The Psychopath Test, Now Available in Convenient Book Form

[Wolfbeckett]

No, that's the instruction manual.

It was more like a manifesto for why psychopaths are good to have around, remember it was the altruists who ruined society in that book.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

"The Psychopath Test" Author Jon Ronson Interviewed On Daily Show




Link to video.

Hare Psychopathy Checklist:



One in 100 people are psychopaths? One in 4 criminals? One in 25 CEOs? That is a lot of psychopaths!

Do you think it is possible to legally identify and monitor this group so they will be less likely to become inmates and CEOs?

Or is being psychopathic a desirable trait in CEOs and criminals?

How many of the CEOs who belong in prison are actually psychopaths? Or are they less likely to commit criminal acts?

How many prison inmates might be CEOs if they weren't locked up?

Or is this attempt to pigeonhole people what is truly disturbing, as the author suggests at the end of the video?

(Not sure about thet last word in the quote; "pitches". I couldn't quite make it out...)

The key point he makes isn't how many "psychopaths" there are, it's that the dangers of diagnosing psychological "disorders" in people and pigeonholing them based on our idea of "normal" is both exceedingly dangerous and ridiculous. As he pointed out, almost anyone can qualify for this definition of "psychopath," and their qualifications for them might wax and wane through different events and times. And, of course, medicinal companies are all to happy to capitalize on the mental disorder hysteria by convincing us that their drugs can save us from our own minds.

 

[Formaldehyde]

The key point he makes isn't how many "psychopaths" there are, it's that the dangers of diagnosing psychological "disorders" in people and pigeonholing them based on our idea of "normal" is both exceedingly dangerous and ridiculous. As he pointed out, almost anyone can qualify for this definition of "psychopath," and their qualifications for them might wax and wane through different events and times. And, of course, medicinal companies are all to happy to capitalize on the mental disorder hysteria by convincing us that their drugs can save us from our own minds.

That was certainly one of his points, as I mentioned above. But if you watch the video above and his appearance on The Daily Show, that is obviously not the only point. It may not even be the key one. That would be rather tough to discern without reading his book.

 

[Lovebird]

There is no "mental disorder hysteria." The idea that there is is a silly conspiracy theory.

 

[Formaldehyde]

There are millions of school children around the world who now take ritalin. Calling deserved attention to this growing problem and others like it is hardly what I would consider to be a " silly conspiracy theory".

 

[bernie14]

There is a natural variant and an acquired variant. The latter can be cured by present human knowledge (although it's not widely disseminated).

citation please

afaik, the only "magic bullet" that cures psychopaths are the hard, fast, non-magical types

There is no "mental disorder hysteria." The idea that there is is a silly conspiracy theory.

yes and no.....on the one hand, it is estimated that "major" psychiatric illness, such as mood disorders and anxiety disorders are still underdiagnosed and many could benefit from improved functioning with proper treatment....on the other hand, many people are looking for easy "labels" to explain why they can't cope, or why they get angry or why they are irresponsible or why they are stupid.....and unfortunately, many psychs (iatrists and ologists) are willing to take their money to give them one.....

There are millions of school children around the world who now take ritalin. Calling deserved attention to this growing problem and others like it is hardly what I would consider to be a " silly conspiracy theory".

another reason i dont see kids....not to say that conditions such as ADD dont exist or children do not benefit from treatment.....but i dont doubt there is over use of medications.....and it's not just the psychs, these kids end up on meds via pediatric docs and neurologists as well.....

 

[CivCube]

What kind of expert is Ronson? This guy is obviously not familiar with psychiatry; "psychopath" is not a recognized term. It's not even the right dictionary word, as "sociopath" describes those with anti-social tendencies. Psychopaths generally describe those who experiences breaks in reality.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

What's even more disgusting is how the guy pauses and draws special breath for a sneer every time he says the word "psychopath," as if he spoke the name of The Dark Lord himself.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

What kind of expert is Ronson? This guy is obviously not familiar with psychiatry; "psychopath" is not a recognized term. It's not even the right dictionary word, as "sociopath" describes those with anti-social tendencies. Psychopaths generally describe those who experiences breaks in reality.

Psychopaths was the correct term until the 70s or what, and sounds today way more attention-graping. So I find it way more likely that it is a sign of the authors determination to reach a wide audience, rather than him being incompetent.

What's even more disgusting is how the guy pauses and draws special breath for a sneer every time he says the word "psychopath," as if he spoke the name of The Dark Lord himself.

I found the whole way he talked weird.

 

[CivCube]

Psychopaths was the correct term until the 70s or what, and sounds today way more attention-graping. So I find it way more likely that it is a sign of the authors determination to reach a wide audience, rather than him being incompetent.

Thanks for clarifying. Still a really obnoxious tactic that this guy is using and hardly helpful for people who actually could use help.

 

[Akka]

What kind of expert is Ronson? This guy is obviously not familiar with psychiatry; "psychopath" is not a recognized term. It's not even the right dictionary word, as "sociopath" describes those with anti-social tendencies. Psychopaths generally describe those who experiences breaks in reality.

I'm sorry ?
Psychopath is a perfectly valid and recognized term in psychology. It's not because it's overused in Hollywood that it doesn't actually exist.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Well it's not "perfect". But according to wikipedia it is recognized.

 

[CivCube]

For diagnostic purposes, however, it's not used. Ronson here has thrown together several criteria from different disorders and is trying to pass it off as something else. That's where the dishonesty is.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Did you miss this from the OP?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Psychopathy_Checklist

Ronson is just a journalist reporting on the the works of psychiatrists.

 

[CivCube]

I guess it's time for a foot in my mouth. :\ My apologies.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

So did anyone else think he looked like John Lennon?

 

[Narz]

So did anyone else think he looked like John Lennon?

From the stillshot of the YouTube video, yeah a bit (the glasses help).

 

[Formaldehyde]

Ronson must go out of his way to find glasses from the 70s.

And as far as his demeanor is concerned, the wiki article characterized him as being a representative of "Gonzo journalism".

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

I work in a car dealership and would love to see the statistics

Of the customers

 

[Hygro]

What's even more disgusting is how the guy pauses and draws special breath for a sneer every time he says the word "psychopath," as if he spoke the name of The Dark Lord himself.

The guy is being facetious, to quite a degree. The way he talks/the camera is part of the joke.

Ronson must go out of his way to find glasses from the 70s.

Those came in style a year+ ago, you see them occasionally. More often you see the bigger 80s ones.