How to spot a psychopath

[Fox]

We should allow the calling of 'Psycho' on forumosa based on the criteria to see if we can't weed out a few of these creeps. I've cut and paste the list of traits here.

Item 1 Glibness/superficial charm (sandman)

Item 2 Grandiose sense of self-worth (threadkiller)

Item 3 Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom (tommy)

Item 4 Pathological lying (fox)

Item 5 Cunning/manipulative (fred smith)

Item 6 Lack of remorse or guilt (Robin in the Sun)

Item 7 Shallow affect (tommy)

Item 8 Callous/lack of empathy (sandman)

Item 9 Parasitic lifestyle (jimmy)

Item 10 Poor behavioural controls (sandman)

Item 11 Promiscuous sexual behaviour (tommy)

Item 12 Early behaviour problems (guyintaiwan)

Item 13 Lack of realistic long-term goals (threadkiller)

Item 14 Impulsivity (tommy)

Item 15 Irresponsibility (Robin in the Sun)

Item 16 Failure to accept responsibility for own actions (Muzha Man)

Item 17 Many short-term marital relationships (Some of those guys in the divorce threads)

Item 18 Juvenile delinquency (tigerman)

Item 19 Revocation of conditional release (tainancowboy)

Item 20 Criminal versatility (HG)

[bababa]

Could someone give me an ordinary, real-world example of the behaviour of somebody with 'shallow affect'? I don't get what it means.

[sandman]

That's a bullshit list. I'm up for every category except the marital relationships one. ME! Pick ME! MEEEE! Or I'll come round your place with a machete when you're asleep. OK, I have no machete. But I do have a ukulele and I'm not afraid to use it.

[Tempo Gain]

Surely you'd feel remorse if you smashed up your ukulele.

[Fox]

Could someone give me an ordinary, real-world example of the behaviour of somebody with 'shallow affect'? I don't get what it means.

Yes.

Example:

That's a bullshit list. I'm up for every category except the marital relationships one. ME! Pick ME! MEEEE! Or I'll come round your place with a machete when you're asleep. OK, I have no machete. But I do have a ukulele and I'm not afraid to use it.

Definition:
Shallow affect: Emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.

[bababa]

Thanks.

I wonder how psychologists actually use this list as a diagnostic tool. Some of the things mentioned are objective: revocation of parole, criminal behavior (if caught), many short-term marriages - but a lot of them would depend on the reporting of the subject, who by definition is charming and a glib, manipulative liar. If you like someone, he's fine; if you don't like someone, you see all these signs of psychopathology in him.

[finley]

Could someone give me an ordinary, real-world example of the behaviour of somebody with 'shallow affect'? I don't get what it means.

'affect' means emotional response. 'shallow affect' or 'flattened affect' just means an emotional response more limited than you would expect (either positive or negative). It sometimes occurs in child-abuse victims who have 'switched off' as a defense against abuse. Star Trek's Mr Spock is a caricature of shallow affect. It doesn't mean the same thing as the colloquial 'shallow'.

I wonder how psychologists actually use this list as a diagnostic tool. Some of the things mentioned are objective: revocation of parole, criminal behavior (if caught), many short-term marriages - but a lot of them would depend on the reporting of the subject, who by definition is charming and a glib, manipulative liar. If you like someone, he's fine; if you don't like someone, you see all these signs of psychopathology in him.

They don't. The actual diagnostic tool is a questionnaire with a manual detailing its correct use; the tool purports to measure those things in the list. But you won't ever see it published. The official reason is that it's a medical diagnostic tool and that it could be dangerous in the wrong hands; qualified personnel only. The actual reason is that it allows psychologists to experience a "grandiose sense of self-worth" Also ... it costs a lot of money to buy the test kit.

[divea]

That's a bullshit list.

I think this needs correction!

Item 2 Grandiose sense of self-worth (threadkiller) Maoman

[Huang Guang Chen]

It's very important to bear in mind that there's a scale at work here. Psychologists plot personalities on this sort of scale. The most cringeworthy of their determinants is "border-line personality disorder." That's mental health "professional" speak for a right arsehole.

We're all guilty at some plot on a bar graph of the following. The key point is at what end of the scale.

For good old fashioned Hollyweird psychopath (AKA sociopath) you just can't beat "Lottie, the curse of Millhaven." Perfect crux nabbed by Nick. Remorse. The essential component of a psychopath is the lack of remorse. They can't empathise with other people, so they can't possibly feel their pain, even when they caused it.

[youTubeBB3]http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3927741/the_curse_of_millhaven/[/youTubeBB3]

Now I got shrinks that will not rest with their endless
Rorschach tests
I keep telling them they're out to get me
They ask me if I feel remorse and I answer, why of course!
There is so much more I could have done if they'd let me!

So it's Rorschach and Prozac and everything is groovy
Singing la la la la la la la lie
All god's children they all have to die
La la la la la la la lie

HG

[Tempo Gain]

Another interesting and related NYT article
Can you call a 9-year-old a psychopath?