Unpopular opinions you hold which don't fit in current scientific thought. -

[Wildchild]

What are some examples of opinions that you hold that go against scientific thought, and why do you believe that?

A common example would be the belief that vaccines cause autism, or the latest health craze (Glutton causes you to explode.)

One belief I hold is that current thought is wrong about the fact that people with Antisocial Personality Disorder lack empathy as we know according to the definition of empathy. I would have to say that I believe that you have to have a lot of empathy to be able to manipulate other people as well as they do, to understand their reactions, even in cases of sexual-sadists, then you would have to have some degree of empathy in order to get pleasure from the suffering of others. I would agree that their behavior is to accomplish a self-oriented goal, but not with that sociopaths lack empathy, based on the current definition of empathy.

I think that the view that sociopaths lack empathy has been brought about because it's difficult for functional individuals who don't have ASPD to rationalize their behavior, and the vile acts they commit.

For people who have been victims of people with extreme personality disorders, then I do have to say that it's comforting to believe that a large part of what they did was due to an inability to feel empathy, but the more I read about them, the more that the thought doesn't make sense. It seems like it's partly an effort to dehumanize people who commit behavior that's not socially acceptable. I'm not saying that sociopaths aren't dicks or assholes, just that the current perspective on their psychology is misunderstood. I am not trying to be an advocate for sociopaths, psychopaths, etc, just trying to say that there's a flaw with the diagnostic definition.

From Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes:

For sadistic serial killers, however, murder is an end in itself, making the
presence of empathy—even intensely heightened empathy—important in two
respects. First, their crimes require highly tuned powers of cognitive empathy
to capture their victims. Killers who do not understand their victims’ feelings
would be incapable of conning them effectively. For example, Theodore
Bundy understood all too well the sensibilities of female college students
who were taken in by his feigned helplessness. He trapped attractive young
women by appearing to be disabled and asking them for help. In Calaveras
County, California, serial killers Leonard Lake and Charles Ng gained entry
into the homes of their victims by answering classified ads in the local
newspaper, pretending that they wished only to purchase a camcorder or
furniture. Milwaukee’s cannibal killer Jeffrey Dahmer met his victims in a
bar and lured them to his apartment, where they expected to party, not to be
murdered.
Second, a well-honed sense of emotional empathy is critical for a sadistic
killer’s enjoyment of the suffering of his victims. For sadistic objectives to be
realized, a killer who tortures, sodomizes, rapes, and humiliates must be able to
both understand and experience his victim’s suffering. Otherwise, there would
be no enjoyment or sexual arousal. Thus, he feels his victim’s pain, but he
interprets it as his own pleasure. Indeed, the more empathic he is, the greater
his enjoyment of his victim’s suffering.

In the literature of psychology as well as criminology, lack of empathy—
along with a manipulative and calculating style, an absence of remorse, and
impulsiveness—is frequently regarded as a defining characteristic of the sociopathic
or antisocial personality disorder. Yet Heilbrun (12) came to quite a
different conclusion from his interviews of 168 male prisoners. He found two
kinds of sociopath—those who had poor impulse control, low IQ, and little
empathy (the Henry Lee Lucas type) and those who had better impulse control,
high IQ, sadistic objectives, and heightened empathy (the Theodore Bundy
type). In fact, the most empathic group of criminals in Heilbrun’s study was
comprised of intelligent sociopaths with a history of extreme violence, particularly
rape, a crime occasionally involving a sadistic component.

 

[DNJACK]

I suggest you speak with real sociopaths

 

[Sczylak Madgar]

I think that autistics are not people

Oh wait this is about opinions not facts nevermind

 

[exball]

You've never actually met a sociopath have you?

 

[Philosophy Zombie]

I believe that the attack on Paris was actually a siege by the moon people who have observed humans for years and still can't believe the French were such enormous cucks in WW2.

 

[Wildchild]

You've never actually met a sociopath have you?

I have.

If you meet a sociopath, you will find them charming, and you won't see anything abnormal until they divulge to you.
The one I had interactions with socially, I found him facinating when I found out that he had been dishonorably discharged from the Military and diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and my interest in him fueled his narcissism, which was why he was so open to me.

 

[Joan Nyan]

em·pa·thy
ˈempəTHē/
noun

1. the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

The key word here is "share". Just because someone can understand what you're feeling doesn't mean they have empathy unless they have the ability to feel the same thing you're feeling because you're feeling it.

Spoiler: unrelated autistic complaint

I hate phonetic things that look like "ˈempəTHē". IPA ɪzənt ðæt hɑrd tu lɜrn.

 

[Wildchild]

em·pa·thy
ˈempəTHē/
noun

1. the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

The key word here is "share". Just because someone can understand what you're feeling doesn't mean they have empathy unless they have the ability to feel the same thing you're feeling because you're feeling it.

Spoiler: unrelated autistic complaint

I hate phonetic things that look like "ˈempəTHē". IPA ɪzənt ðæt hɑrd tu lɜrn.

Has it ever been proven that people with antisocial personality disorder don't feel or share the feelings of empathy, they are able to tell how their reactions will cause other's to respond, and seem to be able to relate to people exceptionally well even if their motivites for relating are entirely self-service.

I would argue that on some level, it's possible that people with ASPD may not have a lack of empathy, but a detachment from the emotions of others, abuse and neglect is a large contribution to ASPD, so I do believe that a large portion of ASPD is learned socially.

 

[Derbydollar]

I have.

If you meet a sociopath, you will find them charming, and you won't see anything abnormal until they divulge to you.
The one I had interactions with socially, I found him facinating when I found out that he had been dishonorably discharged from the Military and diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and my interest in him fueled his narcissism, which was why he was so open to me.

Sociopaths and Psychopaths are known to have a very high level of charisma.
Now I know you may be a color in the rainbow, but don't be duped. When they act hurt, offended, sad, happy: It's just that- an act.
When they are using empathy, it's merely a tool to further themselves. You don't cross through the equation as a person at any point, just an object- a variable.

They are manipulative humans lacking humanity. Don't even be guiled into being jovial with them. If you've ever been to a zoo, they say not to feed the animals. That rule applies here.
/autistic rant over

Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder tend to be charismatic, attractive, and very good at obtaining sympathy from others, by describing themselves as the victim of injustice. While the intelligence of antisocials is widely distributed, they possess a superficial charm, and have an intuitive ability to rapidly observe and analyze others, determine their needs and preferences, and present it in a manner to facilitate manipulation and exploitation. They are able to harm and use other people in this manner, without remorse, guilt, shame or regret, It is widely stated that antisocials are without empathy, however this can be disputed, as sadistic antisocials will use empathy to experience their victims suffering, and derive a fuller pleasure from it (Turvey, 1995). This is depicted in the classic work A cask of Amontillado by Poe, as the main character entombs another man alive “...then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon the bones.” (Poe, 1846 ).

 

[DNJACK]

life is a play, and we all play an act all the time.

 

[WireSponge]

I'm beginning to doubt that all 72 of the girls I was given as a reward for a lifetime of terrorism are virgins.

 

[AnOminous]

Sociopaths and Psychopaths are known to have a very high level of charisma.
Now I know you may be a color in the rainbow, but don't be duped. When they act hurt, offended, sad, happy: It's just that- an act.

Sociopaths actually do get angry when they think they're wronged. But they don't empathize at all with anyone else, especially their victims.

 

[DNJACK]

how do you know they're not pretending to be angry?

 

[OldInternetMeme]

I suggest that you read Without Conscience by Robert Hare, @Wildchild.

As for the topic, I try my best not to believe things that go completely against what is scientifically understood.

 

[SpessCaptain]

How did I miss this thread?
This is Deep Thoughts. We have our own rules here.

I'm keeping this thread up because I find everything here a least worth a smile.