The Glory of Psychopathy

[The Reverend Bob]

The bad news about psychopath is they might be an evolutionary adaptation
The good news about them, they are proof that human evolution is ongoing

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

The bad news about psychopath is they might be an evolutionary adaptation
The good news about them, they are proof that human evolution is ongoing

Well, you won't necessarily see humanity moving "toward" psychopathy/sociopathy. In order for a particular mutation/difference in traits to become the "norm", there needs to be an advantage great enough to see species members with that trait surviving long enough to procreate where others without that trait tend to die and not produce offspring. What you're discussing tends to just "show up" in a low percentage of population and isn't overly advantageous beyond humans with other dispositions. Also, as a standing fact of evolution, all forms are necessarily "between forms", and changes are ongoing - humans are in a somewhat interesting niche within our ecosystems because there are almost no selective pressures acting on us in modern times. That is... nothing killing certain members off at a rate large enough to affect procreation of "select" members with like survival traits. So any changes in human populations in our modern times is going to probably happen even more slowly and haphazardly because... well, nearly everyone lives to procreate - even those with poor eyesight, or who are prone to heart conditions, or pass on predisposition to cancer.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

Well, you won't necessarily see humanity moving "toward" psychopathy/sociopathy. In order for a particular mutation/difference in traits to become the "norm", there needs to be an advantage great enough to see species members with that trait surviving long enough to procreate where others without that trait tend to die and not produce offspring. What you're discussing tends to just "show up" in a low percentage of population and isn't overly advantageous beyond humans with other dispositions. Also, as a standing fact of evolution, all forms are necessarily "between forms", and changes are ongoing - humans are in a somewhat interesting niche within our ecosystems because there are almost no selective pressures acting on us in modern times. That is... nothing killing certain members off at a rate large enough to affect procreation of "select" members with like survival traits. So any changes in human populations in our modern times is going to probably happen even more slowly and haphazardly because... well, nearly everyone lives to procreate - even those with poor eyesight, or who are prone to heart conditions, or pass on predisposition to cancer.

I didn't say it was necessarily going to be a successful adaptation, but it is hypothetically not a mental illness but an adaptation

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Why would they show up to your "come one, come all and see the freaks" thread the way you talk about them? They are people too, and most of them know they are "off" but thats no reason to assume they think they ha e glory, see everybody as worms, or that others have to bow to their whims.

The vast majority of them aren't violent, either.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

The vast majority of them aren't violent, either.

Not physically violent. But they will **** in your morning coffee if you rub them the wrong way

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I didn't say it was necessarily going to be a successful adaptation, but it is hypothetically not a mental illness but an adaptation

I didn't say it was necessarily going to be a successful adaptation, but it is hypothetically not a mental illness but an adaptation

And adaptation to what though? What are the pressures in our environment(s) that would lead someone to be better adapted to their situation under psychopathy or sociopathy?

 

[The Reverend Bob]

And adaptation to what though? What are the pressures in our environment(s) that would lead someone to be better adapted to their situation under psychopathy or sociopathy?

Some believe it is that the adaptation is a result of urbanization