How to Spot a Psychopath?

Actress Agot Isidro’s strongly worded comment against President Rodrigo Duterte, whom she called a “psychopath” for daring the US and the European Union to withdraw aid, has earned tremendous backlash from millions of supporters of the chief executive.

How to Spot a Psychopath?
PHOTO CREDIT: ABS-CBN News
Following her controversial post on Facebook on Sunday, October 9, the FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano star quickly became a trending topic on social media, earning her bashers and supporters. While several netizens expressed their support to Isidro for courageously airing her critical views of Duterte, those on the other side of the fence lambasted Isidro and come up with ad hominem posts as well as memes insulting her personal life.

With Isidro’s statement becoming a national issue, let’s take a closer look at the term “psychopath.”

A psychopath, according to an article by Dr. William Hirstein for Psychology Today, refers to a person with antisocial personality disorder. These individuals commit acts that harm others and show no remorse for it, are incapable of showing empathy, engage in impulsive behaviors, manipulate others to get his or her own way and are sexually promiscuous.

Here are some characteristics of a psychopath based on several psychopathy checklists:

1. Coldhearted and uncaring
2. Emotionally shallow and displays a lack of guilt and fear
3. Irresponsible
4. Deceiving others for personal gain or pleasure
5. Overconfident
6. Selfish
7. Inability to plan for the future
8. Violent

Isidro responds to bashers; explains why she called Duterte a psychopath

In response to her bashers, Isidro shared the link of an article titled “Who Are You Calling a Psychopath?” written by Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne.

In the caption, she wrote: “Ayan…Basahin [nang] mabuti ha.”

In Whitbourne’s article, fearless dominance, an important component of psychopathy is fearless dominance, a trait which involves “the desire to dominate social situations, willingness to take physical risks as well as immunity to feelings of anxiety”.

However, a study carried out by Lilienfeld and his colleagues in 2012 suggests that fearless dominance is highly exhibited by people most successful at their jobs particularly previous US presidents.

Lilienfeld’s critics stressed that individuals, whether great leaders or healthy average individuals who exhibit fearless dominance, are not all psychopaths.

“One element of great leadership is the ability to make tough decisions, but for a leader to become a true hero (and not a criminal), that boldness must be tempered with the opposite of psychopathy—concern for others, the ability to anticipate the results of your actions, and remorse or sadness when the results turn out badly,” the article concluded.

So do you think President Duterte exhibits psychopathy?

--Mini, The Summit Express



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