Was Ayn Rand a psychopath?

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One cannot really be well read in the subject without having read some Robert Hare, the reason I found it interesting was that it presented a different image from the majority of literature and portrayals on the subject and dealt with some preconceptions that are somewhat problematic.



I'm sure the nicest business cards in the world would have a scuba attachment inspector gadget style. Bateman was somewhat interesting as a character, because you never quite realized if he did what was written or if it was merely psychosis.

You might want to be more careful with your statements, TM.

We might share ideological points of view in several threads, but your emphasis on a single author within psychology will only last a few seconds against my full repertoire. Care to argue against Science, Nature and PNAS?

Oh, and Robert Hare is the co-author of chapter 4 in the "Handbook of Psychopathy".

Perhaps I deliberately disregarded Hare's popular science work because I wanted to focus on the undisputed scientific content of psychopathy.

Well, if you like I can recommend Lykken, Cleckley, Oakley, Blair, Mitchell, Ressler, Simpson, Greely and quite a few others.

The reason I recommended that specific Hare book, is not because I haven't read other material, it is that is does contain some unique material about more successful psychopaths. Whereas much of the research on the topic has been done on "unsuccessful" psychopaths. On that topic, James Fallon is also quite interesting.

*Edit* I should mention that if psychopathy is your special interest, then you most likely know more on the topic than I do, and based on prior experience discussing people's special interests on this board tends to end poorly.

And the authors mentioned by you are present in the handbook (except Ressler and Greely).

Lykken is the author of the first chapter, by the way.

Psychopaths are a fad, they do not exist. They're trendy in the same way that zombies are.

Autists are a fad, they do not exist. They're trendy in the same way that zombies are.

Brains! BRA-A-A-A-INS!

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

YES, psychopaths are very real.

Having dealt with two of them I can confirm absolutely that they exist and much like the Devil, your not believing in them will only serve to make you the next victim. Since you apparently haven't had the pleasure of dealing with one I'll just advise you that the main weapon in terms of detection that you will have is your own "gut feeling". After having a couple experiences with the nasties I'm very aware of the feeling that I get when in their presence. Forget about any checklist- you will "feel" something is not right about them. It's a very subtle feeling but extremely important. It may be some evolutionary warning system that has evolved in normal people, I'm not sure. The less amusing means of detection is to discover their true nature after they've gotten whatever it was they wanted from you- be that your money, or your life.

I strongly urge you to believe in Psychopaths.

Of course Ayn Rand was a psychopath. She believed that the government is the main source of injustice in our society. That belief and and of itself is clear -proof- of her insanity. What sane person would believe that the government wished to restrict our freedoms, exploit us and abuse us. What sane person could believe that the government is run by corrupt, dishonest and power hungry enemies of our freedom. It is clear as day. Ayn Rand was nuts.

ruveyn

Careful - we are a bunch of Aspies here, after all. Someone who doesn't know you is bound to take you literally.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer