[evennyNiz]

First of all I apologize for the long post. I recently read an article in the NYTimes about children who are psychopaths/sociopaths. This got me interested in the subject and I started reading by Martha Stout, a Harvard professor of psychology. It was a very interesting and slightly disturbing read.

For anyone unfamiliar with the term sociopath, it refers to someone who to paraphrase Stout has no conscience and no sense of emotional attachment or emotional obligations to others. They are physically unable of feeling guilt or remorse. No one is exactly sure of the cause, though the article I read did mention that portion of the brain responsible for emotions such as love, empathy, compassion, etc. is not as developed in sociopaths as it is in normal human beings.

There is no cure or even treatment for this disorder, though Stout did mention something that I found very interesting. She mentioned that Asian cultures such as Japan have a much lower rate of sociopaths than does the U.S., where 1 in 25 people is a sociopath. She said part of the reason Asian cultures likely have less problem with sociopaths is because their cultures teach the interconnectedness of everyone, so even though a sociopath cannot feel empathy for others his society has drilled this interconnectedness into his head so that in order to survive in his society, which she says is the the main goal of a sociopath, he has to at least act like he feels compassion for others simply to survive.

This got me thinking, do you think Buddhism could potentially help sociopaths?

On a personal note, I could use some advice. The more I read about this people the more disgusted I am with them. I know I should feel bad for them because they can never feel love, but I simply cannot relate or empathize with them and it almost feels like I'm reading about some strange alien race that looks human, but is fundamentally different. I hope I don't sound horrible, because I try to be compassionate, but for people like this I can't feel anything but anger and disgust.

Also here is the artice I read from the NY Times "Can you call a nine-year old a psychopath?" http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/ma...pagewanted=all

[Coollabioto]

This got me thinking, do you think Buddhism could potentially help sociopaths or are they probably a lost cause?

Hi white_wolf,

We have members of the group who are receiving medical treatment for various mental health difficulties so I think that needs to be taken into consideration before starting a topic such as this one.

On a personal note, I could use some advice. The more I read about this people the more disgusted I am with them. I know I should feel bad for them because they can never feel love, but I simply cannot relate or empathize with them and it almost feels like I'm reading about some strange alien race that looks human, but is fundamentally different. I hope I don't sound horrible, because I try to be compassionate, but for people like this I can't feel anything but anger and disgust.

I suggest you try doing daily Metta practice for self and others and this is a 5 minute video about how to do it.

[SnareeWer]

Reading this might also be helpful for you in connection with your own anger and disgust about others....


Karaniya Metta Sutta (Snp 1.8)

This is to be done by one skilled in aims
who wants to break through to the state of peace:

Be capable, upright, & straightforward,
easy to instruct, gentle, & not conceited,
content & easy to support,
with few duties, living lightly,
with peaceful faculties, masterful,
modest, & no greed for supporters.

Do not do the slightest thing
that the wise would later censure.

Think: Happy, at rest,
may all beings be happy at heart.
Whatever beings there may be,
weak or strong, without exception,
long, large,
middling, short,
subtle, blatant,
seen & unseen,
near & far,
born & seeking birth:
May all beings be happy at heart.

Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.

As a mother would risk her life
to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate a limitless heart
with regard to all beings.
With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a limitless heart:

Above, below, & all around,
unobstructed, without enmity or hate.
Whether standing, walking,
sitting, or lying down,
as long as one is alert,
one should be resolved on this mindfulness.
This is called a sublime abiding
here & now.

Not taken with views,
but virtuous & consummate in vision,
having subdued desire for sensual pleasures,
one never again
will lie in the womb.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit...1.08.than.html

[casefexas]

Speaking as one of the boards people with a mental health problem the topic doesn't bother me. All I have to say is that these people have been so damaged by their upbringing that a fundamental part of their humanity has failed to develop - how can you not feel for them despite what they are?

As HHDL says the ultimate sentence should be life with compassion not brutality.

I will bow out now I don't think I have anything else to add.

[N95FzmMw]

I would like to apologize if I offended anyone with any mental health problems. I had to deal with clinical depression for couple of years so I understand how that feels, I didn't meant to offend anyone, and I am sorry if I have done so. Also, thanks for the advice everyone. I am going to try meditation and focus on these kinds of people. In a way, I do feel sorry for them because they will never know love or any form of real happiness, it's just very hard to relate to them

[TritteTouff]

I am going to try meditation

Hi white_wolf,

There are some resources in a meditation thread in our Study Links section which you might find helpful.

[poekfpojoibien]

I don't know enough about sociopaths and psychopaths to know if Buddhist practice would make much of a difference or not. However, I'm inclined to think it would help at least somewhat.

[OixKKcj1]

I don't know enough about sociopaths and psychopaths to know if Buddhist practice would make much of a difference or not. However, I'm inclined to think it would help at least somewhat.

I don't know either about them so to give a grounded opinion but from the experience I have had working with homeless people I think that a more supportive society can do a big difference because most of this behaviours can be overcome with the right therapies.

For example, from the article given by white_wolf it states that in societies that care about interconnectedness and mutual support, they can do well.

Sociopathy and psychopathy have environmental and genetic elements. Children under severe hostility and violence can develop this in a way the brain is not good to develop empathy emotions. Even though, this behaviour can be learnt due to cognitive plasticity and resilience of the brain.

And yes, I think that Buddhism can make a difference with them

[Lenny Hensley]

I don't know enough about sociopaths and psychopaths to know if Buddhist practice would make much of a difference or not. However, I'm inclined to think it would help at least somewhat.

I agree with this statement. I don't know much about them. But what I do know, is that some are so far gone, that there can be no help for them. Some become sexually aroused by sadistic pleasures, by hurting others, and are so unreachable, that it may be that the only thing that can be done, to protect our society on a whole, is to imprison them in a Psychiatric Homestead, and given as many tools to help themselves as possible. I am not saying to persecute them or any of the like at all. But lets be honest with ourselves, there are just some of these folks out there, that cannot be helped while allowed to exist in mainstream society. Some 'need' to be forcibly admitted to those types of Homesteads. And as far as who should make that decision goes, I have alot of faith in Psychologists, and their ability to determine this.