I think the worst combination is probably the
combination of narcissistic tendencies and anti-social traits, because those
people commit bad acts and they thin that they can get away with anything. So I think a lot of bad world leaders have a
combination of those traits. Whether or
not they meet criteria for anti-social personality disorder is almost beside
the point; that combination is truly bad because it allows people to commit
heinous acts and get away with it, and it doesn't offend their sense of what's
right and what's wrong.
Rob Kall: So that
takes me to the next place: what about politicians? (laughs) It sure seems to
me like there are some of them out there that don't care about other people,
that they sell out to lobbyists, and they create bills that are strictly for
their own interests, or just their donors interests? Where do they - ?
Donald Black: I can't
disagree with that. I think the term
"Narcissism" probably applies more than "Sociopath." I think they just feel that they are better
than others, they deserve more; and I think frankly a lot of them lack courage,
that they're unable to make decisions that represent the views of their people,
and instead they choose to represent the views of those who are paying for
their campaigns.
Rob Kall: Moving
from politicians, how about terrorists?
What about these Tsarnaev brothers?
What's your take on what happened in Boston? Is this a case of sociopathy? What do you think?
Donald Black: Again,
that's -- I'm not sure because I don't know about their early life. The older brother seems to have been in
trouble periodically; he certainly was accused of domestic violence, in terms
of one of his girlfriends before he got married. The younger one, based on what I was reading
in the New York Times just yesterday, seemed to be fairly normal, had friends,
was not felt to be unusual or to stand out from other people, and I think in
his case he's probably responding to the influence of an older brother whom he
admired, and perhaps he was caught up in some sick version of the Islam
religion.
And the older brother, you know, maybe he was
responding to distorted religious views as well, but it's hard to know. It's like, I mentioned Osama bin Laden
earlier, who arguably did not meet criteria for anti-social personality
disorder. Certainly he was messianic in
a sense, because he was regarded as a kind of religious leader to a lot of
people, certainly very narcissistic, committed horrible antisocial acts that
probably technically did not meet the criteria for sociopathy.
Rob Kall: And the
biggest criteria that is difficult to find is -- youth. Engaging in behavior in youth.
Donald Black: Yes,
because it's considered a lifelong disorder, so you have to have this pattern
of misbehavior established very early in life.
So how these terrorists and people like that fit in is hard to know. They're almost a special category that really
defies traditional diagnostic practices.
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