply. he was the product of severe pre-pubescent physical abuse.
The other fellow was someone I met in college. It was unwise to believe a word he said, too. But he married rather well, and graduated college with a decent job offer in hand. With this guy, i never knew enough about his backstory to know how he got that way, and I have no idea how his post-college life ended up working out. My guess would be he did ok, but I don't really know.
It should surprise me, but it really does not since even researchers are human and prone to bias. O'Hare was the first I read on regarding these topics, but not the last nor the best and due to my own traits I soon realized there were many misrepresentations or else what was I? I don't fit the criminal profile. I've not ever really gone for harming animals or knowingly predating on others for the hell of it. I am not keen on dealing with other humans. Their concerns and gossip hold no interest for me. I've never felt true remorse or regret. I had to learn WHT empathy was from a class in my early thirties as it was never more than a concept paroled by others. I feel, but I've always wondered why it seemed different from when others do it and why I can walk away so easily and just shut down.
But,, I don't fit the picture painted by the so-called experts. And even the ones who met me were often surprised, and unwilling to diagnose due to fear of harming me since this comes with such stigma. I was told I am a severely but benign asocial with no criminality. I don't get lonely. Time does not bother me nor does silence. Of course, one must be dysfunctional in order for a diagnosis to be necessary and I never have been, so it was perfectly alright for them to let me be so even now I am just me.
For one, I thank you for some interesting reading material in regards to all of those studies. :)
Second, I share your frustration, not just the waste of time it can be to try to have an intelligent debate with a person who just refuses to use their mind in an open way, regardless of stance.
Third, limited cohorts (like those in jail), lack of control groups (if warranted as necessary), short diagnostic checklists, ever-changing acronyms and a very poor basic medical/psychology school system with outdated or simplified curriculum, dictated by those not from the specialty, or done so quickly that a person gets whiplash, just don’t further any real advance, and actually can cause harm when the products of these perfect storms are let out into the world, with the ego of “clinician”.
And, don’t get me started on the grammar and spelling - if you care about a subject, or personal reputation, at least learn the difference between its and it is, ya know? ;)
Not that it matters one bit, but I mostly agree. Fascinating!!
The MAOA link is fascinating to me though it makes sense. I've had DNA tests done and I am within the 'normal' range for the gene.
Things which lead me to believe that there's a possibility that I am a psychopath are my total lack of empathy and remorse combined with a flat affect for most all other emotions however the oxytocin resistance along with responses to drugs made me curious. I am on TRT and the clinic offered oxytocin as a libido enhancer. My girlfriend was strongly effected but it did nothing at all for me. Later after I'd had some surgery I discovered that I had no addictive response to the opioids I'd been given.
Anyway, all the different contributing factors undoubtedly cause the spectrum of psychopaths that range from surgeons who save lives to monster who are locked up 23 hours a day in a supermax prison
Homeostasis.
I think that's the line - and that ties in quite neatly with the remarks I commented yesterday.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-homeostasis/
Factor 1 Psychopaths have homeostasis, and *have always had it* from their first breath, since their emotional apparatus does not have enough power to disrupt their Mind-Emotions-Body(Feelings) continuum.
They have therefore always find it rather easy to keep emotions in check, and use them to best advantage.
They will be also naturally inclined to have a reasonable balance of mind and body that will ward them off from such things as depressions, anxieties and
obesities.
They will tend to have good physical health overall, but they will also tend to die from sudden illness because they are naturally stubborn regards the idea of submitting themselves to the hands of doctors and medical institutions whose aptitude they won't naturally be inclined to trust.
They will rather trust their own bodies, since they've known them for a very long time.
They also trust their own mind over anyone else's, since it has always worked for them, and never against.
Their minds and bodies work in synch by default since forever = homeostasis.
Factor 2 Sociopaths, on the other hand - actually have their entire predicament derived from the fact that *they lost homeostasis* as an intrinsic part of their condition and adaptation.
So their behavior gets dysregulated. So does their thinking. So do their emotions. So does their bodies.
They will be therefore overrepresented in statistics regarding the leading causes of death, worldwide.
They will tend to have poor health overall, as well as extremes of neurosis or psychosis, depending on which polarity of the mind-emotions-body is running the show.
Unlike factor 1, factor 2's will be very likely to not only seek medical attention, but to be nagging towards doctors in pushing them to "just fix my body, man".
These are facts that can be easily looked up, it's no mere speculation.
It all boils down to homeostasis - or the lack there of.
That's the line right there.
I think psychopathy and sociopathy overlap at times. But not necessary synonymous with each other. I think the term psychopathy is just the highest general label. Then branches to sociopathy. And ASPD is about behavior. Like everyone can exhibit ASPD behaviors, but doesn't box them in to being a sociopath.
For example. I listen to my music on my car stereo kind of loud while lifting weights in the parking lot before clocking into work. Listening to music somewhat loud, and basically doing whatever I want, when people are trying to eat their chipotle burritos, that might exhibit ASPD, but I don't have a disorder. I am consciously aware of what I am doing. I just don't care. That doesn't make me a psychopath, that just makes me an asshole. I am parked 50 feet away from people anyways.
I exhibit ASPD behaviors all the time but have a fully functional brain. I don't know what I am talking about. Sorry for wasting your time. But I did read the whole answer and thought that it was really informative. I can't dare click on the links though. I did with one of them it was going on about exploring the long allele of the serotonin transporter gene of psychopathy. I was like "oh no". This is way outside of my intelligence.
Well written, as usual. Thank you
This is more like what I was looking for. I've known two likely sociopaths rather well, but never met (in meat space) a psychopath. It's likely one or more of the acquaintances I have made were in fact psychopaths, but either they did not know, or at least never copped to it.
The first of the two sociopaths was someone I met prior to going to college. One couldn't believe a word he said, and the entire time he and I shared space he robbed me blind. he was almost never violent, though he lived the life of a petty criminal. He was very charismatic to women. In fact I rant across his obit several years ago, and it was clear that the woman he was living with at the time mourned him deeply. he was the product of severe pre-pubescent physical abuse.
The other fellow was someone I met in college. It was unwise to believe a word he said, too. But he married rather well, and graduated college with a decent job offer in hand. With this guy, i never knew enough about his backstory to know how he got that way, and I have no idea how his post-college life ended up working out. My guess would be he did ok, but I don't really know.
It should surprise me, but it really does not since even researchers are human and prone to bias. O'Hare was the first I read on regarding these topics, but not the last nor the best and due to my own traits I soon realized there were many misrepresentations or else what was I? I don't fit the criminal profile. I've not ever really gone for harming animals or knowingly predating on others for the hell of it. I am not keen on dealing with other humans. Their concerns and gossip hold no interest for me. I've never felt true remorse or regret. I had to learn WHT empathy was from a class in my early thirties as it was never more than a concept paroled by others. I feel, but I've always wondered why it seemed different from when others do it and why I can walk away so easily and just shut down.
But,, I don't fit the picture painted by the so-called experts. And even the ones who met me were often surprised, and unwilling to diagnose due to fear of harming me since this comes with such stigma. I was told I am a severely but benign asocial with no criminality. I don't get lonely. Time does not bother me nor does silence. Of course, one must be dysfunctional in order for a diagnosis to be necessary and I never have been, so it was perfectly alright for them to let me be so even now I am just me.
For one, I thank you for some interesting reading material in regards to all of those studies. :)
Second, I share your frustration, not just the waste of time it can be to try to have an intelligent debate with a person who just refuses to use their mind in an open way, regardless of stance.
Third, limited cohorts (like those in jail), lack of control groups (if warranted as necessary), short diagnostic checklists, ever-changing acronyms and a very poor basic medical/psychology school system with outdated or simplified curriculum, dictated by those not from the specialty, or done so quickly that a person gets whiplash, just don’t further any real advance, and actually can cause harm when the products of these perfect storms are let out into the world, with the ego of “clinician”.
And, don’t get me started on the grammar and spelling - if you care about a subject, or personal reputation, at least learn the difference between its and it is, ya know? ;)
Not that it matters one bit, but I mostly agree. Fascinating!!