Psychopathy

Overview

Psychopathy is a psychological condition apparently caused by total disinterest in the welfare of others, i.e. lack of any empathetic sense. The major symptom is a consistent tendency towards amoral and antisocial behavior.

Studies indicate that psychopaths make up approximately 5% of the general population, but a larger percentage of positions of power (in government, corporations, and other organizations).

lack of objectivity

One trait which has been observed but not yet (as far as we know) rigorously confirmed is that, to a psychopath, there is no such thing as objective reality; "reality" is whatever the psychopath can convince other people that it is, and "facts" are whatever the psychopath feels are most convenient for her/his current purposes or desires. With no objective reality and no solid facts upon which to base an argument, all negotiation is a carrot-and-stick power struggle, and all criticisms are strictly personal.

argumentative strategies

Psychopaths tend to use the following rhetorical deceptions:

• diversion, a.k.a. shifting the topic
• lying
• covert intimidation
• minimization
• vilifying the victim
• rationalization
• denial

quotes

Dr. Kevin Barrett said:

So-called conspiracy theorists, some of whom deserve the pejorative connotation of that much-abused term, often imagine that secret societies of Jews, Jesuits, bankers, communists, Bilderbergers, Muslim extremists, papists, and so on, are secretly controlling history, doing dastardly deeds, and/or threatening to take over the world. As a leading “conspiracy theorist” according to Wikipedia, I feel eminently qualified to offer an alternative conspiracy theory which, like the alternative conspiracy theory of 9/11, is both simpler and more accurate than the prevailing wisdom: The only conspiracy that matters is the conspiracy of the psychopaths against the rest of us.

John Lennon supposedly said:

Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it.

from the same Kevin Barrett article, but no further source given.

Links

Reference

• Wikipedia
• Conservapedia (no article as of 2008-01-15)
• dKosopedia (Corporate psychopaths): stub article making a point about corporate personhood
• SourceWatch (psychopath)

Essays

• 2008-01-20 The Unburdened Mind by Christopher S. Putnam: intro to psychopathy
• 2008-01-08 Comments on psychopaths in the software industry by Rickard Öberg

Books

• In Sheep's Clothing by George K. Simon
• Political Ponerology by Andrew M. Lobaczewski deals with ponerology (the study of evil) in politics, in which psychopathy plays a large but not exclusive role.
• The Psychopath: The Mask of Sanity by Hervey Cleckley: PDF of entire book