After reading the section on psycopaths, I've begun to wonder about myself. When I was a boy, I was mean to our dog, tortured salamanders. & shot birds n squirrels. It culminated in my 1st hunting season when I shot my 1st deer at 12. When I saw that doe go down I swore I'd never hurt another animal again (not counting humans at the time). How is this explained, that I made a complete turnaround? I mean, names carved in trees upset me PEACE!
Was I/Am I Psycho?
- Thread starter Ominous
- Start date
Also, when I was a young boy, I became physically ill at the site of violence. I had to overcome this as a teen or else I would've never survived high school OR my 20s. It resulted in my involvement w/ martial arts & boxing. I feel it also had something to do w/ my descent in2 heroin addiction (of which I'm 5 years clean). At times I've tried to use "on/off" switches w/ my emotions. Drugs made it a bit easier. I'm curious; am I fooling myself or were these some sort of attacks that I somehow overcame?
GRiM
The Living Force
I would say no, its not so simple as conscious/unconscious animal torture equals psychopath. It might be a trait, but there are more of a checklist in clinical evaluation of psychopathic behavior and you have to exhibit a certain number of traits before you could be certain. Then you have 'normal' people that become psychopathic when they think psychopathic is normal.
If I were you I would listen to the podcast #26 for a good description of 'the next door psychopath'.
If I were you I would listen to the podcast #26 for a good description of 'the next door psychopath'.
Zadius Sky
The Living Force
I was reading the transcript, & while I don't feel I fit that bill, I mos def got a certain insight in2 how the psycopath operates during my years as a heroin addict. I used ppl's consciences against then KNOWING I was doing so. When the drug wore off, the guilt of what I'd done would hit me. Doing more dope chased the guilt away. But I had limits, reached them, & quit... A true psycopath has no limits & makes a master drug addict. PEACE
vinny
The Living Force
also something to consider:Ominous said:
a true psychopath would have no guilt, no neuroses, no unpleasant emotional dilemas. So, would have NO inner conflict that needed to be soothed with drugs - ie: there would be no NEED for escapism, which is one reason many 'normal' people turn to drugs or alcohol or whatever in the first place.
Novelis
Jedi Master
How do you feel about that? Since you swore that you'd never hurt another animal again, I'd guess you felt SOME guilt about it.Ominous said:
But, only you truly know how sincerely you hurt for others, so I'd ask myself: "Am I dampening or ignoring the guilt in any way?"
The predator/psychopath within, of which we all possess to some degree is trying to destroy your sense of empathy towards other beings, so if you are struggling or have struggled against this, then that is an indication that you are not an essential psychopath at least... Which means there IS hope, even though sometimes you may display psychopathic behaviour.
