I am one.
Just for those who are uninformed on the matter, not all sociopaths are evil/harmful/violent etc, it's much more of a spectrum than that. I personally am a high-functioning sociopath, and I fit in with society about as well as could be expected from any sociopath; I mostly just lack empathy and a conscience. By which I do not mean that I don't know the difference between right and wrong, or that I partake in wrongful acts, but that I do what is good because doing what society deems wrong is illogical.
Generally speaking sociopaths are very changeable, and can shift personality or appearance for a bunch of reasons. Many even lie to themselves about who they are. I'm wondering if this is perhaps why it took me so many years to realise that I was trans; I spent all of my youth changing myself to conform to what other's expected me to be, and to fit in with those that I was interested in, that I think somewhere along the way I lost track of the part of myself that was the real deal.
On the other hand, perhaps being this way has liberated me from a lot of the troubles 'normal' trans guys have. I do not think in any way that what I'm doing is wrong (as some trans guys can feel at the start), it doesn't give me a sinking feelings to think of other's reactions, and social and emotional connections are nowhere near as important to me as they are to others. If a family member or friend has a problem with me, I cut them out of my life; it's not even a slightly difficult thing for me to do. And acting as if I have always lived in a male body and deflecting unwanted comments is easy, because I do not feel any of the guilt or unease some trans people do when 'lying' (I do not mean that saying you are male is a lie, but that some guys can feel guilty for not telling the whole truth behind it).
I'm just wondering if this is common in the trans world, or if there are any other guys who have been through this?
I hope you don't mind a girl commenting since this was directed towards the guys. I just wanted to say that I think being a sociopath in this situation will be a benefit. Being able to be yourself without having to worry about social expectations is great. I have studied sociopaths quite a bit, and agree that none of them are actually bad people. For the most part sociopaths are not mean of violent, quite a few of them just don't understand how those types of actions will affect them negatively.
To answer your question, I don't feel bad for not being true to myself for so long, nor do I feel what I am doing is wrong in anyway. I too just put people who are negative towards me out of my life. I have no problem cutting someone out of my life even if I have known them for years.
Thanks for the reply Brooke!
I don't feel bad about it taking me so long, but I certainly think it is why it did; it also explains to me things about myself that up until now have upset me. For example, when I was young and presenting as female, I was very feminine. I wore make-up and high-heels, and really loved and was proud of my large chest. Then I hit early teens and started to hate all of that, and turned into a tomboy. After understanding who I actually was years later, I felt like there was something wrong with me as a trans guy, as I had at one time liked those things. Now I believe I liked them because they helped me fit in, and because everyone else loved those things about me; not because I did.
And sorry, girls who are around please do feel free to comment! I think this applies to all trans people, not just the guys. :)
After seeing a documentary recently on sociopaths I wondered if I am one myself. I wouldn't particularly describe myself as high functioning one like you have though. I can function as a normal member of society but I really would rather not, I'm much happier keeping to myself. I don't feel empathy and find that I really just don't care about things that don't directly affect me. I can act like I care, I've learned how to. For many years I didn't bother trying to mould myself to fit around other people but got a lot of grief in return so learned to modify my behaviour. I find social interactions very tedious. I do things because I "should" not because I want to. Things like making new friends or going to social gatherings...just...what purpose does it actually serve. I sometimes feel like my emotions aren't my own, I'm just mimicking the people around me. The part about you dressing feminine and liking your chest rang true to me, I was very promiscuous in my previous life, it made guys like me, I could manipulate men into doing whatever I wanted and I massively abused that power. I was much more comfortable without makeup and guys clothes but that didn't get me such a favourable response. Of course eventually I decided that being myself was a lot more important and I made the switch over in a heartbeat. Many many people didn't like it, they were cut out of my life, simple as that.
Well it is said that actually sociopaths, if not psychopathic make excellent salespeople and business people and that sort of thing. I think there are people on the autism spectrum that are sociopaths. I think there are those who think that autism and at least ftm go together (not sure re: mtf, but I don't think so as I think the theory is is that it has to do with T and the developing fetus). So who knows. Never heard this idea before.
--Jay Jay
I don't know about being a sociopath, but I have no problem with being myself and I don't let others opinions bother me. What someone else thinks about me is their deal, not mine. But, I do apologize if I make a mistake. I just always figured I was more thick skinned than 99% people on the planet.
Um. Well.
My half-brother is a sociopath (not a modern psych term of course) but he's also a rapist and a torturer of kittens. He set them on fire, chucked them into the basketball hoop for fun, etc. Be aware that sociopath is a loaded word that conjures up misery and fear for some people.
But having that DX in my family, and also a handful of autistics, has given me pause at times. I have wondered if being trans is at all related. I usually try not to think about it.
As Felix said, that is a loaded word. I don't think you fully understand the terminology if you're openly identifying as such. Heh.
Oh I know it's a loaded word, that's why I stated right at the start that things weren't cut and dry about sociopaths. And I don't actually care what people think of me for being one; kinda comes with the turf. :P
Thanks for all of the replies, I'm very surprised there have been so many actually!
And I have been professionally diagnosed, but only with one therapist; the reason being that she was the only one I felt like being honest with. If I don't want people to know, then there's no way they could tell without me showing them my hand. My brother is also a narcissist (text book case), so we have discussed all of these things together, as he has many of the same sociopathic tendencies as I do.
I think the term is so loaded they should use another one for people who are not anti-social. Just my opinion.
--Jay Jay
I think it really depends on what you mean by that. I have friends, and I like to go and watch movies with them and such, but I have severe social anxiety and my friends are very few. Does that make me social, or not social?
Also, I have to say I don't understand the label of 'anti-social personality disorder', because it seems to me that sociopaths are not anti-social in nature, but are 'uncaring' and lack empathy. Most sociopaths I know have many friends and an active social life. I dunno, maybe I'm just interpreting the label wrong or something...?
A lot of words are loaded but that doesn't mean that we don't understand the terminology, hell to a lot of people the word "transsexual" is loaded with misconceptions/fear/disgust but that doesn't make them true.
I agree that anti-social personality disorder doesn't really seem to fit in some cases....but then in some it does *shrug* I was diagnosed with Unstable Personality Disorder/Borderline personality disorder when I was forced to see a shrink during my battle with social services but it's a load of crap. I had to make up answers to her questions about how I felt about this that and the other because I felt like telling her I didn't really feel anything wasn't what she wanted to hear. Some of the traits of this disorder describe me but certainly not all of them. I think I got that diagnosis because of the following traits of the disorder:
1: disturbances in and uncertainty about self-image, aims, and internal preferences;
Yeah I'm trans, so no surprise that she thought I had "uncertainty" and "disturbances" in my self image.
2: recurrent threats or acts of self-harm;
I was a self harmer
3: demonstrates impulsive behavior, e.g., speeding, substance abuse
I smoke weed, to a lot of people that's like "omg drug addict" behaviour
Going back to what Jay-Jay said about the autism spectrum, for a long time I wondered if I had a form of Autism because of my inability to make proper social connections, but then I realised that it's not that I don't understand other peoples emotions, it's just that I don't care about them. I've found I'm actually very insightful when it comes to the subtle social cues and undertones people give out.
I used to wonder if other people were faking their emotions, like the world is just one big theatrical production where everyone is BSing each other to conform to social norms. As I got older I realised most people actually aren't, they really do care about all those little things and it's actually very easy to tell the difference if you pay close enough attention.
Quote from: Jeatyn on September 02, 2012, 04:22:45 AM
Going back to what Jay-Jay said about the autism spectrum, for a long time I wondered if I had a form of Autism because of my inability to make proper social connections, but then I realised that it's not that I don't understand other peoples emotions, it's just that I don't care about them. I've found I'm actually very insightful when it comes to the subtle social cues and undertones people give out.
I can relate strongly with this.
According to my lovely therapist the 'high-functioning' part of my diagnosis comes from my reactions and social manipulation. For example, I'll see on the news that a car crash has killed three people, and will think 'so what?', but even as I'm thinking that my mouth is saying 'Oh that's awful!'.
Are you a psychopath or a sociopath?
Psychopaths are born that way, and extremely rare (less than 1 in 1,000 people). They'd completely lack anything resembling empathy and remorse no matter what. Sociopaths are born with the POTENTIAL to become sociopaths, but whether they ACTUALLY become sociopaths depend on nuture. 1% to 5% of people are born with the potential to become sociopaths.
I am not a psychopath. I definitely feel remorse and can have empathy when it comes to certain things. :)
Quote from: Bane on September 02, 2012, 05:14:54 AM
I can relate strongly with this.
According to my lovely therapist the 'high-functioning' part of my diagnosis comes from my reactions and social manipulation. For example, I'll see on the news that a car crash has killed three people, and will think 'so what?', but even as I'm thinking that my mouth is saying 'Oh that's aweful!'.
I do the same thing. When my mum died a few years ago everyone around me was falling on to the floor in floods of tears at the news and I was like eeerrm....not sure how to react....I just sorta said "oh ok" and carried on playing WoW ....Everyone was like "oh you're in shock it'll hit you eventually" ... it never did. Now when I get obligatory phone calls once a year on the anniversarys of her death from distant relatives wanting to see how I'm coping I have to make stuff up so I don't get crap for being a heartless monster.
None of you are sociopaths. Sociopaths have personal and selfish goals and will do anything to fulfill them with no regard for anyone else.
I can understand having little feeling for the tragedies of strangers. That's pretty normal. How can you have deep feelings about people you've never met? I kind of think it's weird when strangers are bawling when they hear of a tragedy about people they don't know. I kind of suspect they're faking to show how compassionate they are.
Quote from: sonopoly on September 02, 2012, 07:20:37 AM
None of you are sociopaths. Sociopaths have personal and selfish goals and will do anything to fulfill them with no regard for anyone else.
That is a terrible and untrue generalisation. If anything sociopaths are more likely to lack commitment and drive.
Where are you getting your information from, and how qualified are you to dismiss a professional diagnosis?
Quote from: Bane on September 02, 2012, 06:29:19 AM
I am not a psychopath. I definitely feel remorse and can have empathy when it comes to certain things. :)
Wait, are you sure you're one of the two at all, or just a person with really s**t empathy and remorse? Both psychopaths and sociopaths completely lack both of them. I mean, the things in my mind that try to pass for empathy and (to a much lesser degree) remorse are terrible at it, but they're THERE, which prevents me from being a psycho/sociopath (and can be explained away by the autism anyway).
Quote from: Stealthy on September 02, 2012, 01:26:18 PM
Wait, are you sure you're one of the two at all
How about what a
professional thinks? Lately its like cool or something to be messed in the head, its like the new bisexual or something, "oh yeah! im a sociopath!" its nothing to be proud of, its just a fact of life.
NOTE: theres nothing wrong with being bi, or a sociopath - i merely refer to the BARsexuals, and the skanks that think its like "oh my gawd so cool" to pretend to be bi because it gets their boyfriends hard, or whatever, i'm not sure what i'm trying to say here, but its kinda like the Aspergers thing - once people started hearing about it more, suddenly EVERYONE claimed to have it, like "oh you poor thing"
Quote from: Geek on September 02, 2012, 01:36:57 PM
How about what a professional thinks?
Quote from: Bane on September 02, 2012, 12:24:07 AM
And I have been professionally diagnosed, but only with one therapist
Quote from: sonopoly on September 02, 2012, 07:20:37 AM
Sociopaths have personal and selfish goals and will do anything to fulfill them with no regard for anyone else.
I'm not a sociopath and that describes me.
Check out this book: THE PSYCHOPATH TEST by Jon Ronson
http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychopath-Test-Journey-Industry/dp/1594488010 (http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychopath-Test-Journey-Industry/dp/1594488010)
Also Here's a vid:
THE PSYCHOPATH TEST by Jon Ronson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6aCir5bu-c#)
My brother and mother were both textbook clinical psychopaths.
If anyone feels like they're a sociopath, and that's neet, they really ought to get involved with a real one.
Urban myth morphed into self diagnosis is just another bizarre side effect of people's intense desire for attention.
In current social media times, adopting a false psychological diagnostic label is an easy way out.
Often this is nothing more than a mild narcissistic trait (not even at a clinically diagnostic level) which is a very common side effect of living in an attention economy with an empty bank account.
Of course, because of that it also frequently occurs that someone who does have a genuine diagnosis given by a mental health professional is mistaken for one of the people who fake it. There are a lot of amateurs out there who think they know the diagnosis (or lack thereof) of a random stranger better than someone who is actually qualified to give a diagnosis. If that wasn't dumb enough, there are also plenty of people who think they know a stranger better than that person knows themselves.
I agree it would be nice if there weren't anyone dumb enough to think that a diagnosis is an easy way out, but sadly, there is a lot of ignorance out there.
So why are you saying things like "thanks for the reply!" and "sorry" after openly admitting to not meaning them? Someone with APD (and that is the formal diagnosis, since you claim to have been formally diagnosed) wouldn't feel genuinely grateful or apologetic if they fit the diagnostic criteria.
Quote from: Bane on September 02, 2012, 02:28:37 AM
Also, I have to say I don't understand the label of 'anti-social personality disorder', because it seems to me that sociopaths are not anti-social in nature, but are 'uncaring' and lack empathy. Most sociopaths I know have many friends and an active social life. I dunno, maybe I'm just interpreting the label wrong or something...?
The clinical term "antisocial" doesn't mean "unsociable", it means "anti-society" (disregard for social norms/rules/obligations). It has nothing to do with how outgoing you are.
Quote from: sonopoly on September 02, 2012, 07:20:37 AM
None of you are sociopaths. Sociopaths have personal and selfish goals and will do anything to fulfill them with no regard for anyone else.
I can understand having little feeling for the tragedies of strangers. That's pretty normal. How can you have deep feelings about people you've never met? I kind of think it's weird when strangers are bawling when they hear of a tragedy about people they don't know. I kind of suspect they're faking to show how compassionate they are.
Yes. I also feel unaffected or ambivalent to the suffering of others - if I hear about a 'tragedy' my first thought is "cool!" or "interesting!" as long as it doesn't affect myself or someone prominent in my life - but this doesn't make me a sociopath. It's because of my cognitive functions being Ti and Se which are more concerned with taking in and analzying information impersonally than they are with empathizing; it's my personality type.
From what OP is describing it seems like he might be conflating a more impersonal personality type with being a high-functioning sociopath, since he hasn't described any behaviour/cognition that is exclusive to sociopathy. It's possible to not give a f-ck about morality, emotions and other people yet still be a neurotypical person.
But I can't arrive at any conclusion with such a limited amount of information so I need to request more. What differentiates you from someone like me who just has an impersonal approach to life?
I don't know why anyone would want to fake this; so far people realising I am this way has just resulted in over-reactions and my being labelled a 'psycho', when I am very far from that extreme case. I don't understand, what purpose is served in claiming the illegitimate title of an emotionless 'monster'?
I don't really see how my diagnosis is on the table for discussion, when it was given to me by a professional with so many letters after her name that I couldn't even be bothered to remember them all. But you guys have at it; it's very amusing to see how many people think some quick googling makes them an expert on the matter, when even experts cannot fully agree on what a sociopath is.
Quote from: Poptart on September 02, 2012, 03:35:58 PM
So why are you saying things like "thanks for the reply!" and "sorry" after openly admitting to not meaning them? Someone with APD (and that is the formal diagnosis, since you claim to have been formally diagnosed) wouldn't feel genuinely grateful or apologetic if they fit the diagnostic criteria.
Haven't I been over this already? I respond as I've learnt to, so that empaths will continue to interact with me. Call it social manipulation or mimicry if that helps you to understand. If I don't say thank you and sorry, who will want to respond and have a conversation with me?
On furtherance of this, has anyone considered that I'm picking more neurotypical examples to explain myself because I do not wish to be labelled a monster on this forum? I get help and support from this site, and while I would like to have an honest discussion about this within the community, I have no desire to segregate myself, or to destroy any connections that I may have made. APD =/= socially inept.
I was hoping people would take me at face value, and discuss the actual topic, rather than what I may or may not be, but it's no wonder I have never seen a topic like this before; with all of the fluff and impotent, misdirected anger any real answers are bound to get left in the dust.
This topic has obviously helped some though, as I have received private messages to that effect, so I will stop cluttering it with my replies now. Let's leave what I may or may not be alone, and if it helps you all to feel better, carry on the discussion with the assumption that I am not a sociopath.
I don't think you're intentionally faking it. I think you
could be accidentally mistaking yourself for one since you haven't described cognition/behaviour that is outside the realm of neurotypical people. That is why I asked what differentiates you from us, if anything. Can you answer without using an appeal to authority ('my therapist said so')? And don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to start sh-t with you, I'm just a naturally skeptical person and I need more information before believing what I read on the Internet.
Quote from: Bane on September 02, 2012, 03:47:19 PM
Haven't I been over this already? I respond as I've learnt to, so that empaths will continue to interact with me. Call it social manipulation or mimicry if that helps you to understand. If I don't say thank you and sorry, who will want to respond and have a conversation with me?
But it's pointless in a conversation that's very premise is the fact you don't mean these things. It's only useful when you're actually trying to deceive someone into thinking you're sorry/thankful, but when you begin a post with "I'm a sociopath" you've given up that possibility.
I said I would stop replying, but you seem to want a decisive answer, so I'll try to be quick.
I have taken this list from 'Profile of a Sociopath', to provide a 'checklist' of qualities that are widely agreed upon to be sociopathic.
Glibness and Superficial Charm - Yes
Manipulative and Conning - Yes
Grandiose Sense of Self - To some extent, but I think that there can be a lot of crossover between sociopath and narcissist, and I am not the latter.
Pathological Lying - Very yes
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt - Mostly yes. I do not feel shame or guilt, but I can feel remorse. Whether this is true remorse, or just anger at myself for failing I do not know.
Shallow Emotions - Yes
Incapacity for Love - To some extent. I have a strong selfish 'love' for a few people and things.
Need for Stimulation - Yes
Callousness/Lack of Empathy - Very yes.
Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature - Yes.
Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency - Yes.
Irresponsibility/Unreliability - Very yes.
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity - Yes.
Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle - Yes, though I believe my life plans are realistic, but far-fetched. But then, I suppose I would...
Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility - Yes. It is very easy for me to change the way I act and appear to further my desires, but I am not a criminal.
And about the 'sorry' and 'thank you's, social mimicry for me is a learned, instinctive response; I just do it. Sure, I could stop it all and come across as completely emotionless and cold, but why would I? Especially when that would take consciouse effort I frankly couldn't be bothered with?
Anyone interested in this should take a look at www.sociopathworld.com (http://www.sociopathworld.com) It is written by a high-functioning sociopath, and he explains things about us a lot more clearly than a quick googles search will. Googling 'sociopath' will readily bring up a bunch of definitions that pick out who ABSOLUTELY IS A SOCIOPATH!, with a whole bunch of qualities that any one sociopath may or may not have. You don't have to exhibit 100% of the symptoms to have a condition, and people would be well advised to remember that.
http://www.sociopathworld.com/2009/01/do-sociopaths-love.html (http://www.sociopathworld.com/2009/01/do-sociopaths-love.html) - On sociopaths and a commonly mentioned 'inability to love' that is misleading and often untrue.
Bane,
Psychology is a fuzzy science. Experts battle against each other. I cannot diagnose you, but if you are a sociopath, you have my most sincere condolences, beacause I can only imagine few worse hands to be drawn - a miilion times worse than being transgendered. Again, my condolences to you. I wish you the best.
Thank you sonopoly, though your condolences are not needed. :) As I stated in my original post, I think perhaps this has been a good thing in certain ways. I also don't feel at a loss for having less emotional depth than others, but perhaps I am missing out on some richer world; never having experienced it I do not know.
Alright, that list makes it more plausible if accurate. Thank you for clarifying.
BTW why are you assuming we're doing 'quick Google searches'? I've done extensive research on APD over the past few years, not limited to Google. Abnormal psychology is fascinating.
I was more mentioning the google searches for those who want to become informed on the matter, or who might have looked into it briefly via Google and gotten the wrong idea. I did not mean to imply that I had made a blanket assumption that all comments were founded on quick Google research. :P
Quote from: Bane on September 02, 2012, 05:24:51 PM
I was more mentioning the google searches for those who want to become informed on the matter, or who might have looked into it briefly via Google and gotten the wrong idea. I did not mean to imply that I had made a blanket assumption that all comments were founded on quick Google research. :P
Bane, if you don't mind I have a hypothetical question for you. If you saw an elderly person fall down and you were the only person around, would you go and help them with the expectation/hope of some type of reward, with no expectation or continue on your way not caring whether or not they were able to stand back up?
Quote from: Ep on September 02, 2012, 05:38:11 PM
Bane, if you don't mind I have a hypothetical question for you. If you saw an elderly person fall down and you were the only person around, would you go and help them with the expectation/hope of some type of reward, with no expectation or continue on your way not caring whether or not they were able to stand back up?
Hmmm, I would probably help with some kind of expectation of reward, or with no expectation. However I would not help because I cared or because I was worried, but because I knew it was something I
should care about, and must endeavor to portray.
When I was younger I once walked past an elderly woman with a walker, who had fallen down a couple of stairs while there were other people around. That memory has stuck with me for a very long time, and I did not understand at the time why I cared so little. I was with a friend at the time, and the look of horror on her face stuck with me. It's interractions like that which led me to develop a stronger sense of social awareness, and to change my responses to conform more closely with what is expected of neurotypical people.
Quote from: Bane on September 02, 2012, 05:51:14 PM
Hmmm, I would probably help with some kind of expectation of reward, or with no expectation. However I would not help because I cared or because I was worried, but because I knew it was something I should care about, and must endeavor to portray.
I can't see a sociopath as having enough of a moral code to go ahead and help someone other than for a large personal gain.
I would see another professional and see if they diagnose you the same way before you go about being "proud" of essentially having what is a both "antisocial, unfeeling, and manipulative" personality.
i read a book about sociopaths and psychopaths once. they had a list of all the criteria to be one. and then afterwards it said something like, if you're reading the list and worried you are a psychopath then you most likely arent one because a psychopath wouldnt worry about such things.\
also i use psychopath and sociopath interchangably because i read in a book that the difference is just between the fields of psychology and sociology i think
Where did I say I was proud of being one? I do not feel pride about this. I don't really feel any particular way about it.
And perhaps I will get another opinion on it. To be honest I don't really care enough to be bothered.
I thought the same thing Jason did. Even if you don't feel proud about this "disorder" or "affliction" it seems as if you are. I guess you'd get more sympathy if you said, "OMG, my doctor just diagnosed me as a sociopath, is there anything I can do? Help!!!"
Sorry, something about your posts here just don't ring true to me. If you wanted to shock people and get attention - well you achieved one of these goals.
Maybe you have Aspberger's or mild autism. Both those have characteristics which include a lack of depth of feeling and empathy. As many here have found, many psychology professionals have been found to be quite incompetent.
Quote from: sonopoly on September 02, 2012, 11:07:30 PM
I thought the same thing Jason did. Even if you don't feel proud about this "disorder" or "affliction" it seems as if you are. I guess you'd get more sympathy if you said, "OMG, my doctor just diagnosed me as a sociopath, is there anything I can do? Help!!!"
Sorry, something about your posts here just don't ring true to me. If you wanted to shock people and get attention - well you achieved one of these goals.
Well it fits. I don't think a sociopath would say "OMG I'm a sociopath". It figures re: getting attention and shocking people. I'm not too shocked, more surprised that someone would admit to it than anything.
--Jay Jay
Especially if they are a sociopath - as I said before just doesn't ring true...
I didn't ask for help because I don't need it, I was looking for shared experiences.
And I responded the way I did because I don't like being judged and discredited by people who know nothing about me or the things that I've been through. I'm sorry if that offended some or all of you, it wasn't my intention.
Quote from: aleon515 on September 02, 2012, 11:34:33 PM
I'm not too shocked, more surprised that someone would admit to it than anything.
Now I know why more don't.
Openly admitting to a psychological condition is usually not the best thing. Most people who are not educated in such matters will not be able to provide help as they do not understand the conditions and it's intricacies. I am guessing there are many more people on this site that have shared the experiences you mentioned in the original post, they just do not wish to comment on it for whatever reason.
Hey I'm Derrick and my dad is a psycologist so I showed him this thread and he wrote a long reply. I'll post it now then. ;D
---
Hello Bane. I work within the field of psychology and I'm afraid you have either dealt with a highly incapable therapist that has never even read the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (The DSM) or you are lying. Most likely you are lying and think you have Antisocial Personality Disorder (I don't know precisely why, maybe because you think it is 'cool' or 'manly') and you would like to find other transsexuals that possibly have it as well. You say that you have been diagnosed to add credibility to your statement.
To prove to everyone that you are infact a 'sociopath' you use the criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) and tick off yes or no. That's not how a person is diagnosed, it's not that simple. To actually meet even just one of those criteria you have to answer 10+ question to see whether you truly meet that criterion or not. You do not just answer yes or no.
Also, let's go through the must to obtain a diagnosis.
You must
...be an adult (18+).
...have a history of Conduct Disorder (since the age of 15).
...have had previous history of behavioural problems (prior to 15).
I would like to mention if your problems are caused by more specific medical or mental health problems that affect your behaviour, such as drugs, alcohol, anxiety, depression, etc, then a personality disorder is not correct diagnosis. You will have to check this yourself because I do not know whether you have had, or have, such problems.
Also, one thing that leads me to believe you have self-diagnosed is because you would never be diagnosed with 'high-functioning sociopathy' because there is no such thing. In fact, you would never be diagnosed with sociopathy today, you would be diagnosed with APD, but you would also never be diagnosed with 'high-functioning Antisocial Personality Disorder'. But if you have been diagnosed by a professional, I want you think about the fact that just because someone is a professional doesn't mean they don't make mistakes. It is possible for professionals to give the wrong diagnosis. It's not as if they have unlimited access to your thoughts and feelings, they'll have to go by what you tell them. They can also be wrong.
I would like to finish this with telling you, I am not writing this to upset you or to argue with you, Bane, I am only worried for others who will talk to the same therapist you did and get some outrageous diagnosis. It's not very good if there's a therapist roaming around telling people they are 'high-functioning sociopaths'. And in worst case scenario you are lying and I've only educated a few people about diagnosing someone with a personality disorder. Though there is a lot more to it, to diagnose someone with a PD, and nobody should self-diagnose. You may believe you know yourself best but it can be hard seeing yourself objectively. You may end up seeing yourself the way you want to be rather than the way you actually are. Please, if you believe you have APD talk to a professional, and Bane, if you actually have been diagnosed by a therapist get a second opinion from another professional. I'm sure they will be just shocked as I am (that you were diagnosed with 'high-functioning sociopathy').
I've suspected I'm a sociopath for a long time. I don't feel empathy, don't know right from wrong but I know what society deems is right and follow that and I can change my personality and look to whatever I need it to be. I can change it instantly if the situation calls for it. I have an evil streak though that I'm not going to get into and if a situation calls for it, like if someone is saying insulting stuff to me and I'm off my meds then I insult back and they end up crying and I feel satisfied by that. I'm not violent though unless someone attacks me and then I go off the deep end, And I'm able to get through a dangerous situation with ease because I can change to whatever I need to be and I can hide myself and blend in remarkably. I can always say what a person wants to hear on any topic and If I lie to someone then the truth never comes out because every time I'm with a person I remember every lie I've ever told them. I've got out of all the violent situations I could have been in by doing this. I also seem to lack the ability to feel real love. I have feelings for people but my feelings toward them go by public appearance, or if I have a goal and they can help me achieve it then I have positive feelings. I'm quite selfish actually. I feel indifferent to everyone and don't want them around me unless they have something I want or need or if they can be any help to me then I shift into whatever look or personality I need to have in order to befriend them. And I know all this somehow. I subconsciously change into it without trying and then when I get what I need my feelings go away and I shift back to my most constant personality which is very dull and blank. Like right now I know that sounds horrible because I've learned people don't like people like that and my personality is already to shift into one that that acts like I regret what I've said and that I'm trying to sugar coat it but I can stop that from happening if I tell myself not to.
Quote from: darknavy on September 05, 2012, 08:33:28 AM
Hey I'm Derrick and my dad is a psycologist so I showed him this thread and he wrote a long reply. I'll post it now then. ;D
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I'd like to thank you for your father's post.
It encapsulates why I'm skeptical of Bane's post as well as the professional that he is seeing.
I'd like to add that even if he did get his diagnosis from a professional, even despite his diagnosis being more than slightly archaic, it wouldn't necessarily mean he is seeing a fully competent one and/or add any true ethos to his claims unless he had already consulted several professionals.