can a psychopath change?

[adeptofthelyric alarts]

if brain damage genetics and/or abandonment/neglect create a psychopathy, can through ones own willpower or assistance from another, a teacher if you will, change the inherent flaw that left one without a conscience? to indeed unlock the structure that produces the neurotransmitter, or even reverse the physiological or psychological damage that created the condition?
from the descriptions and definitions of psychopathy, one can say that the majority of children go through this stage, where total selfishness and disregard for anyone/anything else is the prime motivation for actions..  isnt it until children reach the so-called "age of reason" where they can be taught by example the difference between right and wrong, and empathy for other living beings, and it sticks?
could a lack of this essential teaching by parents prevent children from rising above the total selfishness, creating a longer lasting psychopathy?

or are my premises flawed?

[truth seeker]

Hi adeptofthelyricalarts,

You've managed to make 29 posts in roughly 24 hours. Several of them containing questions you would find the answers to if you would take the time to read more and post less. This would border on noise. Please read or reread the forum guidelines so that you understand clearly what the purpose of this forum is about. If you find that you cannot curb your enthusiasm, your posting privileges will be removed.

[adeptofthelyric alarts]

Hi adeptofthelyricalarts,

You've managed to make 29 posts in roughly 24 hours. Several of them containing questions you would find the answers to if you would take the time to read more and post less. This would border on noise. Please read or reread the forum guidelines so that you understand clearly what the purpose of this forum is about. If you find that you cannot curb your enthusiasm, your posting privileges will be removed.

very well then... if my "enthusiasm" as you put it is unacceptable, then i wish to be removed from this forum...

[Approaching Infinity]

Hi adeptofthelyricalarts,

You've managed to make 29 posts in roughly 24 hours. Several of them containing questions you would find the answers to if you would take the time to read more and post less. This would border on noise. Please read or reread the forum guidelines so that you understand clearly what the purpose of this forum is about. If you find that you cannot curb your enthusiasm, your posting privileges will be removed.

very well then... if my "enthusiasm" as you put it is unacceptable, then i wish to be removed from this forum...

It's not exactly 'enthusiasm' that is the problem. One can be enthusiastic and still post in accordance with the forum rules. As truth seeker wrote, it is more the fact that you have posted a string of questions in a short period of time that have already been answered elsewhere on the forum. We suggest that new members of the forum try to get as up-to-speed on the topics discussed here as possible, and that can involve the simple action of searching the forum whenever you have a question in order to make sure it hasn't already been discussed and you are not just making noise.

[Laura]

It's not exactly 'enthusiasm' that is the problem. One can be enthusiastic and still post in accordance with the forum rules. As truth seeker wrote, it is more the fact that you have posted a string of questions in a short period of time that have already been answered elsewhere on the forum. We suggest that new members of the forum try to get as up-to-speed on the topics discussed here as possible, and that can involve the simple action of searching the forum whenever you have a question in order to make sure it hasn't already been discussed and you are not just making noise.

The point being to show consideration for others, many of whom have taken the time and effort to write extensively on the many topics you query.  If you cannot be considerate of others and THEIR time, if it is all about YOU, then certainly, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[adeptofthelyric alarts]

i did look through search, i didnt find what i was looking for, i was mere trying to start a discussion, but again..lesson learned.. if i sounded butt hurt, it was the tone of the mod..  i reacted inappropriately... at the very least ive been reading topics  while logged out, so im not tempted to "go with the flow" and post "unnecessary" already answered questions... it is not for my amusement... to be perfectly forthcoming, i asked slightly selfishly because such a circumstance happened to me! i was by your definitions a psychopath, and around my early 20s i found myself with a conscience.. this was the most difficult period of my life, and i dont want to believe that i still am.. if as was said, all you need to do is keep doing good acts and grit your teeth until the good becomes second nature, then i should not be worried, because that is what i have been doing... i asked because of a self esteem issue.. i have so much to be grateful for in my current life, and if i acquired this all through negative means, what does that make it? (rhetorical).. and further it would mean i have nothing positive to offer...

in any case.. i will curb my unnecessary posting as you have asked... and apologize for making "noise"

[Laura]

in any case.. i will curb my unnecessary posting as you have asked... and apologize for making "noise"

Very good.  There's hope for you.

You aren't a psychopath because they don't just "acquire" a conscience.  You were just young and thoughtless and ponerized by society. 

[adeptofthelyric alarts]

 ... well at the risk of making more noise.. thank you very much

[truth seeker]

i did look through search, i didnt find what i was looking for, i was mere trying to start a discussion, but again..lesson learned.. if i sounded butt hurt, it was the tone of the mod..  i reacted inappropriately... at the very least ive been reading topics  while logged out, so im not tempted to "go with the flow" and post "unnecessary" already answered questions... it is not for my amusement... to be perfectly forthcoming, i asked slightly selfishly because such a circumstance happened to me! i was by your definitions a psychopath, and around my early 20s i found myself with a conscience.. this was the most difficult period of my life, and i dont want to believe that i still am.. if as was said, all you need to do is keep doing good acts and grit your teeth until the good becomes second nature, then i should not be worried, because that is what i have been doing... i asked because of a self esteem issue.. i have so much to be grateful for in my current life, and if i acquired this all through negative means, what does that make it? (rhetorical).. and further it would mean i have nothing positive to offer...

in any case.. i will curb my unnecessary posting as you have asked... and apologize for making "noise"

Just so you know, we all act out in ways that on the surface can seem psychopathic due to narcissistic wounding passed down from our parents. Also, we do tend to be quite straightforward here. The post here was an attempt to relay the same thing in a manner that was more gentle but either you missed it or I was not clear enough.

One of the things you may find useful is the Life Without Bread thread. It's quite long but the dietary information in it is priceless and may be very helpful in providing you with the strength needed to deal with some of your current issues as what we eat definitely affects our thinking processes which directly effect our ability to Do.

Glad to see you've decided to begin again, adeptofthelyricalarts.

[chaps23]

HI adeptofthelyricalarts,

Realising that everyone experiences things differently, I believe I may be able to offer you an experience of mine that may possibly offer you some insight into your situation.

A while back I raised a question in this forum believing that I was suffering from a sense of disociation and I was quite emotionally in a mess for a while. Below are link to two threads I made on the matter
http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,26232.0.html
http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,25310.msg298374.html#msg298374

Now although these situations differ to what you have explained above I still believe the answers I came up with may help as the lessons may be similar.

Thanks to the help from the forum I was guided to two amazing books by Martha Stout - "The Myth of Sanity" and "The Sociopath Next Door" These two books and a MASSIVE change in diet (which I believe was a key ingredient) gave me valuable insight/awareness into how my mind works and what makes it tick that I would normally have never come accross. After identifying the issues with in my mind automaticaly started working its self out and my journey has been simply amazing ever since.

I too was super enthusiastic, I really understand the feeling of just wanting to know everything then and now (just look at my previous post history) I went nuts! but over the past year I have seen a massive change in the way I learn.

Best of luck mate,

Brent.

EDIT: I also found the search bar difficult to use at the beginning but you will get the hang of it.

[yamez]

The hormone that makes us good or evil.

Read more: _http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/the-hormone-that-makes-us-good-or-evil-20120905-25eyx.html#ixzz269oybh9C

Good or Evil, an absolute. Oxytocin may not explain everything, but perhaps is a clue to the glue to what makes and drives us.

The reciprocation test was interesting. 5% were unconditional non-reciprocators.

Sounds familiar.

[yamez]

... well at the risk of making more noise.. thank you very much

Perhaps give some examples as to how one has been ponerized.  STO shows by example for those to see, needs no ringmaster.

[JayMark]

The hormone that makes us good or evil.

Read more: _http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/the-hormone-that-makes-us-good-or-evil-20120905-25eyx.html#ixzz269oybh9C

Good or Evil, an absolute. Oxytocin may not explain everything, but perhaps is a clue to the glue to what makes and drives us.

The reciprocation test was interesting. 5% were unconditional non-reciprocators.

Sounds familiar.

From Wikipedia:

"Recent studies have begun to investigate oxytocin's role in various behaviors, including orgasm, social recognition, pair bonding, anxiety, and maternal behaviors.[1] For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the "love hormone". The inability to secrete oxytocin and feel empathy is linked to sociopathy, psychopathy, narcissism,[citation needed] and general manipulativeness.[2][not verified in body] However, there is some evidence that oxytocin promotes 'tribal' behaviour, combining trust and empathy with the in-group with suspicion and rejection of outsiders.[3]"

Perhaps there is something about diet for an example that could inhibit the secretion of oxytocin in certain individuals and make them look/act like psychopaths/sociopaths.

Anyhow, just a hypothesis. I haven't gotten in that aspect (biological) of psychopathy yet.

[Renaissance]

Perhaps there is something about diet for an example that could inhibit the secretion of oxytocin in certain individuals and make them look/act like psychopaths/sociopaths.

Anyhow, just a hypothesis. I haven't gotten in that aspect (biological) of psychopathy yet.

Interesting thought, JayMark. Since cholesterol is the foundation of many of our hormones, I searched for a connection between the two and sure enough low cholesterol inhibits oxytocin.

Here's a video where a doctor talks about the link between autistic children who commonly have low cholesterol and oxytocin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jorQSOLD8s

the same doctor gives a longer talk here:

http://vimeo.com/25541474

I've only listened to the beginning, but one interesting things he says so far is how he would also find low cholesterol is in mental health disorders, particularly bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia.

There's a paper on the subject here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655883

There's also these articles that were on SOTT:

Does Low Serum Cholesterol Cause Psychopathy?

Study Abstract: Total Serum Cholesterol Level and Violent Criminal Offences

 

[Eboard10]

Perhaps there is something about diet for an example that could inhibit the secretion of oxytocin in certain individuals and make them look/act like psychopaths/sociopaths.

Anyhow, just a hypothesis. I haven't gotten in that aspect (biological) of psychopathy yet.

Interesting thought, JayMark. Since cholesterol is the foundation of many of our hormones, I searched for a connection between the two and sure enough low cholesterol inhibits oxytocin.

Here's a video where a doctor talks about the link between autistic children who commonly have low cholesterol and oxytocin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jorQSOLD8s

the same doctor gives a longer talk here:

http://vimeo.com/25541474

I've only listened to the beginning, but one interesting things he says so far is how he would also find low cholesterol is in mental health disorders, particularly bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia.

There's a paper on the subject here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655883

There's also these articles that were on SOTT:

Does Low Serum Cholesterol Cause Psychopathy?

Study Abstract: Total Serum Cholesterol Level and Violent Criminal Offences

Or it could be one of the causes behind characteropathy, i.e. psycopathy that is not genetic but rather developed?