"Hallmark of a Psychopath is they have no empathy"

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Says the advertisement of Dexter season 8 add, never watched the show....
"Hallmark of a Psychopath is they have no empathy"
Just kind of stood out to me...and made me think this might get linked to autism/aspergers some how...(no empathy thing) which i don't really think is that true of psychopaths..
1:10 into this video the quote is displayed by a neuropsych...which seems very wreckless of who ever made the show to have that statement...
I guess this mostly bugs me because auties are always said to have no empathy....and i don't like being tied with "psychopaths"
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ckzE5vT0wc[/youtube]

Isn't lack of empathy the largest red flag of a sociopath? They can emulate it, but not feel it?
If you come across people who are misinformed you can casually correct them, but I don't think censoring Dexter will provide the results you seek. (Really good show, btw. )

As an autistic I can say I have empathy---I care about other people's feelings. My challenge is showing my emotions and empathy and knowing how other people are feeling. But as for having no empathy---not true of me (and many autistics)---I do have empathy, but I'm just challenged in trying to show my care, and what it really is like in someone else's shoes. Up until the time I was diagnosed with Asperger's and beginning to research this empathy thing, I used to think that just because something interested me greatly (like roller coasters), it must therefore interest those around me too. But if I felt like I hurt someone's feelings, that bothered me---I do care about others.

What marks psychopaths is a lack of emotional empathy, compassion, and a capacity for remorse.

Autism is more characterized by a lack of cognitive empathy (although emotional empathy deficits are possible too).

Dexter is an awesome tv series!

Kinda.

The lack of empathy can be a "bad" thing when there's no sympathy, compassion, guilt and remorse (they're also a "bad" thing when they are just lacking too). All those latter thingies are also lacking.

Conversely, people with an ASD lack in empathy, but they have the other things to a relatively normal amount.

Ok being a bit aspie here, but the term we should be using is sociopath, psychopath is not really a medical term and is quite broad in its interpretation, but hey, you know.

I actually went through a phase of wondering if I was a sociopath myself, because of my difficulty in feeling emotions. But then I would get upset over something, or cry at a sad part of a movie and realise that if I had emotions then I could not be a sociopath. Of course I've had a diagnosis of Aspergers now, and realise it was that which affected my emotions and that I wasn't a sociopath after all.

I mentioned my fears to the consultant, and he reassured me that I'm in no way a sociopath. He said the big difference is that a sociopath knows what he is doing is wrong, but he couldn't care less so he does it anyway. Someone with Aspergers simply doesn't understand when they have hurt someone - and will get very upset when they realise that they have hurt someone (even if that realisation is too late). Sociopaths have no emotions whatsoever, Aspies have emotions but don't understand them.

Another big difference he mentioned is that sociopaths are extremely clever at manipulating people and being socially charming. They are cunning and grandiose, and adept at using social rules to obfuscate who they really are. Aspies unfortunately, are the complete opposite of that, no matter how much we try to fit in and be liked, we fail miserably at being like other people and understanding the rules of society. An aspie couldn't trick or manipulate another human even if we tried (and in most cases would not even want to) we simply aren't socially clever enough.

I think that maybe because we don't understand our feelings we keep then locked away for safety - if we don't acknowledge them we don't have to deal with them, or understand them!

I love Dexter BTW, its a brilliant series, though I do find some of the things he comes out with regarding human relationships uncomfortably close to how I feel.

Ok being a bit aspie here, but the term we should be using is sociopath, psychopath is not really a medical term and is quite broad in its interpretation, but hey, you know.

I actually went through a phase of wondering if I was a sociopath myself, because of my difficulty in feeling emotions. But then I would get upset over something, or cry at a sad part of a movie and realise that if I had emotions then I could not be a sociopath. Of course I've had a diagnosis of Aspergers now, and realise it was that which affected my emotions and that I wasn't a sociopath after all.

I mentioned my fears to the consultant, and he reassured me that I'm in no way a sociopath. He said the big difference is that a sociopath knows what he is doing is wrong, but he couldn't care less so he does it anyway. Someone with Aspergers simply doesn't understand when they have hurt someone - and will get very upset when they realise that they have hurt someone (even if that realisation is too late). Sociopaths have no emotions whatsoever, Aspies have emotions but don't understand them.

Another big difference he mentioned is that sociopaths are extremely clever at manipulating people and being socially charming. They are cunning and grandiose, and adept at using social rules to obfuscate who they really are. Aspies unfortunately, are the complete opposite of that, no matter how much we try to fit in and be liked, we fail miserably at being like other people and understanding the rules of society. An aspie couldn't trick or manipulate another human even if we tried (and in most cases would not even want to) we simply aren't socially clever enough.

I think that maybe because we don't understand our feelings we keep then locked away for safety - if we don't acknowledge them we don't have to deal with them, or understand them!

I love Dexter BTW, its a brilliant series, though I do find some of the things he comes out with regarding human relationships uncomfortably close to how I feel.

Not to worry, it's not the same thing, and there are major differences which mean autism and psychopathology are different things entirely.

Err sort of, most clinical associations dismiss psychopath as a diagnosis, preferring more specific diagnosis - its mostly law enforcement that uses the term. So yes you will find the term psychopath used in law courts and by criminal psychologists (probably because of the emotive aspect of using the term) But a lot of clinical psychologists will tend to object to the term, preferring 'antisocial personality disorder'.

My main point however is that sociopaths are a completely different beast to someone with Autism.

I've done some research on Asperger Syndrome and antisocial personality disorder, which is essentially a modern clinical term for psychopathy. I don't see how one would preclude the other. I personally know someone who may fit the bill for both.

Here are the criteria, for anyone who's interested in analyzing it further:

Of note, Cohen's book, "The Science of Evil" touches on disorders of empathy and antisocial behavior.

ASDs are in there. As is his view for why those with such don't do the antisocial acts of the other empathy-deficient related disorders.

Of note again, he supplies scientific studies that show people with an ASD lack empathy all the same as those with antisocial, narcissistic and borderline PDs.