Is Mitt Romney a Sociopath?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

Glibness and Superficial Charm

Manipulative and Cunning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt

A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions

When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy

Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive

Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired

[A-Schwarzenegger]

1. Just askin'.

[arbusto_baboso]

2. Pretty much all of 'em, from what I can see of Mitt.

[Mira]

3. Four in one hundred

are diagnosed as sociopaths.
That's according to the book "The Sociopath next door".
*Bush is a classic case, who only had a bit more stupidity than the basic charming, smart example.

Other than that, I think Romney would probably quite classify. He will walk on corpses and has no conscience.

[pangaia]

4. Add Cheney to the list...

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. Although aren't socioipaths more keenly aware of how they're perceived by others?

Romney seems oblivious to how fake & shallow he appears.

[laundry_queen]

8. Only if it benefits them in some way.

They will act exactly how you want/expect them to act if you have something they want. Watch - as soon as a poll comes out, Romney immediately twists and turns to appear as if he agrees with whatever popular opinion just came out.

However, I can't say for sure if he IS a sociopath. I've read a lot about them and most of them mess up along the way either with their home life or with businesses (ie do something illegal) and he hasn't - yet. He's immoral, selfish, egocentric and probably has some kind of personality disorder, but just not sure if AsPD is it.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

12. Anti-Social Personality Disorder?

Is that the equivalent of Sociopathic?

[laundry_queen]

13. Some experts lump sociopath, AsPD and psychopath together

and some don't. So I can't answer that definitively - they might not be EXACTLY the same but they are very close. I consider them the same - maybe a continuum but the same.

[ptosis]

15. According to the Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV) there is no difference

The difference is that the sociopath is a low level psychopath. What's the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath? - the latter is successful at 'it' and there is a higher percentage of them in leadership roles than the average population. "Politicians share personality traits with serial killers" http://ptosis.hubpages.com/hub/socioVSPsyco

[DevonRex]

6. Yes. So is Ron Paul, but worse. Nt

[loyalsister]

7. No

n\t

[mzteris]

9. aren't they all? n/t

[LadyHawkAZ]

10. It's possible n/t

[RB TexLa]

11. Grandiose Sense of Self Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

Might want to take that one off.

You see people on here all the time saying how they "deserve," and expect of others.

[bullwinkle428]

14. You mean like rights guaranteed by the Constitution?