# Let's play "Spot the Sociopath" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892 "2012-05-04T17:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/21 "2012-05-04T17:58:54Z")
Curse you all. My clever plot exposed! I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids! ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/22 "2012-05-04T18:21:53Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Of course, only republicans can be psycho/sociopaths. Isnt it obvious? With all of the poor-hating, immigrant fearmongering, and liberal loathing they do on a regular basis, way above and beyond reasonable levels to ridiculous cartoonish baiting, there’s little chance that a guy like Obama is a sociopath, especially compared to the GOP field of loonies, whackjobs, and liars ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/23 "2012-05-04T18:23:41Z")
I think it’s the relatively rare sociopath who is organized enough to have that sort of long-term success. Sociopathy is associated with an inability to grasp long-term consequences and general laziness. Most of the sociopaths I know have have sought classic parasitic lifestyles, usually using a mix of charm and lies to convince women to support them while they screwed around, pursued addictions, and figured out ways to scam just enough money to obtain whatever caught their eye that day. It must be a relatively small subset that finds the demands of celebrity worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/24 "2012-05-04T18:24:55Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Isnt it obvious? With all of the poor-hating, immigrant fearmongering, and liberal loathing they do on a regular basis, way above and beyond reasonable levels to ridiculous cartoonish baiting, there’s little chance that a guy like Obama is a sociopath, especially compared to the GOP field of loonies, whackjobs, and liars Funny, because I was thinking a bit ago that there’s no reason one couldn’t say that this might apply to Obama: > [@Sacrilegium](#): > > …It’s more an unspecified vibe I get from him. He seems to say whatever is convenient at the time. He comes off like a person emulating human emotions and affectations, but not quite getting them right at times. He’s said several things which struck me as being callous in a way where he didn’t realize he was being callous. I get the feeling that what goes on in his head is vastly different from what he projects to other people. > > I’m not saying he _definitely_ is. I’m just saying he strikes me that way. Might be one, might not. There are definitely alternate explanations possible for everything I’ve seen… ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/25 "2012-05-04T18:38:51Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Funny, because I was thinking a bit ago that there’s no reason one couldn’t say that this might apply to Obama: You can say whatever you want of him, but factually, much of the accusations about Obama are false. Please don’t pretend there is some equivalency here. The reason why many GOPers come off as sociopathic is because of them doing or saying sociopathic things. Pointing to a Dem and yelling “I can call him names too!” doesn’t make the accusation valid, though you’re free to make that. Just don’t expect anyone not already drinking the Kool-Aid to agree with you ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/26 "2012-05-04T18:42:48Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > You can say whatever you want of him, but factually, much of the accusations about Obama are false. Please don’t pretend there is some equivalency here. The reason why many GOPers come off as sociopathic is because of them doing or saying sociopathic things. Pointing to a Dem and yelling “I can call him names too!” doesn’t make the accusation valid, though you’re free to make that. Just don’t expect anyone not already drinking the Kool-Aid to agree with you I’m not making a falsifiable accusation; I’m saying that the description **Sacrilegium** posted of his impression Romney isn’t far from what could be described as my feelings towards Obama. To be fair, I think that could apply to my feelings about very many politicians. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/27 "2012-05-04T19:09:03Z")
I guess it’s not \*totally \*crazy to say Gingrich, though it’s still really unlikely, and we don’t have enough info to make any kind of judgment, and in any event he strikes me as more of a narcissist. Don’t get why anyone would say Romney. Being stiff and awkward in front of the press ≠ sociopath, and [his behavior as a leader in the Mormon church](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/politics/for-romney-a-role-of-faith-and-authority.html?pagewanted=1) is anything but sociopathic. If anything, he seems like an involved and considerate person on a personal level. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/28 "2012-05-04T19:22:35Z")
> [@Sacrilegium](#): > > I’m not saying he _definitely_ is. I’m just saying he strikes me that way. You’ve reduced the definition of sociopath to “I get a strange vibe from him”. This should be in IMHO if that’s what you are looking for. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/29 "2012-05-04T19:43:56Z")
Donald Trump, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/30 "2012-05-04T19:50:14Z")
\ is a sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/31 "2012-05-04T19:57:34Z")
From what I read in his obits **Steve Jobs** seems to fit the bill. And in literary mode, **Lorelei Lee** of _Gentlemen Prefer Blondes_. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/32 "2012-05-04T20:02:34Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Isnt it obvious? With all of the poor-hating, immigrant fearmongering, and liberal loathing they do on a regular basis, way above and beyond reasonable levels to ridiculous cartoonish baiting, there’s little chance that a guy like Obama is a sociopath, especially compared to the GOP field of loonies, whackjobs, and liars I had a landlord in the 1980s who I diagnosed as a psychopath\* because he raised the damage deposits of every one in the building and then kept the deposits when he sold the place. In 2008 he ran as a member of the Green Party of Canada in the federal election. The Green party kicked him out before the election because of anti-Semitic comments he’d made in an internet forum. I’m not saying that psychopathy or sociopathy is as common on the left as it is on the right but it certainly is not impossible. \*If anyone asks what qualifies me to make that diagnosis, I’ll kick their nuts into their tonsils. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/33 "2012-05-04T20:05:40Z")
> [@Sacrilegium](#): > > Additionally, a quick Google search returns over 1.5 million hits for _Dick Cheney sociopath_. [Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=dick+cheney+sociopath) And over two million hits for “nancy pelosi sociopath.” Goshers, she must be even more sociopathic than Cheney, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/34 "2012-05-04T20:08:41Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And over two million hits for “nancy pelosi sociopath.” > > Goshers, she must be even more sociopathic than Cheney, huh? Could be… ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/35 "2012-05-04T20:10:48Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And over two million hits for “nancy pelosi sociopath.” > > Goshers, she must be even more sociopathic than Cheney, huh? Or she’s just listed in the same links as Gingrich and Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/36 "2012-05-04T20:13:57Z")
I think there are several confounding variables: 1. Extremely successful/wealthy people tend to forget what it was like to be poor/young/etc… They have much more trouble empathizing with the downtrodden because they simply can’t remember. 2. People who grow up rich, like Romney, never knew what it was like to be poor or have bad luck in life. They have even MORE trouble empathizing with the downtrodden. 3. People who are very successful for many years can start to assume that their success is all about skill and hard work, and has nothing to do with luck. This leads them to start assuming that people who AREN’T successful are 100% at fault. 4. The kind of ambition that lets you become a president/CEO just doesn’t leave a lot of time or room for self-reflection or self-flagellation. Broadly put, it’s hard to be Buddha AND Bill Gates in the same lifetime. True sociopaths can actually be fairly successful in the world. John Wayne Gacy, Dennis Rader, and Andrei Chikatilo come to mind. Yes, most serial killers are so obviously weird that noone wants to marry them, give them good jobs, be friends with them, etc., but that’s not always true. The thing that takes these guys down is their habit of killing, not the fact, specifically, that they are sociopaths. It stands to reason that sociopaths who _aren’t_ natural serial killers could, in some cases, rise quite high in society. Since they aren’t spending time and energy on planning murders, hiding the bodies, fantasizing about murder, etc., they have time for other things, like their careers. However, I doubt Romney or even Cheney are actually sociopaths. Romney seems like a typical CEO type, with a side of Good Mormon Boy, and a heavy dash of Born-Rich. Not a bad guy, at heart, but not, by upbringing, able to really empathize with minorities or the poor. Cheney just seems greedy, ambitious, and perhaps a little fanatical. I imagine he has a conscience, and would feel bad if he hurt someone that he loved, like his daughter, but I imagine the group of people he would feel bad about hurting is _very_ small. Not really a sociopath, though, just lucky and very, very serious about money. He also seems to be in love with the NeoCon agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/37 "2012-05-04T20:39:13Z")
You make good points, **al27052**. A lot of that covers why I’m reluctant to officially brand anyone a sociopath. I find the subject fascinating, though. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/38 "2012-05-04T20:56:16Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Now a sociopath, as I understand it, is far less likely to show up in any of these places. Socipaths are less organzied in their thought processes, and less likely to achieve any long-term goals. Or have the definitions changed again? LOL! I think you’ve confused “sociopath” with “schizophrenic.” ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/39 "2012-05-04T21:00:11Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I’m not making a falsifiable accusation; I’m saying that the description **Sacrilegium** posted of his impression Romney isn’t far from what could be described as my feelings towards Obama. To be fair, I think that could apply to my feelings about very many politicians. And you’d be wrong. But you’re free to have those feelings. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892/40 "2012-05-04T21:21:55Z")
It seems to me, the more hate someone has for someone else, the more they are likely to deem them a [Sociopath American Heritage.](http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/?s=Sociopath) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-play-spot-the-sociopath/620892.md?page=3)