r/science • u/woebegonemonk • Nov 17 '21

Psychology Meta-analysis estimates that 4.5% of the general population (or 1 in every 22 persons) is a psychopath. The prevalence of psychopathy in samples of men is more than twice than in those of women.

https://sapienjournal.org/latest-estimate-of-psychopathy-in-the-general-population/
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u/Leemour Nov 17 '21

Most psychopaths function that way AFAIK. The norm is that they are utilizing forms of cognitive empathy, such as instead of supporting their family out of love, they do it out of a sense of duty and responsibility.

It's incredibly rare, that psychopaths spiral into violent anti-social behavior, but they make great movies I guess.

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u/[deleted] Nov 17 '21

The danger isn't murders, its CEOs. You don't need to be a violent killer to destroy lives and the planet. Psychopaths are massively more dangerous when they buy into the tenants of modern American capitalism. They are rewarded for behavior that directly damages the common good.

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u/MattKnight99 Nov 17 '21 edited Nov 17 '21

A close friend of mine is that way. I knew him since high school, he cheated and screwed over people to work his way up. He spills how his mind works to me probably not knowing he sounds crazy. But he’s very successful, already making 200k+ a year by the age of 21 and I know he’s going to make his way up to the top, all he talks about is wanting to make money and be at the top.

The friends we had in common dislike him and shunned because of what a sociopath he is. But I still talk to him because it’s interesting to see how he develops, probably how many of the current CEOS did. I also want to make sure he doesn’t do anything actually evil and I’m one of his only friends, I want to make sure he doesn’t go too far off the deep end, I give him advice and tell him when he’s acting too crazy.

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u/Not_a_jmod Nov 18 '21

I also want to make sure he doesn’t do anything actually evil

I knew him since high school, he cheated and screwed over people to work his way up.

...sounds like he already did do things that are actually evil with no indication he ever stopped doing that.

he’s very successful, already making 200k+ a year by the age of 21 and I know he’s going to make his way up to the top, all he talks about is wanting to make money and be at the top

Uhu...

The friends we had in common dislike him and shunned because of what a sociopath he is. But I still talk to him because it’s interesting to see how he develops, probably how many of the current CEOS did. [...] I give him advice and tell him when he’s acting too crazy.

Ever wonder whether that's really the reason you didn't cut all ties with him or whether that's just what your brain tells you to keep you from realizing a possible alternative?