Psychopathy and relationships

[ConstantComment]

I find this discussion interesting but I am wondering why does there have to be a name put to these behaviors other than "unacceptable." I can think of my share of controlling dates and boyfriends with whom I now concede I stayed with too long. Why did I stay with them so long (whatever lenght of time that was)? Because, I feel, I had been conditioned to be forgiving and accomodating and so on. Now, I don't agree with those requirements of interaction with other people and feel free to lock people out of my life when I want to.

One reason why sociopaths and the like get away with their craft for so long is that we taught to be forgiving of others mistakes. Moreover, I think that there is also a herd mentality or anti herd mentality. For example, I feel I have been in a couple of situations with either my mother, my ex husband or a business partner in which they felt the need to go against me. So just as I am questioning the integrity of someone, I really believe that they chose to support that person on purpose. Why , possibly to show that they could still felx some muscle with me; because it's fun to fluster someone, especially someone who has shown great trust in you. What are the other possibilities?

As far as studies into these sociopathic, psychopathic, narcisistic behaviors, what is the goal? To figure out how to understand/control/manipulate these types? To teach others how to avoid or move away from these types.

 

[helgaleena]

I agree with you very much, CC. The conditioning to be trusting starts early, in infancy. Those who see others as resources to exploit or toys to be played with take advantage of things which are 'hard-wired' into our biology, if they can.

 

[THEDUDEofDestiny]

Psychopathy is incorrectly synonymous with knife wielding maniacs or hannabl lecter types.

Just because you have no qualms with harming another person doesn't mean you will.

The Same way most people could walk to work instead of drive a car. It is a matter of decisions and personal choice.

Admittedly the more intelligent psychopaths are the ones who cope the best

yeah but people who do have qualms with harming other people harm other people anyway, so why be in a relationship with someone incapable of empathy or the basic emotional safeguards regular people have.

 

[Gecko4lif]

The conditioning of trust differs from culture to culture

I was brought up not to trust people simply because the environment I was in was so hostile

The only real constant I can think of is trust your family. But even that isnt foolproof.