I don't expect there to be any defenders of psychopaths but, considering this is an (anti-social) personality disorder, I think a few things need to be said. Dexter may not be the best place to start but it's following the precedent set by movies like Hannibal (and it's what I saw recently that made me decide to post this). No, psychopaths do not go around eating or killing people. That's just stupid.
As for the other things attributed to psychopaths, most of them are true. However, there are a few misunderstandings. For example, psychopaths do wear a mask. But it's not a "mask of sanity" as has been popularized by books. They just wear an emotional mask in order to shield their true feelings. Why? Because psychopaths are control freaks. They are always thinking, always aware of their disposition and their surroundings. Always watching. They want to control everything and do not like to be controlled. Most importantly, they are aware of the emotions of those around them. So, the emotion they convey to others is not the same as how they truly feel. They are not cold and calculating but just calculating. But behind that mask are feelings like any other.
Getting back to Dexter, one part of the show is true. Psychopaths are ultimately destructive. If you get their attention they will fuck with you emotionally until you're exhausted and become their plaything. But, as with any plaything, they eventually become tired of you and will move on. They are natural psychologists and understand human nature very very well. This can make them appear intelligent but that may not be necessarily so (G-d help those who have to deal with intelligent psychopaths...). So it's best to keep them at a distance. If you HAVE to be around them it's best to mask your emotions because that's how they read you. But it's a long game they play so keep your interaction with them at a minimum because you won't outlast them. Luckily, psychopaths have a short attention span so they may get bored quickly. Psychopaths crave danger and aggression so you will find them in the most dangerous fields or at the highest levels. But they don't last long because they are always pushing the boundaries.
But, again, they don't go around eating or killing people for fun.
Moved from Mobile Devices to OT
-ViRGE
As for the other things attributed to psychopaths, most of them are true. However, there are a few misunderstandings. For example, psychopaths do wear a mask. But it's not a "mask of sanity" as has been popularized by books. They just wear an emotional mask in order to shield their true feelings. Why? Because psychopaths are control freaks. They are always thinking, always aware of their disposition and their surroundings. Always watching. They want to control everything and do not like to be controlled. Most importantly, they are aware of the emotions of those around them. So, the emotion they convey to others is not the same as how they truly feel. They are not cold and calculating but just calculating. But behind that mask are feelings like any other.
Getting back to Dexter, one part of the show is true. Psychopaths are ultimately destructive. If you get their attention they will fuck with you emotionally until you're exhausted and become their plaything. But, as with any plaything, they eventually become tired of you and will move on. They are natural psychologists and understand human nature very very well. This can make them appear intelligent but that may not be necessarily so (G-d help those who have to deal with intelligent psychopaths...). So it's best to keep them at a distance. If you HAVE to be around them it's best to mask your emotions because that's how they read you. But it's a long game they play so keep your interaction with them at a minimum because you won't outlast them. Luckily, psychopaths have a short attention span so they may get bored quickly. Psychopaths crave danger and aggression so you will find them in the most dangerous fields or at the highest levels. But they don't last long because they are always pushing the boundaries.
But, again, they don't go around eating or killing people for fun.
Moved from Mobile Devices to OT
-ViRGE
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