Psychopath Party
I recently read a book about Psychopaths, called "Without Conscience." In reading various commentaries as to why Bernie Madoff implemented and continued with his Ponzi scheme to the tune of $50 Billion in losses of others' investment monies (even though he was already quite successful and wealthy) many of the explanations began focusing on his having the personality profile of a "psychopath." The suggestion was that Madoff was so lacking in any sense of conscience, remorse, guilt, empathy, or feelings for others than himself, that he actually began "getting off" on simply having the power to destroy others. At first I thought this was somewhat of a reach in explaining Madoff's motives, but now I am convinced.
I am not only convinced that Madoff is a psychopath, but convinced that psychopaths are becoming more and more prevalent in our daily lives. The reader must first differentiate between a psychopath and a psychotic. A psychotic basically has little idea of what he is doing and is, therefore, basically insane. A psychotic is mentally ill. A psychopath, on the other hand, is perfectly sane but has no connection with any real feelings or emotions towards or about others. Narcissists have conscience. Psychopaths are narcissists with absolutely no conscience. A psychopath has an extreme personality disorder. They are usually very likable, easily gain others' trust, somewhat charismatic, are incapable of considering anyone's feelings but their own, are manipulative towards their own ends, impulsive yet highly organized in their planning abilities, do not discriminate between lies and the truth, and are completely without any sense of remorse or need to justify their actions. They feel entitled to do whatever they want to get what they want when they want it, and never feel any guilt in regard to their actions. They can have children but never once desire to see them. They can leave a wife and family never looking back. They can steal without hesitation in order to get money for drugs or something they desire. They can run someone down on the road and never even think of stopping. They can kill without a moment of guilt. All that matters to the psychopath is the present moment.
Now why am I whining about this and what does it remind me of? This profile reminds me of too many of the teenagers today I meet in the schools where I teach. This profile reminds me of many of the Wall Street greed mongers and Enron executives that have ripped us off. This profile reminds me of most of the news headlines of the day and those who commit the crimes: little Caylee's mother, Scott Peterson, O.J. Simpson, as well as the unknown ones in our Metro sections. Rapes, vandalism, burglaries, murders, con artists, Ponzi schemes, drive by shootings, embezzling of school funds, foundations, and non-profits. The last eight years of the political hierarchy. The rise in white collar crime. The diseased mindset of many alcoholics and drug addicts at the height of their addiction. The list goes on and on. And, although everyone who commits a criminal or dishonest act that harms another is not necessarily a psychopath, upon reflection there are a lot more psychopaths I can identify than I like to admit. The fact is we have been generating by our focus on a "survival of the fittest," "only look out for yourself," and "life is for the taking" mentality a whole new populace of psychopaths. No one even questions the idea that it is no longer beneficial to "tell the truth, the whole truth" in a courtroom any longer. Everyone knows everyone else is lying, so why should I tell the truth? Sadly, the days of taking an oath and being worried about keeping it, seem to have passed.
Whatever happened to a healthy bit of guilt, or what was once referred to as a small taste of shame? What happened to the days when a promise was a promise to be kept? What happened to integrity? What happened to ethics? What happened to value systems? What happened to moral codes? What happened?
I am not only convinced that Madoff is a psychopath, but convinced that psychopaths are becoming more and more prevalent in our daily lives. The reader must first differentiate between a psychopath and a psychotic. A psychotic basically has little idea of what he is doing and is, therefore, basically insane. A psychotic is mentally ill. A psychopath, on the other hand, is perfectly sane but has no connection with any real feelings or emotions towards or about others. Narcissists have conscience. Psychopaths are narcissists with absolutely no conscience. A psychopath has an extreme personality disorder. They are usually very likable, easily gain others' trust, somewhat charismatic, are incapable of considering anyone's feelings but their own, are manipulative towards their own ends, impulsive yet highly organized in their planning abilities, do not discriminate between lies and the truth, and are completely without any sense of remorse or need to justify their actions. They feel entitled to do whatever they want to get what they want when they want it, and never feel any guilt in regard to their actions. They can have children but never once desire to see them. They can leave a wife and family never looking back. They can steal without hesitation in order to get money for drugs or something they desire. They can run someone down on the road and never even think of stopping. They can kill without a moment of guilt. All that matters to the psychopath is the present moment.
Now why am I whining about this and what does it remind me of? This profile reminds me of too many of the teenagers today I meet in the schools where I teach. This profile reminds me of many of the Wall Street greed mongers and Enron executives that have ripped us off. This profile reminds me of most of the news headlines of the day and those who commit the crimes: little Caylee's mother, Scott Peterson, O.J. Simpson, as well as the unknown ones in our Metro sections. Rapes, vandalism, burglaries, murders, con artists, Ponzi schemes, drive by shootings, embezzling of school funds, foundations, and non-profits. The last eight years of the political hierarchy. The rise in white collar crime. The diseased mindset of many alcoholics and drug addicts at the height of their addiction. The list goes on and on. And, although everyone who commits a criminal or dishonest act that harms another is not necessarily a psychopath, upon reflection there are a lot more psychopaths I can identify than I like to admit. The fact is we have been generating by our focus on a "survival of the fittest," "only look out for yourself," and "life is for the taking" mentality a whole new populace of psychopaths. No one even questions the idea that it is no longer beneficial to "tell the truth, the whole truth" in a courtroom any longer. Everyone knows everyone else is lying, so why should I tell the truth? Sadly, the days of taking an oath and being worried about keeping it, seem to have passed.
Whatever happened to a healthy bit of guilt, or what was once referred to as a small taste of shame? What happened to the days when a promise was a promise to be kept? What happened to integrity? What happened to ethics? What happened to value systems? What happened to moral codes? What happened?
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