Is it wrong to feel empathy for psychopaths?

[Dexta]

I recently identified one of my colleagues as being a psychopath. 

He constantly takes the piss out of everybody at work, calling it "banter" (except it's all in one direction, from him to others) - that's the sadism and lack of empathy, akin to how psychopaths often have a history of torturing animals. 

He is considered to be very charming indeed by most people (I'm so past that personally obviously). Another prime symptom of psychopathy.

Openly says he doesn't care about people dying in foreign countries. Empathy deficit central.

He never gets emotional about anything - this has been relayed to me by others too. 

Psychopath.


I told him this in reply to a facebook post he made ridiculing my concern over global warming. He acted very upset and I can't help feeling a bit sorry for him...a bit...but then I know he doesn't truly get upset about stuff, being a psychopath, yet still...I think I might have blown his sorry little world apart, in a way. 

Thoughts? 

[LastPoet]

1in 100 people are born psychopaths. It does not mean they will be bad persons or serial killers.

At any rate, unless you are a shrink, i don't think you should be doing that kind of diagnosis.

[Dexta]

1in 100 people are born psychopaths. It does not mean they will be bad persons or serial killers.

At any rate, unless you are a shrink, i don't think you should be doing that kind of diagnosis.

According to the Wikipedia article, there is strong evidence to support the hypothesis that psychopathy is frequently a developed mindset, not innate. Many psychopaths avoid detection, and so I think the 1 in 100 estimate is in fact a gross underestimate.

It was either let him know and thus be open about my "diagnosis" or, well, smash his teeth through because of his appallingly disrespectful behaviour. I chose the civilised option I think, shrink or nay.

[brewerb]

Psychopathy can be genetic, environmental or both.

A review of neurobiological and environmental evidence for the etiology of psychopathy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7219694/

Sounds like it could possibly be classified as a personality disorder and not necessarily rise to the level of psychopathy.

Edit: smash his teeth, ya, right.

[Dexta]

You know me little bb. I've been violent on the past, and am very wary of the possibility I might be again. This guy has been so relentlessly disrespectful under the fallacious banner of "humour and banter" that I feared I might snap. I've got 50 pounds on him too. He really wouldn't stand a chance. Fuck that.

[Paleophyte]

You know me little bb. I've been violent on the past, and am very wary of the possibility I might be again. This guy has been so relentlessly disrespectful under the fallacious banner of "humour and banter" that I feared I might snap. I've got 50 pounds on him too. He really wouldn't stand a chance. Fuck that.

You don't need to make a diagnosis to address the problem. Let him know that his attempts at "humour" aren't funny and are creating a toxic work environment. If here doesn't change then mention it to HR, or mgmt if you don't have an HR dept.

[brewerb]

You know me little bb.

I know enough, maybe too much.

[pattylt]

Working in an hospital lab, we tend to have close relationships and long careers together. We had a rather toxic personality tech years ago and it took several mentions to management before they actually looked into it. Our jobs were stressful enough that we didn’t need any added stress. She was given several warnings and then let go. There’s such a shortage of med techs that they’ll try everything before firing a competent tech and warned us not to complain of even more workload. We told them we were glad to take on more work to have peace.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Don't let his lack of empathy corrode your own empathy.

[SYZ]

You know me little bb. I've been violent on the past, and am very wary of the possibility I might be again. This guy has been so relentlessly disrespectful under the fallacious banner of "humour and banter" that I feared I might snap. I've got 50 pounds on him too. He really wouldn't stand a chance. Fuck that.

The fact that you've made this comment involving your past
history of violence, and that you're fearful of possibly resorting
to violence again—triggered by this person's behaviour—leads
me to think you may be overreacting to his insults and lack of
concern for others.

And to make matters worse, you're here bragging about being
easily able to beat him in a physical fight!  So who's the aggressor
in this scenario?

Anyway...

"Psychopath" is not an official diagnosis. Rather, it’s an informal
term often used for a condition called antisocial personality disorder
(ASPD).  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
5th edition (DSM-5) does not list psychopathy as an official clinical
diagnosis.

For this reason, I'm thinking it's unwise of you to make this "diagnosis"
of what you're seeing as his motivation—assuming you have no clinical
qualifications in order to do so.   Even appropriately trained, qualified
psychologists have acknowledged difficulties diagnosing true psychopathy
—as a lay person you have no chance.

[Dexta]

SYZ - you think being able to beat somebody up is something to brag about? I don't, I was just calling it how I see it.

The pen is mightier than the sword, and the word is mightier than the fist, I think. His disrespectful and insulting words are of real harm, it ain't me and we being snowflakes.

[brewerb]

SYZ - you think being able to beat somebody up is something to brag about? I don't, I was just calling it how I see it.

The pen is mightier than the sword, and the word is mightier than the fist, I think. His disrespectful and insulting words are of real harm, it ain't me and we being snowflakes.

Didn't you previously brag about it, or at least your perceived ability to?

You certainly are dramatic.

[Dexta]

I was just calling it how I see it, not bragging, for the second time.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I was just calling it how I see it, not bragging, for the second time.

It did come across as bragging. I'm not saying you were bragging, but just that that's how it reads.

[Dexta]

You certainly are dramatic.

Life is sometimes dramatic, I convey it honestly. Paint me gay if it helps you sleep, homophobic attack dog proponent.

[brewerb]

You certainly are dramatic.

Life is sometimes dramatic, I convey it honestly. Paint me gay if it helps you sleep, homophobic attack dog proponent.

I don't think you're firing on all cylinders, your drama and gay have nothing in common that I've picked up on or intimated. But it is interesting that you came to that conclusion and used it in a personal attack. Now that's dramatic, and childish.

You've previously demonstrated that your level of honesty is questionable.

If you hold an unreasonable fear sheep dogs (or their owners) that's on you.

[Dexta]

You've never heard the term "drama queen" bb? Maybe it's just a British thing, but I doubt it. Fear "of" sheep dogs? Check your post, German shepherds are violence dogs, you know that, deny it and shriek from the rafters that you are not genuine.

[Dexta]

Oh woops, I used the word "shriek" - very dramatic, I should just retire to the bunker and stop embarrassing mysel...no, you!

[Dexta]

On second thought's my avatar is of a violent egg man attacking an inanimate object. Obvs a work of fiction. bb...do you in RL own a German Shephard?

[brewerb]

You've never heard the term "drama queen" bb? Maybe it's just a British thing, but I doubt it. Fear "of" sheep dogs? Check your post, German shepherds are violence dogs, you know that, deny it and shriek from the rafters that you are not genuine.

I don't own a german shepherd, your ignorance is showing. Shepherds are only violent if trained for it or are not trained against it. My dog has not been trained to attack, quite the opposite. It's been trained for show, obedience, herding and search and rescue (tracking). When is the last time you saw a show dog (of any breed) attack?

Yes I've heard of drama queen but I didn't use it. It's your own irrational conclusion, own it.

And thanks again for demonstrating your childish behavior. You're making my case for me.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Y'know, having a go at someone around here is pretty tired.

[brewerb]

Y'know, having a go at someone around here is pretty tired.

Dex made it personal a few months back, I'm not ready to let him off the hook just yet. And if I remember correctly you've had a similar encounter/actions in the past.

[SYZ]

SYZ - you think being able to beat somebody up is something to brag about? I don't, I was just calling it how I see it.

The pen is mightier than the sword, and the word is mightier than the fist, I think. His disrespectful and insulting words are of real harm, it ain't me and we being snowflakes.

LOL... too late to backtrack now mate!

This IS definitely bragging about your physical superiority
and self-assurance of beating another man in a violent fight.

I've got 50 pounds on him too. He really wouldn't stand a chance. Fuck that.

Anybody who makes a claim such as this is obviously hotheaded,
and rather than make a point by sparring with words, they'll
resort to physical violence.  And to claim that using mere words
is being a "snowflake" only reinforces this.  Very sad.

[Cavebear]

You know me little bb. I've been violent on the past, and am very wary of the possibility I might be again. This guy has been so relentlessly disrespectful under the fallacious banner of "humour and banter" that I feared I might snap. I've got 50 pounds on him too. He really wouldn't stand a chance. Fuck that.

"Violent" is not the same as "psychopath". I have some punched holes in a couple hollow luan doors from 30 years ago. But it was because I was frustrated by troll attacks in a very different forum by some new members who ingratiated themselves to some posters but decided to attack me. I don't do that anymore. But I leave the holes in the doors (covered with cute cat towels for visitors) as a reminder of the futility of physical anger.

Psychopaths are not always violent. It can also be psychological. Passive/aggressive is also a skill they use. As in the "humor and banter" you mentioned. And that can be the hardest thing to deal with. Anything they can do to manipulate works for them...

[Thumpalumpacus]

Y'know, having a go at someone around here is pretty tired.

Dex made it personal a few months back, I'm not ready to let him off the hook just yet. And if I remember correctly you've had a similar encounter/actions in the past.

I sure have. I'm trying to be better, which is why I don't respond to Jerry any more. The others with whom I've had more normal disagreements, well, that includes you, don't seem to hold it as a grudge against me. I don't know, I could be wrong.

But at any rate, I think it's tired as well as tiresome ... so I wrote as much.

I don't know anything about your personal animus and have no opinion one way or the other,