Came upon this other day, fascinating read I must say. I can see the logic of the author particularly with boxing, the sport he concentrates on in this piece.
"Violence is not even a defining feature of psychopathy. However, some characteristics you may expect to find are: calmness under pressure, a ruthless sense of focus, mental toughness and lack of self-blame when things go wrong. You may thus expect the psychopath to be a formidable force within sport, particularly in the field of boxing - my sport of choice."
Remember playing high school football and hockey, one guy there could have been a psychopath, donât know, but he loved hitting people more than anyone I had ever seen. And even in phys ed class in high school, floor hockey, he had to be restrained and âsat downâ because he was hitting guys too hard in class, guys who had no athletic prowess at all. Donât know what ever happened to this guy. But he got good grades I do remember.
We all feared those guys (there was more than one in my school).
One of those psychopaths did some jail time, became a successful Real Estate Agent and fathered a nice daughter (she was a model citizen). But one of my pals who occasionally came in contact with him confirmed that he was still the same heartless bastard who could destroy someone and not blink an eye if he got what he wanted in the end.
Interesting. Although there may be something to this sometimes, I think it is a stretch that psychopathy is common, although I am not a psychologist or expert in this field.
The characteristics of calmness under pressure, a (ruthless) sense of focus and mental toughness are common, if not necessary, among elite athletes. I donât think the lack of self blame when things go wrong is that common, however.
These characteristics are common in many scenarios outside of sport, such as with a surgeon, a trial lawyer, a fighter pilot or an astronaut. All must possess these qualities in the extremely taxing performance of their duties. In sports I think a great example not mentioned is what a Formula 1 driver must possess to excel or even just to stay alive.
I donât necessarily equate being successful in all of these similar endeavours that require extreme focus and concentration with being a psychopath.
I canât argue with any of that. But when (sooner or later itâll happen) you wind up standing between a psychopath and something he or she wants⌠expect no mercy. I am very fortunate to have few meaningful dealings these days with such people BUT I can understand that a psychopath can make a world of difference in situations where cold hard decisions without regard to âfeelingsâ are necessary. Otherwise theyâre a curse on humanity.
A few decades before my time the solution to psychopath Hitler for Russia was psychopath Stalin. Fast forward to today and the solution to pschopath Putin will be⌠either another psychopath or some cold hard retaliation that only a psychopath like Putin could relate to.
Yes. Itâs the sociopath that is equally if not more dangerous as they actually blend into society much more seamlessly and less likely to spot perhaps.
I think itâs the knowledge that there are sociopaths among us at the root of such time honored gems as, âDonât talk to strangersâ.
I never understood the wisdom behind that saying until I got older. Still, Iâll strike up a conversation with a friendly face anyway. Itâs one of the things that makes life worth living. Itâs also one of the things that could get me in buried six feet under should I ever cross into the Lone Star State again⌠or so I was told by a gun toting couple I was visiting with a friend in a gated community near Dallas. Their concern was genuine.
Just chit chatting with the waiter at a sports bar set off alarm bells for them. âWe donât talk to strangers in Texas,â they said matter of factly. âThat sort of thing might work in Winnipeg but youâre far too friendly for these parts. Itâs gonna getcha killed.â
Totally get where you are coming from Maaax. In 2017 on my way to Mexico I connected in Houston. Below is the picture a flabbergasted me took upon entering the airport. I was shocked that guns were even allowed to be carried by anyone into an airport if they were licensed. A far different place than Canada.
Yeah. Even the neighbors were armed to the teeth in that Texas 'burb. On one side they had an FBI agent and on the other side they had a police officer. Both had a trunkfull of assault rifles and pistols. On top of their fridge they had a handgun sitting there beside a plastic ammo case which still bore the Walmart sticker. I guess it was on sale that week. Imagine clipping coupons out of the paper for those shiney new bullets youâve had your eye on.