http://sociopathic.net/ The real life story of a sociopath. The website contains a journal and other material. Take a look into the broken mind of Petronix. en-us (c) Copyright 2007 , Sociopathic,net Petronix petronix@sociopathic.net mirabyte Feed Writer 1.0 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:32:20 +0800 http://sociopathic.net/forum/Themes/default/images/smflogo.gif http://www.sociopathic.net/ 250 44 The real life story of a sociopath. The website contains a journal and other material. Take a look into the broken mind of Petronix. Psychology, Health, Blog Perhaps it is just me, but the people I interact with (not always by choice) seems to have an extreme need to be seen as important. This constant need to be seen in such a way his in many ways imprisoned and even created an image of pity to other onlookers who see past their facade. I can understand why people want to feel special, but these days everyone has something to prove and is constantly in comparison and competition with everyone else. When I see someone so obviously trying to be important, I can't help feeling pity along with contempt for them (I seek to destroy them). It is a sign of weakness and insecurity, and that I despise more than all. I hate the weak with a passion, and by the weak I mean those who have been offered a means to succeed and yet still fail. I suppose a very generalized motto of mine would be "help them once if they are worth your trouble, and if they fail at their own hand, destroy them with the highest infliction of pain". To understand the wisdom in my words, you would have to understand where I am coming from, or have lived long enough to see what life is like in reality. Another thing that I will note, is peoples need to connect with others. I met a person with a certain interest (it is not relevant to specify what topic, but to help you imagine lets say it the stock exchange), I decided to pretend being interested in it, as no one else would give them the time of day. As I listened I could see their heart open up with joy by just looking into their eyes (they finally had an audience). I knew at that point they were vulnerable (although in general I knew this all along, they just expose a very obvious weakness). I must add that this person I profiled has to have been harassed in school and perhaps because of his past developed a submissive personality with his true self only coming out when safe (like in this case). As I built this rapport over the duration of a week, little did they know, I was setting them up for a slaughter. I must say I did not really target this person per say it was more serendipity, a discovery for some reason I could not let go of. As they came to speak to me instructed by their instinctive rapport which they assumed we had, shared by a common interest also assumed, I felt the excitement in me grow. I could feel I had full control over what was about to happen, it was as if I had Déjà vu flashbacks of what was about to happen were occurring, I could feel my soul reading into their body and breaking any good they had inside. My black hand reaching into their chest, looking to squeeze any life left in them. As they came into my lair, I started to break them down, opening a past they thought was hidden, their passionate talk was my gateway to their mind. As I began to break them down, they stood still, shocked. I kept talking while reading their eyes as if watching a movie with the suspense building up. I thought I would make them cry, instead they turned white and then dropped to their knees falling to the ground. As their knee caps hit the ground, it was like a victorious thunder symbolizing rain in the desert. I crushed them, even if for a moment, yet I still felt nothing. It was as if watching an interesting movie, only to assume the ending will be a typically happy one (all build up and no climax due to predictability). Soon after the room was filled with puzzled people, but before they had a chance to come and see what happened, I leaned over their pitiful broken body and whispered "death always wins". I don't know why I said that, but I seemed to have an impact. They never told anyone why they fainted, perhaps they were afraid or even ashamed. I think I have become a monster, yet it feels so natural...so right. The past repeats itself, and I am the abuser now. http://www.sociopathic.net/journal/feb08.htm Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:07:25 +0800 " The Other Side " The world is full of mirrors Reflecting the meaning of it all Like water I entered my mirror Now trapped forever Your happiness is my sorrow I am your mirror Left is not left My right is your wrong My face pressed against the glass You only see yourself Smile and I will smile back Turn your back to face me My emptiness is your world Your world is my problem http://www.sociopathic.net/Misc/otherside.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:02:53 +0800 " Death Within " I watched him die Laying in a pool of blood Life ebbing away Lips curled in final regret Arms outstretched Fingers clawing At the face of death And I smiled And watched him die When he drew his last I smiled no more Only then did I realize I am him He is me And I watched him die http://www.sociopathic.net/Misc/deathwithin.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:02:17 +0800 The Succubus The creature of pain came to me Her lies so sweet, her lips so red Such beauty I have not seen Yet such darkness, I can not dream She came for me I ran to her My darkest nightmare An embrace as cold as the wettest grave Yet I crawled to her As she feasted on me I drained away Each day I grew paler As her needs drained my life away But yet I cringed in pain To see her go She took my life and drained it all now she will feed on another Helpless wonder http://www.sociopathic.net/Misc/succubus.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:01:12 +0800 A name given in the post-medieval period to the semi-human offspring of either an incubus or a succubus. Some are supposedly more kindly disposed to the human race than others, and many do not show any sign of life before seven years old. http://www.sociopathic.net/Misc/cambion.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:00:38 +0800 Also known as demon lover. In occult lore, a lewd male demon or goblin which takes on the illusory appearance of a male human being and seeks sexual intercourse with women, usually while they are asleep. According to the church fathers, the incubus was an angel who fell from grace because of his insatiable lust for women. As a demon, the incubus continued with his carnal desires, preying upon vulnerable women, raping them in their sleep and inciting sexual desires that only himself could satisfy. Traditional wisdom professes that demons were only spirits and had no corporeal form. To be able to do his 'thing', Incubus was presumed to come upon his physical form in one of two ways: he either reanimated a human corpse, or he used human flesh to create a body of his own, which he then endowed with artificial life. Especially mischievous and clever incubi made themselves appear in the persons of real people — a husband, a neighbour, a friend, the handsome young stablehand. In one case, a medieval nun claimed to have been sexually assaulted by a local prelate, Bishop Sylvanus, but the bishop defended himself on the grounds that an incubus had assumed his form. The convent took his word for it. So how could a woman tell for sure if her lover was a demon or not? There were a few clues. If she freely admitted the incubus to her bed, it would have the power to put everyone else in the house into a deep sleep — even her husband, who might be lying right beside her. Other clues were even more obvious — the incubus often proved to be a nasty lover, with a sexual organ that was painfully large, freezing cold, made of iron, or even double-pronged. Occasionally, these unholy unions were believed to create offspring. Children born with any type of deformity were automatically suspect. Twins were also suspicious. The magician Merlin was thought to be the fruit of one of these demonic intercourses. Medieval records are filled with graphic accounts of half-human, half-animal creatures that were reputedly fathered by incubi. These offspring were called Cambions. But even with all the attention that was paid to them, there never seemed to be a foolproof way of warding off these demon lovers. Sometimes prayer worked, sometimes exorcism and benediction, but in many cases, even these proved futile. Ludovico Sinistrari, a 17th century Franciscan friar, author of 'Demoniality', wrote: "Incubi do not obey the exorcists, have no dread of exorcisms, show no reverence for holy things, at the approach of which they are not in the least overawed ... Sometimes they even laugh at exorcisms, strike at the exorcists themselves, and rend the sacred vestments." According to the friar, if incubi were sufficiently irritated by these attacks, they could respond with random violence and mayhem. When Sinistrari himself tried to free a virtuous matron from one persistent incubus, the demon gathered hundreds of roofing stones and with them erected a wall around the woman's bed. When it was finished, the wall was so high, Sinistrari reports, "the couple were unable to leave their bed without using a ladder." The term 'incubus' is from the Latin incubo meaning 'burden' or 'weight'. It may have become applied to demonic lovers, because it was thought that nightmares involving a feeling of oppressive weight on the chest were the consequence of the act of somnambulant copulation with a fiend. The corresponding demon who appears to men is the Succubus. http://www.sociopathic.net/Misc/incubus.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:00:10 +0800 What is the "Succubus" A lewd female demon or goblin which takes on the illusory appearance of a female human being and seeks sexual intercourse with men, usually while they are asleep. The princess of all the succubi (plural) is Nahemah. Its male counterpart is called Incubus. A semi-human offspring is called Cambion. According to the view of most medieval theologians, incubi outnumbered succubi by nine to one, but the ladies made up in menace for what they lacked in numbers by being alluring and persuasive, using their considerable charms to seduce men and lead them to eternal damnation. What are they? They are incorporeal sexual energy feeders, generally regarded to be a type of incorporeal vampire. In a masculine form, they are called incubi (singular: incubus), and in a feminine form, succubi (singular: succubus). What do they look like? Incubi and succubi have no specific appearance, generally taking their form from the mind of the person they're feeding. They rarely materialise physically (although they can be induced to do so through various rituals), preferring to appear in the dreams, or (more rarely) to induce sleep paralysis in the victim. They may also be encountered on the astral plane. Their appearance in dreams and astral states can be hard to discern from more conventional dream images, but it is worth noting that they are not good at the details of human anatomy, as they don't really understand it. Nipples, navels, similar apparently minor cosmetic details will often be blurry or indistinct, even when the entity is in clear focus otherwise. Such details may also be completely missing. When evoked into the physical plane, they will often not have a very clear appearance. Their evoked energy form will be visible and tangible to one trained in seeing such things, but they might even go unnoticed by the untrained eye. What do they do? They drain energy from their victim by causing or taking advantage of sexual arousal or frustration. In the middle ages, monks, nuns, and other celibates were particularly unfond of these beings, as they manifested to them with some frequency, due to the sexual frustration which is often an innate part of celibacy. Incubus and succubus experiences are usually pleasurable for the victim, and will only cause any problem if they are already extremely ill or weak, although they may not. Some vampires and vampiric magicians dislike these beings as they hate being drained of vital energy. It seems to only be rarely in modern times that an incubus/succubus experience will not be regarded as pleasurable. Generally, these will be situations in which the entity explores the hidden sexuality of it's victim (for example, appearing as a male to a homophobe). This exploration of hidden and forbidden sexuality is part of what made the Christian church revile them to such a great extent and regard having sex with them as so sinful. Thomas Aquinas, darling of the Catholic Church and 13th Century founder of "scholasticism," believed that devils, in the form of succubi, performed fellatio on sleeping mortals. Then, as incubi, they used the seed so obtained to impregnate virtuous unmarried women in their sleep, thus producing half human/half demonic monsters. In fact, this was a convenient excuse for unmarried women who became pregnant, more often than not. Incubi and succubi are evidently incapable of fertilizing humans in any normal sense. However, this belief does inspire certain possibilities in relation to creating a magical child of some description. How do they come into being? There are a number of theories as to how these beings are created in the first place. Some schools of though theorise that they are created by the more powerful beings they are often found serving, such as Lilith. Magicians of more materialistic paradigms regard succubi to be entities created by their victim's own mind. It has also been theorised (possibly after the consumption of large amounts of intoxicants) that a magician could cooperate with a succubus to create a Tulpa or Moonchild, which would be a mating of sorts. Such a thing could have a number of results, and the method can be adapted to create both corporeal and incorporeal beings with innate succubitic tendencies. How can you get rid of them? They can be prevented from attacking by using substances such as salt and gold, and may be gotten rid of with a simple banishing such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram or one of it's derivatives (the Gnostic Pentagram, for instance). Dream catchers are also generally reported to be effective against their attacks upon the sleeping. They can be eliminated by being completely drained of energy, although this is blatant cruelty towards a largely harmless entity. Where do they come from? Regions of origin: The terms "incubus" and "succubus" are European in origin, but similar beings appear in the mythology of most regions of the world. As they are incorporeal, geography is largely irrelevant. They are related to (although possibly not the same as) beings such as Mara and Night Hags, which, while they also take their appearance from the minds of their victims, are often more nightmarish in their appearance, feeding on fear rather than lust. Are they dangerous? No, not really. On rare occasions, swarms of these entities will attach themselves to one person, and will be able to physically affect them. As ever, this experience is generally harmless and pleasurable assuming the victim is healthy and suffers no strange repressions regarding sex. It can be rather exhausting to them, though. Under such circumstances, banishing and the use of appropriate prophylactic talismans is recommended should they subject wish to get rid of the beings. Some mortal vampires and rather more vampiric magicians can project themselves into dreams in order to feed in a manner similar to that of succubi. It is also possible for corporeal vampires (of various sorts) and vampiric magicians to feed on sexual energy in just such a manner as the incorporeal succubi and incubi. Such magicians can also evoke, invoke, and summon succubi, among other entities, and can "create" one with a specific form to send to a chosen victim. Incubi and succubi often form an entourage to more powerful entities, particularly those entities with vampiric and sexual associations. These beings are attracted by the use of magic as well as by sexual desire and frustration. Once they decide they like someone, that person will generally receive multiple visitations over the course of his or her life. Some people regard the exchange of a little energy for the sexual pleasures offered by these beings to be well worth it, and will seek to encourage visitations by them. http://www.sociopathic.net/Misc/succubusinfo.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:59:03 +0800 Paranoid Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a distrust of others and a constant suspicion that people around you have sinister motives. People with this disorder tend to have excessive trust in their own knowledge and abilities and usually avoid close relationships with others. They search for hidden meanings in everything and read hostile intentions into the actions of others. They are quick to challenge the loyalties of friends and loved ones and often appear cold and distant to others. They usually shift blame to others and tend to carry long grudges. Schizoid People with schizoid personality disorder avoid relationships and do not show much emotion. They genuinely prefer to be alone and do not secretly wish for popularity. They tend to seek jobs that require little social contact. Their social skills are often weak and they do not show a need for attention or acceptance. They are perceived as humorless and distant and often are termed "loners." Schizotypal Many believe that schizotypal personality disorder represents mild schizophrenia. The disorder is characterized by odd forms of thinking and perceiving, and individuals with this disorder often seek isolation from others. They sometimes believe to have extra sensory ability or that unrelated events relate to them in some important way. They generally engage in eccentric behavior and have difficulty concentrating for long periods of time. Their speech is often over elaborate and difficult to follow. Antisocial A common misconception is that antisocial personality disorder refers to people who have poor social skills. The opposite is often the case. Instead, antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of conscience. People with this disorder are prone to criminal behavior, believing that their victims are weak and deserving of being taken advantage of. They tend to lie and steal. Often, they are careless with money and take action without thinking about consequences. They are often agressive and are much more concerned with their own needs than the needs of others. Borderline Borderline personality disorder is characterized by mood instability and poor self-image. People with this disorder are prone to constant mood swings and bouts of anger. Often, they will take their anger out on themselves, causing themselves injury. Suicidal threats and actions are not uncommon. They think in very black and white terms and often form intense, conflict-ridden relationships. They are quick to anger when their expectations are not met. Histrionic People with histrionic personality disorder are constant attention seekers. They need to be the center of attention all the time, often interrupting others in order to dominate the conversation. They use grandiose language to discribe everyday events and seek constant praise. They may dress provacatively or exaggerate illnesses in order to gain attention. They also tend to exaggerate friendships and relationships, believing that everyone loves them. They are often manipulative. Narcissistic Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by self-centeredness. Like histrionic disorder, people with this disorder seek attention and praise. They exaggerate their achievements, expecting others to recongize them as being superior. They tend to be choosy about picking friends, since they believe that not just anyone is worthy of being their friend. They tend to make good first impressions, yet have difficulty maintaining long-lasting relationships. They are generally uninterested in the feelings of others and may take advantage of them. Avoidant Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by extreme social anxiety. People with this disorder often feel inadequate, avoid social situations, and seek out jobs with little contact with others. They are fearful of being rejected and worry about embarassing themselves in front of others. They exaggerate the potential difficulties of new situations to rationalize avoiding them. Often, they will create fantasy worlds to substitute for the real one. Unlike schizoid personality disorder, avoidant people yearn for social relations yet feel they are unable to obtain them. They are frequently depressed and have low self-confidence. Dependent Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a need to be taken care of. People with this disorder tend to cling to people and fear losing them. They may become suicidal when a break-up is imminent. They tend to let others make important decisions for them and often jump from relationship to relationship. They often remain in abusive relationships. They are overly sensitive to disapproval. They often feel helpless and depressed. Obsessive-Compulsive Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder is similar to obsessive-compulsive anxiety disorder. People with this disorder are overly focused on orderliness and perfection. Their need to do everything "right" often interferes with their productivity. They tend to get caught up in the details and miss the bigger picture. They set unreasonably high standards for themselves and others, and tend to be very critical of others when they do not live up to these high standards. They avoid working in teams, believing others to be too careless or incompetent. They avoid making decisions because they fear making mistakes and are rarely generous with their time or money. They often have difficulty expressing emotion. http://www.sociopathic.net/Misc/disorders.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:57:58 +0800 Sociopathy is classed as an anti-social personality disorder (APD). As a consequence of their behaviour the sociopath has the image of a cold, heartless, inhuman being. But do all sociopaths show a complete lack of normal emotional capacities and empathy? Like healthy people, many sociopaths love their parents, spouse, children and pets in their own way, but have difficulty loving and trusting the rest of the world. Furthermore, sociopaths do suffer emotionally as a consequence of separation, divorce, death of a beloved person or dissatisfaction with their own deviant behaviour. Sources of Sadness Sociopaths can suffer emotional pain for a variety of reasons. Like anyone else, sociopaths have a deep wish to be loved and cared for. This desire remains frequently unfulfilled, however, as it is obviously not easy for another person to get close to someone with such repellent personality characteristics. Sociopaths are at least periodically aware of the effects of their behaviour on others and can be genuinely saddened by their inability to control it. The lives of most sociopaths are devoid of a stable social network or warm, close bonds. The life histories of sociopaths are often characterized by a chaotic family life, lack of parental attention and guidance, parental substance abuse and antisocial behaviour, poor relationships, divorce, and adverse neighbourhoods. They may feel that they are prisoners of their own etiological determination and believe that they had, in comparison with normal people, fewer opportunities or advantages in life. Despite their outward arrogance, inside sociopaths feel inferior to others and know they are stigmatized by their own behaviour. Although some sociopaths are superficially adapted to their environment and are even popular, they feel they must carefully hide their true nature because it will not be accepted by others. This leaves sociopaths with a difficult choice: adapt and participate in an empty, unreal life, or do not adapt and live a lonely life isolated from the social community. They see the love and friendship others share and feel dejected knowing they will never take part in it. Sociopaths are known for needing excessive stimulation, but most foolhardy adventures only end in disillusionment due to conflicts with others and unrealistic expectations. Furthermore, many sociopaths are disheartened by their inability to control their sensation-seeking and are repeatedly confronted with their weaknesses. Although they may attempt to change, low fear response and associated inability to learn from experiences lead to repeated negative, frustrating and depressing confrontations, including trouble with the justice system. As sociopaths age they are not able to continue their energy-consuming lifestyle and become burned-out and depressed, while they look back on their restless life full of interpersonal discontentment. Their health deteriorates as the effects of their recklessness accumulate. Emotional Pain and Violence Social isolation, loneliness and associated emotional pain in sociopaths may precede violent criminal acts. They believe that the whole world is against them, eventually becoming convinced that they deserve special privileges or rights to satisfy their desires. For the rest of us it is unimaginable that sociopaths are so lonely -- yet they describe their loneliness and social failures as unbearably painful. They each created their own sadistic universe to avenge their experiences of rejection, abuse, humiliation, neglect and emotional suffering. Self-Destruction Violent sociopaths are at high risk for targeting their aggression toward themselves as much as toward others. A considerable number of sociopaths die a violent death a relatively short time after discharge from forensic psychiatric treatment due to their own behaviour (for instance as a consequence of risky driving or involvement in dangerous situations). Sociopaths may feel that all life is worthless, including their own. Treatment Developments In the last decade, neurobiological explanations have become available for many of the traits of sociopathy. For example, impulsivity, recklessness/irresponsibility, hostility and aggressiveness may be determined by abnormal levels of neurochemicals including monoamine oxidase (MAO), serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), triiodothyronine (T3), free-thyroxine (T4), testosterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes. Other features like sensation-seeking and an incapacity to learn from experiences might be linked to cortical underarousal. Sensation-seeking could also be related to low levels of MAO and cortisol and high concentrations of gonadal hormones, as well as reduced prefrontal grey matter volume. Many sociopaths can thus be considered, at least to some degree, victims of neurobiologically determined behavioural abnormalities that, in turn, create a fixed gulf between them and the rest of the world. It may be possible to diminish traits like sensation-seeking, impulsivity, aggression and related emotional pain with the help of psychotherapeutic, psychopharmacological and/or neurofeedback treatment. Long-term psychotherapeutic treatment (at least five years) seems effective in some categories of sociopaths. Psychotherapeutic treatment alone may be insufficient to improve symptoms. Psychopharmacological treatment methods may help normalize neurobiological functions and related behaviour/personality traits. Lithium is impressive in treating antisocial, aggressive and assaultive behaviour. It is found that mood stabilizers such as divalproex (Depakote), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and neuroleptics have documented efficacy in treating aggression and affective instability in impulsive patients. To date there have been no controlled studies of the psychopharmacological treatment of other core features of sociopathy. Cortical underarousal and low autonomic activity-reactivity can be substantially reduced with the help of adaptive neurofeedback techniques. Case Study "Ben" was raised by his aunt, as his parents were divorced and neither were capable of or interested in caring for him. As a child and adolescent, he had numerous encounters with law enforcement for joyriding, theft, burglary, fraud, assault and battery. He was sent to reform school twice. When he was 21 years old, he was convicted of armed robbery and served a year and a half in jail. His only close friend was another violent criminal; he had many short-term relationships with girlfriends. At 29, he killed two strangers in a bar who had insulted him and was sentenced to forensic psychiatric treatment. Norman was diagnosed as a sociopath. Ben showed little improvement over the course of seven years of behavioural psychotherapy and became less and less motivated. The staff of the forensic psychiatric hospital considered him untreatable and intended to stop all treatment attempts. Ben's lawyer arranged for an examination by a forensic neurologist, who subsequently found that Ben suffered from severe cortical underarousal, 5-HT and MAO abnormalities, and concentration problems. Ben was started on d,l-fenfluramine (Pondimin), a serotonin-releasing drug. Acute challenge doses (0.2 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg) produced significant dose-dependent decreases in impulsive and aggressive responses. After one month, an MAOI (pargyline [Eutonyl], 10 mg/kg) and psychodynamic psychotherapy were added. Pargyline produced some normalization of his electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern and was titrated up to 20 mg/kg over five months. Neurofeedback was started after two months and continued for 15 months. His EEG pattern gradually normalized, and his capacities for concentration and attention increased. Ben continued to receive d,l-fenfluramine and psychotherapy for two years, at which point he was discharged from forensic treatment. He voluntarily continued psychotherapy for an additional three years and, in the four years since his release, has not re-offended. Conclusions It is extremely important to recognize hidden suffering, loneliness and lack of self-esteem as risk factors for violent, criminal behaviour in sociopaths. Studying the statements of violent criminal sociopaths sheds light on their striking and specific vulnerability and emotional pain. More experimental psychopharmacological, neurofeedback and combined psychotherapeutic research is needed to prevent and treat sociopathic behaviour. The current picture of the sociopath, which is reflected in the leading diagnostic criteria of sociopathy is incomplete because emotional suffering and loneliness are ignored. When these aspects are considered, our conception of the sociopath goes beyond the heartless and becomes more human. http://www.sociopathic.net/rants/pain.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:48:38 +0800 Heterosexual Attitudes Towards Online Dating: Are Males or Females More Inclined to Utilise This Method as a Means for Forming Real Romantic Relationships? An attitude is a psychological tendency that is expressed substantial to an evaluation of a particular entity with some degree of favour or disfavour. Attitudes towards online dating as a means of forming real romantic relationships vary extensively between heterosexual males and females. It has been inferred that our gender plays a major role in influencing our attitude towards online dating and whether the outcome is a positive or negative one. It has been hypothesised that heterosexual males between 18 - 38 are more inclined to utilise and approve of online dating than heterosexual females of the same age. A total of fifty participants (25 heterosexual males and 25 heterosexual females) between the ages of 18 - 38 completed a survey comprising of questions relating to attitudes towards and experiences of online dating. Results supported the hypothesis and indicated that heterosexual males between the ages of 18 - 38 utilised and approved of online dating more so than heterosexual females of the same age. It is concluded then, that one’s gender does affect one’s attitude towards certain concepts such as online dating and whether those attitudes are positive or negative. Researchers have suggested that there are good grounds for arguing that the Internet is essentially a social medium and that the majority of internet users rely on the technology for communication rather than for any other purposes. Douglas and McGarthy (2002) have emphasised that modes of computer-mediated communication such as Internet chat and email have for many people become vital to modern life. The internet provides a medium in which individuals can engage in a communicative process of building up trust, self-disclosure, and of exploring other people in relation to one’s own personally constructed needs and desires. This report will investigate specifically the different attitudes and opinions that people hold in regards to online dating and the forming of real romantic relationships through the internet. Particular emphasis will be placed on the different attitudes that males and females have regarding online dating. Attitudes can be defined as positive or negative evaluations of object or thought which may include social issues such as capital punishment or politics or in the case of this report, online dating. Weiten (2001) suggests that attitudes may include up to three different types of components. The cognitive component is made up of the beliefs that people hold about a certain thing. The affective component of an attitude consists of the emotional feelings stimulated by an object of thought. Finally the behavioural component of an attitude consists of predispositions to act in a specific way towards something. Internet dating is characterised by a seamless movement between reading descriptions, writing responses and exchanging messages. Internet dating sites are similar to newspaper dating services in so far as they provide a medium through which individuals advertise themselves. Users are enabled to move between initial advertisements and contacting others using the service. Sites typically include an email system that allows frequent and lengthy correspondence between individuals and a ‘blocking’ system whereby users can choose to receive no more correspondence from specified individuals. Compared to the effort, physical embarrassments and awkwardness and potential risks often associated with ‘real world’ dating, this points to some of the advantages of the internet. The use of internet dating sites as a means to meet partners operates in stark contrast to traditional ideologies of romantic love (in which individuals physically meet and ‘fall in love’ with each other). This stark contrast may in some people’s opinion affect the validity or acceptance of a romantic relationship formed online. Whilst there is little existing research or theories specifically on the differing attitudes that males and females have toward online dating, researchers, particularly Hazan and Shaver (1987) have explored the possibility that romantic love is an attachment process- a biosocial process by which affectional bonds are formed between adult lovers. Key components of attachment theory explain the development of affectional bonds in infancy and have been translated into terms appropriate to adult romantic love and that people generally have one of three attachment styles: secure, avoidant, and anxious-ambivalent. Attachment theory explains how some of the forms of love develop and how the same underlying dynamics, common to all people, can be shaped by social experience to produce different relationship styles. Attachment theory also explains how both healthy and unhealthy forms of love originate as reasonable adaptations to specific social circumstances such as the relationship forming through computer-mediated communication. Depersonalisation is another thing which affects attitudes towards online dating. Electronic communication is often seen as depersonalised or less individuated in the sense that the presence of individuals with whom one may interact is much less visible than in face-to-face interaction. With regard to the effects of depersonalisation on the Internet, survey research, content analyses of online interactions and experimental evidence have shown that stereotypes and status differences remain influential in computer-mediated communication. Such findings may influence people’s positive or negative attitudes toward online dating. The aim of the present study was to investigate the attitudes of 18-38 year old males and females toward online dating. It was decided to focus on heterosexuals, who appear to constitute the largest sector of the dating market. This would take place through the distribution of questionnaires regarding experience with, and opinions on online dating to heterosexual 18-38 year old males and females. The principle variable under investigation was that of gender and it was hypothesised that heterosexual males between the ages of 18 and 38 would be more likely to utilise and approve of online dating than females of the same age. Design This study employed a non-experimental method of design, whereby a correlational study was utilised to measure two variables and whether or not these variables were related to one another. The two variables in this study involved the correlation between gender (heterosexual males and heterosexual females) and positive or negative attitudes towards the concept of online dating. Variables were to be measured using questionnaires. Participants A total of fifty people (25 heterosexual males and 25 heterosexual females), between the ages of 18 - 38 were participants in the study. Each group of ten participants (five males and five females) were comprised of family and friends recruited by a student attending the University. Materials Twenty-three questions were constructed to generate a questionnaire on attitudes towards the concept of online dating. The questionnaire was designed to discover one’s personal experiences, opinions and attitudes either favouring or disfavouring this method as a means of forming real romantic relationships. Distributing the questionnaires allowed the researchers to collect the relevant information needed regarding the attitudes of heterosexual males and females towards online dating. The purpose of these questions was to ultimately discover which sex was more inclined to utilise and approve of online dating. The first eight questions were straight-forward so respondents could choose the answer most appropriate and suited to them out of the three options provided. Answers were indicated with either a tick or cross. These questions were able to ease participants into the remainder of the questionnaire and provided them with an idea of the types of questions to follow. Question nine and onwards were more in depth, incorporating a greater number of possible options as a selection for responses. Procedure Fifty questionnaires were distributed amongst family and friends of students by the students and collected subsequent to its completion. Before distribution, participants were ensured that their identity would be kept anonymous, their responses completely confidential and that participation was entirely voluntary. It was explained to participants that the questionnaires were to contribute to an experiment conducted by the students and would be used purely for research purposes. The questionnaires were evaluated on the basis of which gender was more likely to utilise and approve of online dating as a means for forming real romantic relationships. Conclusions were then reached through the analysis of participant responses from the questionnaires. Results The online dating survey was issued to 50 University students aged between 18-38+ years of age. The participants were half male and half female. Among the study's findings, the results showed that more women knew what online dating was, than men, with the static’s showing that 96% of the women knew what online dating was, as opposed to men with only 88%. The results showed an 8% difference between the two sexes. When the question for if they have tried online dating was asked, the results showed even though more women knew what online dating was only 4% tried it, yet on the other hand male were more inclined to try online dating with 60% admitting to it. Participants were also asked if they would consider trying online dating in the future, and with this came some interested results. 56% of males stated “Yes”, 20% stated “No” and 24% were “Unsure”. This indicated that there was still a high percentage of males who were willing to try online dating, when these same questions were applied to the women a very different results was found, with only 16% of women stating “Yes”, 80% stating “No” and 4% being unsure. Although only 4% of women have tried online dating 16% of women stated that they would consider trying online dating, which indicated that the number of women trying who tried online dating would possibly increase over time by 16%. As for the men, their results showed that men in general have tried online dating and would consider it more than women statically. While the results show that men were utilizing online dating more in terms of trying it and being inclined to try online in the future, the question of meeting people online was asked, and the following results were found; 68% of males indicated that they have arranged to meet someone they met online, with the other 32% of males stating they haven’t met anyone online, in comparison with females the number was much lower with only 16% of females stating “Yes” to having met someone online and a huge 84% stating “No”. These results clearly showing that in comparison 52% of males had met someone online, more than women. Discussion Results supported the hypothesis that more heterosexual males utilize online dating than heterosexual females. The results showed more females (96%) than males (88%) knew what online dating was, but when the participants where asked if they utilized online dating only 4% of females answered yes to using online dating as a method of initiating romantic relationships, while a larger number of males, 60% answered yes. Evidence to support males using online dating was also found when 56% of male participants answered yes, and 24% answered unsure to using online dating as a method of initiating future romantic relationships compared with only 16% and 4% comparatively. The second half of the study found support for the hypothesis when 56% of male participants had positive attitudes to online dating compared with only 4% of female. Hardey's (2000) research only supported male participants who used internet dating as a medium for initiating a romantic relationship and felt more secure using the internet because it lowered potential risk of physical harm and increased the amount of personal control by using 'blocking' strategies for unwanted correspondence. Male approval of online dating was further strengthened when 44% of male participants believed there to be a 'great' chance of initiating a romantic relationship via the internet compared to 8% of females. However, there are a number of improvements to the experiments that can be undertaken if further research should develop from this experiment. Firstly, even though the number of participants reached 50 thus validating the results, more participants would be needed to show a true representation of on line dating within the larger community. The questionnaire could use a 'rating' system giving more precise results, and most importantly, the participants who under took the research were all assumed to be heterosexual. Further research into internet dating could be focused on the strategies people use in finding an online relationship (e.g., chat rooms, pay sites, free sites) and comparing the success rates of each method. Another study could investigate the differences between heterosexual and homosexual use of internet dating. A final study could compare the personality types of people who regularly use online dating to those who prefer 'real world' dating. Research has shown that males more highly approve of internet dating to initiate a romantic relationship than females. It was also shown that heterosexual males use internet dating more often than heterosexual females. http://www.sociopathic.net/rants/onlinestudy.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:45:34 +0800 The Sociopathic Relationship Diagram When a normal person creates a relationship with a sociopath the bond looks like two circles, where one circle (the normal person) has surrounded the other circle (the sociopath), this is because the sociopath does not allow the other person to connect with them. Thus results in the other circle latching on, but never really being part of the sociopath. There is no middle area, as they never mixed. In a normal relationship, people tend to mix with each other so that they have a "togetherness" or connection. This connection is seen in the middle of the two circles (see diagram). Each circle represents a person coming together to form a relationship. This is the connect (see diagram). http://www.sociopathic.net/rants/sociorelat.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:35:41 +0800 Sociopath or technically known as Antisocial personality disorder (APD or ASPD), or dissocial personality disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that interprets antisocial and impulsive behaviours as symptoms of a personality disorder. Psychiatry defines only pathological antisocial behavior; it does not address potential benefits of positive antisocial behavior or define the meaning of 'social' in contrast to 'antisocial'. Professional psychiatry generally compares APD to sociopathic disorders and psychopathic disorders (not to be confused with psychosis). Approximately 3% of men and 1% of women are thought to have some form of antisocial personality disorder according to DSM-IV. Formal psychiatric definitions make a distinction between APD and social anxiety disorder. Characteristics/Symptoms Although criminal activity is not a necessary requirement for the diagnosis, these individuals often encounter legal difficulties due to their disregard for societal standards and the rights of others. Therefore, many of these individuals can be found in prisons. However, it should be noted that criminal activity does not automatically warrant a diagnosis of APD, nor does a diagnosis of APD imply that a person is a criminal. It is hypothesized that many high achievers exhibit APD characteristics. This, however, brings much criticism upon the diagnostic criteria specified for those exhibiting APD and the PCL-R. Both of these tests depend upon the person in question being a criminal or having participated in criminal activities. Research has shown that individuals with APD are indifferent to the possibility of physical pain or many punishments, and show no indications that they experience fear when so threatened; this may explain their apparent disregard for the consequences of their actions, and their lack of empathy to the suffering of others. Central to understanding psychopaths is that they do not appear to experience true human emotions, or at least, they do not appear to experience a full range of human emotions. This can explain the lack of empathy for the suffering of others, since they cannot experience emotion associated with either empathy or suffering. Risk-seeking behavior and substance abuse may be attempts to escape feeling empty or emotionally void. The rage exhibited by psychopaths and the anxiety associated with certain types of ASPD may represent the limit of emotion experienced, or there may be physiological responses without analogy to emotion experienced by others. Emotions which the true psychopath exhibits are the fruits of watching and mimicking other people's emotions. This is to mask their sociopathic tendencies from others. One approach to explaining APD behaviors is put forth by sociobiology, a science that attempts to understand and explain a wide variety of human behavior based on evolutionary biology. One route to doing so is by exploring evolutionarily stable strategies; that is, strategies that being successful will tend to be passed on to the next generation, thus becoming more common in the gene pool. For example, in one well-known 1995 paper by Linda Mealey, chronic antisocial/criminal behavior is explained as a combination of two such strategies. According to the older theory of Freudian psychoanalysis, a sociopath has a strong id and ego that overpowers the superego. The theory proposes that internalized morals of our unconscious mind are restricted from surfacing to the ego and consciousness. Establishing the diagnosis Antisocial personality disorder and the closely related construct of psychopathy can be assessed and diagnosed through clinical interview, self-rating personality surveys, and ratings from coworkers and family. For diagnosing psychopathy in forensic male populations, the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is definitive. Diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV-TR) The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental and behavioral disorders (see also: DSM cautionary statement), defines antisocial personality disorder as a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following: failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure impulsivity or failure to plan ahead irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults reckless disregard for safety of self or others consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligations lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another The manual lists the following additional necessary criteria: The individual is at least age 18 years. There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode. Criticism of the DSM-IV criteria The DSM-IV confound: some argue that an important distinction has been lost by including both sociopathy and psychopathy together under APD. As Hare et al write in their abstract, "The Axis II Work Group of the Task Force on DSM-IV has expressed concern that antisocial personality disorder (APD) criteria are too long and cumbersome and that they focus on antisocial behaviors rather than personality traits central to traditional conceptions", concluding, "... conceptual and empirical arguments exist for evaluating alternative approaches to the assessment of psychopathy ... our hope is that the information presented here will stimulate further research on the comparative validity of diagnostic criteria for psychopathy; although too late to influence DSM-IV." [1] Diagnostic criteria (ICD-10) Chapter V of the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases offers a set of criteria for diagnosing the related construct of dissocial personality disorder. Dissocial Personality Disorder (F60.2), usually coming to attention because of a gross disparity between behaviour and the prevailing social norms, and characterized by: callous unconcern for the feelings of others; gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules and obligations; incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no difficulty in establishing them; very low tolerance to frustration and a low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence; incapacity to experience guilt or to profit from experience, particularly punishment; marked proneness to blame others, or to offer plausible rationalizations, for the behaviour that has brought the patient into conflict with society. There may also be persistent irritability as an associated feature. Conduct disorder during childhood and adolescence, though not invariably present, may further support the diagnosis. Diagnostic criteria (PCL-R test) In contemporary research and clinical practice, psychopathy is most commonly assessed with the Hare Psychopathy Checklist- Revised (PCL-R), which is a clinical rating scale with 20 items. Each of the items in the PCL-R is scored on a three-point scale according to specific criteria through file information and a semi-structured interview. The items are as follows: Factor 1: Aggressive narcissism Glibness/superficial charm Grandiose sense of self-worth Pathological lying Conning/manipulative Lack of remorse or guilt Shallow affect Callous/lack of empathy Failure to accept responsibility for own actions Factor 2: Socially deviant lifestyle Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom Parasitic lifestyle Poor behavioral controls Early behavioral problems Lack of realistic, long-term goals Impulsivity Irresponsibility Juvenile delinquency Revocation of conditional release Traits not correlated with either factor Promiscuous sexual behavior Many short-term marital relationships Criminal versatility Score 0 if the trait is absent, 1 if it is possibly or partially present and 2 if it is present. The item scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 40 which is then considered to reflect the degree to which they resemble the prototypical psychopath. A score higher than 30 supports a diagnosis of psychopathy. Forensic studies of prison populations have reported average scores of around 22 on PCL-R; control "normal" populations show an average score of around 5. A note of caution: the test must be administered by a trained mental health practitioner under controlled conditions for it to have any validity. A Three-Factor Model of Psychopathy Cooke and Michie eliminated criteria related to criminal incarceration and juvenile delinquency and statistically analyzed three factors of psychopathy. This allows for a conception of the psychopathic personality that is better applicable outside forensic populations. Arrogant/Deceitful Interpersonal Style Glibness/superficial charm Egocentricity/Grandiose sense of self-worth Pathological lying Conning/Manipulative Deficient Affective Experience Lack of remorse or guilt Callous/Lack of empathy Shallow affect Failure to accept responsibility for own actions Impulsive/Irresponsible Behavioral Style Need for stimulation/Proneness to boredom Parasitic lifestyle Lack of realistic, long-term goals Impulsivity Irresponsibility Portrayal of psychopaths in the media Psychopaths in popular fiction and movies generally possess a number of standard characteristics which are not necessarily as common amongst real-life psychopaths. The traditional "Hollywood psychopath" is likely to exhibit some or all of the following traits which make them ideal villains. High intelligence, and a preference for intellectual stimulation (music, fine art etc.) A somewhat vain, stylish, almost "cat-like" demeanor Prestige, or a successful career or position A calm, calculating and always-in-control attitude It is this last feature which is probably most at odds with the typical real-life psychopath: an individual with APD is much more likely to be impulsive, disorganised and short-tempered rather than the smooth-talking, self-disciplined characters portrayed by Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs), Christian Bale (Patrick Bateman in American Psycho), and Kiefer Sutherland (in Phone Booth). Perhaps more accurate portrayals of psychopaths are Don Logan, Doyle Hargrave, and Frank Booth, all of whom are crude, impulsive characters who relentlessly torment other people. In popular culture, "psychopath" is often used interchangeably with "serial killer" (such as the characters in slasher films) though the terms are not synonymous. It is, however, true that most serial killers are also sociopaths. Psychopathy's Relationship with Other Mental Disorders Psychopathy, as measured on the PCL-R, is negatively correlated with all DSM-IV Axis I disorders except substance-abuse disorders. Psychopathy is most strongly correlated with DSM-IV antisocial personality disorder. PCL-R Factor 1 is correlated with narcissistic personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. PCL-R Factor 2 is particularly strongly correlated to antisocial personality disorder and criminality. PCL-R Factor 2 is associated with reactive anger, anxiety, increased risk of suicide, criminality, and impulsive violence. PCL-R Factor 1, in contrast, is associated with extroversion and positive affect. Factor 1, the so-called core personality traits of psychopathy, may even be beneficial for the psychopath (in terms of nondeviant social functioning). Potential Warning Signs As a child, three warning signs are often found in individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder when diagnosed by a psychiatrist. These are a longer-than-usual period of bedwetting, cruelty to animals, and pyromania. Obviously, not all children who exhibit these signs grow up to be psychopaths, but these signs are found in significantly higher proportions than in the general population. http://www.sociopathic.net/rants/sociodef.htm Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:34:17 +0800 Here it is 2008, can't say time is on my side. These days it takes a lifetime to do what you set out to do as a child and yet in the end it gets robbed from you. I understand it's been a while since I wrote last, the reason was many health, I have been sick (and I also didn't want to write for the sake of writing, quality not quantity is best I think). My health is better now, and I am back on track, or at least I want to convince myself I am. Work is getting to me, I feel enslaved, I don't know why but I don't deal well with people telling me what to do, or even just the thought that someone is above me. These uneducated fool with superiority complexes don't know who they are dealing with. I have recently clashed with them and came out victorious, but at the end of the day I am still their slave. It is like my whole life has been a battle to be free, and as you see things clearer you understand how trapped you really are. We live in an illusion filled with hopes and dreams, but the reality of it is that we are nothing, at least nothing within the system. Sociopaths don't tell to stay in jobs very long, perhaps that way. Despite being able to play the game and move up, it doesn't make a difference, its all slavery with the only perk being the task the slave does and the amount of reward he gets for his work. Having said that Happy 2008 to all the 2D people out there (please note my sarcasm). To continue on that sarcastic note, I wanted to thank those many people who purchased my book, also let me just add if you don't check out the sale doesn't go through. You need to put in your credit card details in paypal once you checked out otherwise you are wasting your time and mine, if you need help email me. Have a look at the images before you make a purchase to save yourself any confusion. Well that's it for now, my next entry shouldn't be so "business" related, it's just too many people are getting it wrong. Until next time... http://www.sociopathic.net/journal/jan08.htm Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:34:34 +0800 We know that the world is made of many different segments. If you tend to look at one particular segment, “Society”, we can see that it is a very diverse area to analyse. It can be said that the majority of society sees the world in 2D. Although I agree with this stereotypical view, I have to say, what about the other small minority that see life in 3D. What makes them able to interpret what many don’t understand or even contemplate about thinking? This article is about the unspoken part, it is about the enlightened people that fall into the category of viewing life in extreme depth, viewing life in 3D. I suppose the biggest question would be; how are these people different to the majority. This is not an easy task to explain due to the complexity of the topic, but I shall try and clarify some of the key issues. Being able to see the world in 3D, sometimes is described as being very articulate or even gifted. People assume that being in this group makes you abnormally intelligent. In my understanding this yet, has not been proven scientifically. I believe that these people do have a complex way of thinking, but I don’t think that this has a direct correlation with being a genius. This summary on the 3D society is to give a general understanding, an introduction to people who want to know more about this way of thinking or even who want to know more about themselves. In my belief I strongly think that these people are born with this gift. Unlike text book learning, I don’t think that this way of thinking can be taught. You can’t read a book then graduate with a degree in 3D thinking, but you can better your understanding through the study of society and conditions that are placed on people. Although 3D people may or may not do the best academically, their mysterious logic puts them in a new class altogether (The 3D class). An example of a 3D person would be Einstein. He didn’t have a very high IQ but yet he astonished the world with his mathematical talent. Now looking at Marilyn Monroe, on the basis of her IQ she received a very high score, but yet never really did anything to show the value of her intelligence to society. I question the IQ test, and believe that the mind is too complex to be analysed with one test, deterring ones IQ score or intellect. I think the IQ system is ineffective. In most cases the way of thinking holds more value in terms of intellectual ability than any other factor relating to intelligence. This may sound a little bias but if you take the time to think about it and look at similar examples you will see that being 3D is an enormous factor. The fact is that majority geniuses were of average IQ. I guess the closest comparison to thinking in 3D would be people who are dreamers. With this example, I am not saying that dreamers are 3D, but showing a relationship between the two. Dreamers generally fantasize about life in the future. 3D people are more realistic with their understanding of limitations. Although this is not a direct correlation, the similarity is that they constantly think of the future as 3D people do. The way of thinking between the two is very different but yet similar. Dreamers morph life into their image, while 3D people analyse and question life and its events. Over time I am sure that this topic of discussion will be covered in depths to show actual characteristics of what makes one categorized as a 3D thinker. I plan to do future research on this way of thought. http://www.sociopathic.net/rants/lifein3d.htm Petronix Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:12:21 +0800 www.sociopathic.net