# Am I sociopathic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2002, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-sociopathic/118901 "2002-07-14T07:54:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-sociopathic/118901/21 "2002-07-15T19:42:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squish \* > \*\*In many cases, I _do_ empathize with complete strangers, across the world and across the years. In many cases, I do not. So I guess that just makes me “weirdly socialized”? > \*\* Actually, it means you’re doing pretty well 🙂 I believe ethics – our sense of compassion, the greater good, and the needs of others – is what makes us human. My early experience (the first time) with a sociopathic personality has left me with the sense that being good is part of a good life. The three people I’ve mentioned were never happy. They were so focused on their own survival, and so perpetually afraid, they never seemed to have a moment of peace. A great book to read about this is Steinbeck’s _East of Eden_ – it’s about socipathes and the healthy people in their lives. Don’t watch the movie, though. It’s awful. FTR, I laugh at horror movies, too. But it’s one thing to laugh at an obviously-faked decapitation, and another to laugh at actual human suffering. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-sociopathic/118901/22 "2002-07-16T02:51:47Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Squish \* > \*\* > :rolleyes: C’mon, now, I didn’t say I_ wanted to hurt anyone! \*\* Actually, I think I’m just terrified of crosswalks in general. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-sociopathic/118901.md?page=1)