I struggle when these discussions turn this way. I also rankle a bit when I hear psychopath or sociopath tossed around with ease.
I can only speak from personal experience, and know singular examples are meaningless in complex issues. However, at the same time we have to filter through the life experience we have.
My biological creator was diagnosed as ASPD, with all the whispers associated of psychopathy. He met the criteria listed and discussed in previous threads to have this diagnosis. Further, the last 37 years of his life was spent in a State Mental Hospital, State Prison or halfway house.
My dear mother, much like women we discuss on here, had struggled with lower self esteem, and fell hook line and sinker for his charm. Fortunately, she was able to recognize and part ways before the most destructive things occurred. Depending on your nature or nurture view though, fortunate, or unfortunately, not before having 5 children carrying these genetics.
Being open minded and very forward thinking, my mother spent enormous resources in time, money and counseling to try and make sure the very best outcome was possible for her children. Currently the score is 5-0 in favor of the counseling overcoming the genetics, fingers crossed we range in age from 38 to 50 so still some time left in the game. However, I can tell you my cousins on that side of the family has generated at least one murderer and numerous drug using socially disruptive souls. They had no counseling and refused to think the family may have any problems.
Personally, I relate very much with the post that
@Seattle posted about "a psychopath knows the words but not the music." To this day empathy is not automatic for me, it is something I recognize is necessary, and then work hard to implement. I manage, but my family likes to say if you need logic ask dad, if you need feelings ask mom.
