Should we feel sorry for sociopaths, or hate them? (death penalty, science, choice)

[albion]

Can any of us spot a sociopath in the street, does anyone on this thread actually know one.

[purehuman]

Originally Posted by NuShooz

Science suggests they are essentially born that way, or are damaged either by physical or psychological trauma to the point they are incapable of empathy and deep emotional states.

Should we hate them for the things they do? Or should we feel immense sorrow for them because they have a horrible disability, the inability to feel love? does whether we hate them or feel bad for them depend on how far they go in their negative behavior?

Sociopaths , I feel are born this way.,and they do have the ability to love,..unfortunately it's just for themselves.. don't hate ,or feel sad for them....I just stay the hell away from them.

[Katat]

How you feel is of no concern to the sociopath. It is the people that are harmed that deserve empathy. Sociopaths are not all killers or rapists. Often they are high achievers, in a position of power and influence, and trade on this to cover their trail. Unlike the murders these guys are difficult to detect. They can destroy a life or drive a person to suicide.They can destroy a family or a section of a community. They slander and lie to cover who they are. They don't care who they use or what harm they do, they care for only their own needs. Empathy is not possible for them.Don't waste your pity on the sociopath, they will only play on it to their own advantage.The issue is not how they became what they are, its the harm they do, and the damage to the people that have had the great misfortune to appear in their sights. One thing is for sure, they are to be feared and avoided at all costs.

[Hueffenhardt]

Originally Posted by albion

Can any of us spot a sociopath in the street, does anyone on this thread actually know one.

Sorry, I missed this post before. I worked in my state's prison system for a while and there was one guy, out of the thousands of inmates we had, that I would definitely say was a sociopath.

He was such a master manipulator that he was kept isolated from the other inmates and no correctional officer was allowed to talk with him alone. And he was rotated among the different facilities every few months, just to keep a relationship from being developed between him and the correctional officers and exploited by him.

We were often shocked at the officers that he had been able to manipulate before the rule was implemented that no one could talk to him alone.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Hueffenhardt

Sorry, I missed this post before. I worked in my state's prison system for a while and there was one guy, out of the thousands of inmates we had, that I would definitely say was a sociopath.

He was such a master manipulator that he was kept isolated from the other inmates and no correctional officer was allowed to talk with him alone. And he was rotated among the different facilities every few months, just to keep a relationship from being developed between him and the correctional officers and exploited by him.

We were often shocked at the officers that he had been able to manipulate before the rule was implemented that no one could talk to him alone.

I thought you were a psychologist. If so, you should know about Sociopaths.

Your post says you were caught unaware.

I know about sociopaths. And I am a mere Social Worker, I am not fooled by them nor caught unawares They care not for anyone and don't give a crap about anyone or anything. Gads! We (the County) just treat them as lying manuputalers and don't believe a word they say.

[Rafius]

Originally Posted by TKramar

Sociopaths require neither your pity or approbation.

You should know!


Re OP
Is it not an illness though, a mental disorder? Should we be blaming them for something that is beyond their control?

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Rafius

You should know!


Re OP
Is it not an illness though, a mental disorder? Should we be blaming them for something that is beyond their control?

Not really, but when they kill your wife/daughter/best friend just for laughs, you might might have something to think about.

[Hueffenhardt]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

I thought you were a psychologist. If so, you should know about Sociopaths.

Your post says you were caught unaware.

I know about sociopaths. And I am a mere Social Worker, I am not fooled by them nor caught unawares They care not for anyone and don't give a crap about anyone or anything. Gads! We (the County) just treat them as lying manuputalers and don't believe a word they say.

I am a licensed masters level psychologist, although I recently switched careers and now work as a statistician / research analyst for the office of judicial administration. But, at the time I knew this particular sociopath, I was working as a correctional officer.

When I said "we were shocked at the officers he was able to manipulate", I meant we (correctional officers) were shocked at the officers who allowed themselves to be manipulated. These were seasoned officers who had proven in the past that they had a strong constitution and were able to avoid other great manipulators of which there are plenty in the prison system, yet they had fallen prey to his skill. We were not surprised by what the sociopath did. I had psychological training by that time and knew how it was possible for him to manipulate even the seasoned officers. But, it is still a shock to see your colleagues fall.

[Rafius]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

Not really,...

. Then what is it if not a mental illness.

...but when they kill your wife/daughter/best friend just for laughs, you might might have something to think about.

I don't think so. I'm vehemently anti death penalty and I certainly don't advocate killing someone that is proven to be mentally unstable.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Hueffenhardt

I am a licensed masters level psychologist, although I recently switched careers and now work as a statistician / research analyst for the office of judicial administration. But, at the time I knew this particular sociopath, I was working as a correctional officer.

When I said "we were shocked at the officers he was able to manipulate", I meant we (correctional officers) were shocked at the officers who allowed themselves to be manipulated. These were seasoned officers who had proven in the past that they had a strong constitution and were able to avoid other great manipulators of which there are plenty in the prison system, yet they had fallen prey to his skill. We were surprised by what the sociopath did. I had psychological training by that time and knew how it was possible for him to manipulate even the seasoned officers. But, it is still a shock to see your colleagues fall.

Understandable.

My agency is used to such folk. We cut them no slack. Once burned twice shy. That's why. Failed once, wasn't gonna happen again. And so it came to pass.