Can you reason with a psychopath?

Are you tired of dealing with the psychopaths in your life? Do you wish you could reason with them and make them understand how their behavior affects others? Well, I hate to break it to you, but trying to reason with a psychopath is like trying to teach a cat how to do calculus. It’s just not going to happen.

But hey, don’t take my word for it. Let’s explore the world of psychopathy together.

Understanding Psychopathy

First things first – what exactly is psychopathy? Put simply: Psychopathy (or sociopathy) refers to someone who lacks empathy and has no regard for social norms or moral principles. They are often superficially charming, manipulative individuals who use people solely for their own gain.

Nowadays, we tend to use the official title “Antisocial Personality Disorder” (ASPD) instead of labeling someone as a “psychopath,” thanks in large part due to advancements in psychiatric medicine and research showing ASPD exists on a spectrum rather than only affecting those at one end of some chart that probably doesn’t even exist (in other words, scientists have gotten better at categorizing these individuals).

Regardless of what we call this disorder, however – be it sociopathic traits or full-blown ASPD – it remains nearly impossible for neurotypical people (people without any severe mental health diagnoses themselves) to negotiate with those atop such castles made entirely out of lack-of-empathy bricks.

The Roots Of This Problem Go Deep

While there isn’t one specific cause explaining why an individual can develop ASPD symptoms over another person – child abuse/neglect seems remarkably correlated alongside environmental factors such as socioeconomic status – most experts agree high levels testosterone prenatally increasing foetal development towards focus seeking rewards tends towards earlier initiation antisocial behaviors amongst at-risk individuals such as the aforementioned group. So yeah, essentially even from before birth, these people are wired differently than most of us (Cue nature vs nurture debate—but please don’t get me started on that one).

Can They Understand Your Pain?

The problem with trying to reason with a psychopath — aside from the fact that they’re not likely to care what you say or may even view your emotional reaction as entertaining (yay!) — is their inability to empathize with others. It is common knowledge that most normal human beings relate well when someone speaks logically and tries to see things rationally until they feel like someone denies them legitimacy without acknowledging an effort in understanding pain caused by justifications. However try talking about right wrong and fairness around a person whose brain absolutely doesn’t include empathy—they cannot make logical connections – especially relative comparisons—based on experiences if those experiences do not resemble theirs.

Things typically viewed by society as immoral will not matter for them; principles from typical social order barely exist within their psyche unless it offers personal reward over risk avoidance; everything else lacks meaning e.g.: who cares what happens after I duped you or used you? You’re better off gullible anyway—I mean some might argue ‘that’s exploiting’, but we all know exploitation only occurs with informed consent possible lacking when interacting this past population subset.

But What About Changing Minds?

Surely there must be something you can do/say/write/send/post/telegraph/pigeon carrier message/sign language duet/read tea leaves to change the mind of a psychopath?

Unfortunately…Nope! Trying hard equates wasting time – sounds quite cliché initially until learned experienced cries out how accurate it truly functions—is like attempting enlighten elephant via solely flattery concealing traps covered underneath carpeting because both bait plus connection & resultant consequence guides interaction towards specific objective achieved exclusively through calculated actions.

In essence: Psychopaths cannot see people as anything beyond means to an end. You will never be more than a pawn on their twisted game board, and they will always try to figure out new ways to get what they want (even if this means stepping on you in the process).

Manipulation is Their Forté

One of the primary tools psychopaths use to achieve their goals is manipulation. They are masters of manipulating others into doing what they want them to do – often without the other person even realizing it until it’s too late (insert horror movie scream here).

But how can we deny some form of respect towards someone who manipulates well? Any good psychologist would tell you that while manipulation may show understanding or perception of social cues—it also exists partially due lack empathy allowing uninhibited focus upon whatever pleases that individual most regardless consequences affecting others.

On top of all that, mainstream language usage has skewed negatively —which kinda makes sense considering how these individuals present themselves—by specifically naming actions similar but somehow different from honest negotiation tactics / selling skills with evil connotation a la mastermind villains aiming eradication world saving agents (whatever feels better amongst aforementioned term set) like gaslighting—the practice observing another’s behaviourful response occurring brings such inconvenience for one party hence denying own involvement—or charming—the act expending resources aimed towards making oneself appear attractive—styles targeting impact versus intent or communication rooted in deception rather reality—nowadays have become mainstay reactions within our collective culture vocabulary encompassing anyone we wish attempt lessening legitimacy entirely merely criticising without argumentation justifying disrespect towards any character trait.

While loving kindness and positive framing hopes resonates amongst multiple cultures today; however trying introduce such practices when interacting individuals whose brain responsible typical proclivity development fails eliciting empathetic foundations renders our hard work at best pointless—at worst enabling poor deeds committed against other innocents by placing scales pre-evaluating motives/value judgments on signs behaving displayed—plus let’s be realistic here: these people do not believe in fair either, so trying apply this to situations when engaging individuals whose cognitive capacity morality driven absent is bit like teaching fish climb tree.

And We Can Never Forget Their Ability To Lie

Lies are a primary method of manipulation psychopaths use to get what they want. Remember—at least from typical emotional response standpoint—a good lie requires some level of empathy or perceived risk aversion—and that’s something psychopaths definitely don’t have—or at the very least lack an adequate supply.

If you’re driving stick along roads both known and unknown its rather safe tautology claiming ‘the sun will rise tomorrow’ e.g.: causes consequences often correlated within regular context ensures foreseeable results possible with appropriate amount research planning adjusting strategies; however what happens if we switch it up just slightly adding variable previously failed accounting such as storm destroying all power lines? Suddenly gained knowledge seemingly proven meanders into uncertainty threatening plain validity leave alone any advancements made resultant experience—it’s same life lesson applies identifying honesty vs dishonesty and attempting engage conversations self-serving already exposed dangers surrounding belief individual capable repairing harms caused by maintained lies witnessing similar actions sans shock value condemned quickly via society hoping steer clear trouble reproducing behaviour itself thus learning example destined propagate. Including obvious exceptions rule corresponding circumstances making deception favourable (e.g., undercover police operations) should never contain equivocation denying faulty scrutiny lowering societal standards protecting vulnerable population subsets.

And relating back towards urgency whenever interacting manipulations done brazenly or with sleight hand dexterity—an activity commonly seen with those afflicted ASPD affecting even their close relationships—highlighted awareness becomes necessity recognize potential tasks while wasting time confronting truths held dear ruins foundation upon which forthcoming interactions built compounding damage resulting reciprocal outcome highlighted authoritarian states shining recent light upon undemocratic exploits thereof global support du jour stance negative freedoms holding equal importance supporting materialism pre-evaluating human well-being.

Conclusion

If you thought this article was going to give you some magic tricks for dealing with psychopaths, I’m sorry to disappoint. The best way to “deal” with these individuals is through avoidance or finding strict ways in which interact minimizes possible harm caused by pro interacting environment itself; depending on context these actions might include seeking out different therapists, training oneself listen closely plus identify manipulations occurring (rather than ignoring hoping behaviours end quickly fall), and/or practicing self-care love piece tranquility during moments interactions obfuscate conflict points— saddest aspect of all? Subsequent experience leads quite clear evidence pointing towards considerable opportunities lost due lack cure initiating earlier periods with people sharing space us possessing life traits heavily aligned motivations acts exposure society presents hence giving limited solutions available once observing behaviors confirmed display afflicted subset population mentioned beforehand.

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