F.: In the postings for today and tomorrow, the series will expand its focus beyond narcissists to discuss persons who share traits and behaviors in common with narcissists, namely, those with an “Antisocial Personality Disorder” and those with the “Addictive Personality Disorder.” Today the discussion will focus on “the antisocial.”
To clarify past and present terms used to label the antisocial disorder, “Psychopathic Personality” was the diagnostic term used for three decades before the term “Sociopathic Personality” was used. Later the term “Sociopathic Personality” was changed to “Personality Disorder, Antisocial Type” and more recently changed to “the Antisocial Personality Disorder.”
To clarify past and present terms used to label the antisocial disorder, “Psychopathic Personality” was the diagnostic term used for three decades before the term “Sociopathic Personality” was used. Later the term “Sociopathic Personality” was changed to “Personality Disorder, Antisocial Type” and more recently changed to “the Antisocial Personality Disorder.”
As the comparisons are offered, do not be confused by the fact that narcissists appear to be “social” instead of “antisocial.” Remember, narcissists “socialize” in order to use people and social situations in order to gain reinforcement of a false image and to fulfill their need for an audience and for recognition. To that end, narcissists use work situations, social clubs, civic organizations, churches, temples, mosques, political groups, spiritual groups and many other venues for displaying their image, for having an audience, and for being heard as well as seen.
[Before continuing, let it be noted that, if one thinks that it is rare for narcissists to admit to being narcissists, it is far rarer for sociopaths to recognize that they are sociopaths. Even rarer would be for narcissists to admit that they can exhibit sociopathic traits and psychopathic behaviors. So the first thing that narcissists and sociopaths have in common is total denial regarding their disorders. The second commonality is that they couldn’t care less about their disorders and their harmful behaviors and harmful consequences, relatively speaking. But for those dealing with persons with either disorder, awareness—and sometimes caution—are both called for...as far as the relative existence is concerned. Now, to continue with the comparison.]
The DSM-IV notes that “sociopaths disregard social rules and norms, behave impulsively, and are indifferent to the rights and feelings of others.” Narcissists do the same, but they are more adept at cultivating a public persona that usually conceals their sociopathic tendencies. Some suggest that the differences in the two disorders are more “in degree and in capacity for violence,” noting that “sociopaths are the really violent ones”; however, narcissists who disintegrate into the unhealthy levels of their personality type can be just as violent as any sociopath. That can happen, for example, with enneagram Personality Type Threes when they are highly stressed or highly pious. They can become just as capable of wishing for others to die, just as capable of becoming violent, and/or just as capable of committing murder as any sociopath. More on that later in the post.
Two researchers who have published findings involving the diagnosis and treatment of the Antisocial Personality Disorder are Dr. Hervey Cleckley and Dr. Robert Hare. Their findings support the pointer above, that the line dividing narcissists and sociopaths/psychopaths can be far thinner than some had previously imagined. The traits and behaviors of sociopaths as revealed in Dr. Hare’s research parallel the traits and behaviors revealed in Dr. Cleckley’s studies. Note how many of the traits of narcissists can be found in the two researchers' discussions of sociopathy. According to both doctors…
…sociopaths lack a sense of remorse or empathy (as do narcissists). Sociopaths are shallow emotionally in the way that they respond to others but can be highly emotional themselves (that being the case with narcissists as well). Sociopaths are manipulative (as are narcissists). Sociopaths disregard the rights of others (as do narcissists, but they will not typically show it as openly as sociopaths). Both lie while believing they are telling the truth. Both are egotistical but can feign modesty. Both become bored easily and have a need for stimulation. Both can display superficial charm.
The doctors also point out that…
….sociopaths have a low frustration tolerance, though narcissists can often hide that in public and sometimes in private. Both have episodic relationships. Both live a parasitic lifestyle and are predatory, using others and exploiting people for benefit and gain. Both display a sense of entitlement. They are both cons who care nothing at all about others’ feelings, though narcissists can certainly act, for a time, as if they care. Sociopaths can play the same game, but not as consistently as narcissists. Both sociopaths and narcissists are self-centered, and both can be highly destructive or capable of murder.
Narcissists? Murderous? Yes. For those familiar with the enneagram types, the Type Three (and the Type Six that often disintegrates into a Type Three) typically correspond most to the narcissist. When Type Threes are extremely religious and/or judgmental or highly stressed, they are quite capable of wishing someone dead or taking action to see that they die. One of the more recent and more famous/infamous examples which is often cited as an illustration of the thin line dividing narcissists and sociopaths is offered in case studies of O.J. Simpson. He is an enneagram Personality Type Three narcissist whose sociopathic nature eventually surfaced.
A second example of a narcissist crossing the line into sociopathy will be discussed tomorrow by citing a case study from the book CASTING LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF RELATIONSHIPS. For now, though, two questions for the Advaitin seeker will be offered for consideration today: (1) Might you look at the list below and see why taking the entire "journey" to Full Realization might be indicated? (2) While labels such as “narcissist” or “sociopath” need not be applied, do you nevertheless share some of the following traits or behaviors that are displayed by those persons with the two disorders discussed today?
Arrogance; an absence of empathy; an inability to know and feel the unicity; envy; desires and fears that are based in the needs that are dreamed up by ego-states; identification with body-mind-personality; the adoption and fostering of false images; a sense of separation; irritability; restlessness; an ever-present sense of emptiness; discontentment; judgmentalism; outbursts and raging; phoniness; a desire for power in order to try to control people, places, and things; a tendency to manipulate and use and/or abuse people; delusions of grandeur; fanciful or magical thinking; a tendency to be “on stage” and to “perform” and to be quite different in public from the way you are in private; and a tendency to believe the lies that are widely accepted in your culture but that are rooted in nothing other than myths and superstitions. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
THE FEATURED BOOK FOR THIS WEEK’S SALE IS THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS. (15% off through June 10th)
[Before continuing, let it be noted that, if one thinks that it is rare for narcissists to admit to being narcissists, it is far rarer for sociopaths to recognize that they are sociopaths. Even rarer would be for narcissists to admit that they can exhibit sociopathic traits and psychopathic behaviors. So the first thing that narcissists and sociopaths have in common is total denial regarding their disorders. The second commonality is that they couldn’t care less about their disorders and their harmful behaviors and harmful consequences, relatively speaking. But for those dealing with persons with either disorder, awareness—and sometimes caution—are both called for...as far as the relative existence is concerned. Now, to continue with the comparison.]
The DSM-IV notes that “sociopaths disregard social rules and norms, behave impulsively, and are indifferent to the rights and feelings of others.” Narcissists do the same, but they are more adept at cultivating a public persona that usually conceals their sociopathic tendencies. Some suggest that the differences in the two disorders are more “in degree and in capacity for violence,” noting that “sociopaths are the really violent ones”; however, narcissists who disintegrate into the unhealthy levels of their personality type can be just as violent as any sociopath. That can happen, for example, with enneagram Personality Type Threes when they are highly stressed or highly pious. They can become just as capable of wishing for others to die, just as capable of becoming violent, and/or just as capable of committing murder as any sociopath. More on that later in the post.
Two researchers who have published findings involving the diagnosis and treatment of the Antisocial Personality Disorder are Dr. Hervey Cleckley and Dr. Robert Hare. Their findings support the pointer above, that the line dividing narcissists and sociopaths/psychopaths can be far thinner than some had previously imagined. The traits and behaviors of sociopaths as revealed in Dr. Hare’s research parallel the traits and behaviors revealed in Dr. Cleckley’s studies. Note how many of the traits of narcissists can be found in the two researchers' discussions of sociopathy. According to both doctors…
…sociopaths lack a sense of remorse or empathy (as do narcissists). Sociopaths are shallow emotionally in the way that they respond to others but can be highly emotional themselves (that being the case with narcissists as well). Sociopaths are manipulative (as are narcissists). Sociopaths disregard the rights of others (as do narcissists, but they will not typically show it as openly as sociopaths). Both lie while believing they are telling the truth. Both are egotistical but can feign modesty. Both become bored easily and have a need for stimulation. Both can display superficial charm.
The doctors also point out that…
….sociopaths have a low frustration tolerance, though narcissists can often hide that in public and sometimes in private. Both have episodic relationships. Both live a parasitic lifestyle and are predatory, using others and exploiting people for benefit and gain. Both display a sense of entitlement. They are both cons who care nothing at all about others’ feelings, though narcissists can certainly act, for a time, as if they care. Sociopaths can play the same game, but not as consistently as narcissists. Both sociopaths and narcissists are self-centered, and both can be highly destructive or capable of murder.
Narcissists? Murderous? Yes. For those familiar with the enneagram types, the Type Three (and the Type Six that often disintegrates into a Type Three) typically correspond most to the narcissist. When Type Threes are extremely religious and/or judgmental or highly stressed, they are quite capable of wishing someone dead or taking action to see that they die. One of the more recent and more famous/infamous examples which is often cited as an illustration of the thin line dividing narcissists and sociopaths is offered in case studies of O.J. Simpson. He is an enneagram Personality Type Three narcissist whose sociopathic nature eventually surfaced.
A second example of a narcissist crossing the line into sociopathy will be discussed tomorrow by citing a case study from the book CASTING LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF RELATIONSHIPS. For now, though, two questions for the Advaitin seeker will be offered for consideration today: (1) Might you look at the list below and see why taking the entire "journey" to Full Realization might be indicated? (2) While labels such as “narcissist” or “sociopath” need not be applied, do you nevertheless share some of the following traits or behaviors that are displayed by those persons with the two disorders discussed today?
Arrogance; an absence of empathy; an inability to know and feel the unicity; envy; desires and fears that are based in the needs that are dreamed up by ego-states; identification with body-mind-personality; the adoption and fostering of false images; a sense of separation; irritability; restlessness; an ever-present sense of emptiness; discontentment; judgmentalism; outbursts and raging; phoniness; a desire for power in order to try to control people, places, and things; a tendency to manipulate and use and/or abuse people; delusions of grandeur; fanciful or magical thinking; a tendency to be “on stage” and to “perform” and to be quite different in public from the way you are in private; and a tendency to believe the lies that are widely accepted in your culture but that are rooted in nothing other than myths and superstitions. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
THE FEATURED BOOK FOR THIS WEEK’S SALE IS THE ESSENCE OF THE TEACHINGS. (15% off through June 10th)
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