Therapist Clueless About Sociopaths

[Dana1010]

I just refuse to call these people antisocial. The connotation is 180 degrees off. They are social acrobats.

 

[joeylittle]

Anti-social is archaic, I think

That's fine. It's also the medically recognized term currently, as @Pencil says.

It is called "antisocial" because they antagonize the social order - meaning manipulate, prevaricate, and otherwise behave in a "non-social" or dysfunctional manner. Anti-social doesn't actually mean "likes to avoid crowds"

 

[Dana1010]

Anti-social doesn't actually mean "likes to avoid crowds"

I know it doesn't, but that's the only way it's ever used by people in real life, and there's far too much confusion around the disorder already.

 

[Pencil]

but I wonder if these people are really sociopaths, and not just screwballs who like to fancy themselves dangerous

I have no doubt that many of them are simply screwballs. You'll get that everywhere. On this forum as well. The problem with sociopaths and psychopaths is that the majority would reject any diagnosis.

 

[Dana1010]

@Pencil, Personally, I've found the quality to be pretty high on this site, but maybe I haven't been around long enough.

I haven't found any good forums specifically for victims of psychopaths. There's one called aftermath-surviving-psychopathy, but I'm not impressed with it - the forums seem pretty dead. I'm starting to really see an untapped market for psychopath-victim resources online and off.

 

[Pencil]

Yes, the overall quality of this forum is impressive, but every now and then I see a new member who is, to my mind, simply a screwball playing a game. They don't last long.

 

[shimmerz]

would reject any diagnosis

No, you are correct, they don't want a diagnosis. It defies the pattern of a sociopath. There is no way that they would allow some 'loser' (I use their terms) psychiatrist would be allowed to label them. They don't follow rules. Psychiatry is all about rules. But they were very happy to crow that they were anti-socialPD.

It also doesn't serve them to have a light shone on them. What I have seen on the various boards (and you are correct, there are some users that don't fit the pattern and the real ones scorn them for that), is like being with like. Bragging about things they have done, comparing notes. It is heinous.

I wondered to myself 'what could I possibly post there'. I just can't get my head around it. My way of thinking just does not fit. Those on the board are looking for ego stroking, to mock others (and the others mock right back without a beat), post threads that are lies that others pick up on with ease, and speak about how 'stupid' the 'losers' are etc. It is a whole different world out there and whether the forums filled with 'real sociopaths' or not, you can't fake that kind of thinking and acting.

A for instance. A posting on 'how to gain trust' and then various stories on how various users on this forum gained the trust of others (and there are as many ways as there are people on the forum), and then chitter chatter about how fun it is to either 'watch the startled faces of their victims when they realize they have been had', or how empowering it is to just discard and not worry about how the 'losers' have been left in pieces and others on how much fun it is to watch their 'loser' scramble around over and over again.

So yes, it is true, there are many types of sociopaths out there. of course. Their delivery may be diffuse in nature - but the bottom line is they get a thrill out of the feeling they get in knowing they have destroyed others.

@anthony , no, of course the board is not moderated in any large way. They don't do 'rules' so of course each of them knows that. Anyone who doesn't belong they scorn into leaving (if they aren't truly one of them) and it works. Those that are truly of that nature simply takes the scorn and throws it back at everyone. It is a self regulating board because those who are not truly one of them simply wouldn't be able to take the humiliation.

It's a completely different universe.

 

[greenleaf]

Victims of smart psychopaths would likely avoid a forum where their abuser could pretty easily find them and torture them further; the latter seems highly likely to occur in lots of situation.

 

[shimmerz]

However, the opposite does occur. Smart psychopaths love to log onto forums like this one and others to 'understand' their spouse or victim better. I co-admined an attachment and trauma forum for some time and spouses of our users would log on stating that they 'just wanted to help their spouse' when in fact they were arming up against their spouse. One thinks differently when they refuse to lose or let go.

 

[Dana1010]

A for instance. A posting on 'how to gain trust' and then various stories on how various users on this forum gained the trust of others (and there are as many ways as there are people on the forum), and then chitter chatter about how fun it is to either 'watch the startled faces of their victims when they realize they have been had', or how empowering it is to just discard and not worry about how the 'losers' have been left in pieces and others on how much fun it is to watch their 'loser' scramble around over and over again.

@shimmerz, would you mind PMing me the actual websites where you've seen stuff like this? I understand if you're uncomfortable posting them on the thread.

 

[Ed Norton]

I found two such sites. But I am still curious if they are the same ones found by @shimmerz

 

[Pencil]

Group PM :)