[Helms]

Kubrick is expressing an idea here that accords with Sowell's[16] description of the "constrained" view of human nature which posits that it is flawed and largely fixed, and that efforts to build utopias will invariably founder on the rocks of human failings and will reflect the imperfections of their builders. Variations on this view have been held by such historical figures as Adam Smith, Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Burke, Thomas Hobbes, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Friedrich Hayek, and Milton Friedman.

The opposing view, that man is (at least somewhat) perfectible, or that the evil in the world is mainly the result of bad social institutions has been the view of Godwin, Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Paine, Jefferson, Voltaire, Ronald Dworkin, and John Kenneth Galbraith. The constrained vision has been characterized as cynical, conservative, pessimistic, as opposed to the romantic, liberal, optimistic, idealistic unconstrained vision of man. Sowell points out that the person's view of human nature often serves as a litmus test that can predict which side of a given controversy the person will come down on, with holders of the constrained vision opposing holders of the unconstrained view across a spectrum of religious, social, and political issues. Often, people at opposite poles have great difficulty communicating with and understanding each other, since their basic premises are so different.

[Tribune7]

While the psychopath has likes and dislikes and fondness for the pleasures that human company can bring, analysis shows that he is completely egocentric, valuing others only for their enhancement of his own pleasure or status. While he gives no real love, he is quite capable of inspiring love of sometimes fanatical degree in others. He is generally superficially charming and often makes a striking impression as possessed of the noblest of human qualities. He makes friends easily, and is very manipulative, using his ability with words to talk his way out of trouble. Many psychopaths love to be admired and bask in the adulation of others. With the lack of love, there is also a lack of empathy. The psychopath is unable to feel sorry for others in unfortunate situations or put himself in another's place, whether or not they have been harmed by him. . . . While psychopaths are notably sexually promiscuous, their inability to love or to show any but the most superficial kindness to others prevents them from forming meaningful relationships with others, including parents and spouses. The promiscuity seems more related to their lack of restraint than to an exaggerated sexual drive. Bizarre and indecent liaisons are common. Dominance and power are recurring themes in the social relations of psychopaths. . . . They are attracted to certain vocations having great opportunity for exerting power such as politics, the law, or medicine. . . .While the psychopath is charming and makes friends easily, those who come to rely upon him soon painfully find out that he has no sense of responsibility. Continually promises are made and broken without regard for the gravity of the consequences, for which the psychopath will then deny responsibility. He can solemnly lie while looking the victim in the eye, showing no anxiety whatever. . . There is a tendency toward continual excitement and stimulation. This impulsiveness may lead to a scandal or to the commission of a . . . rape, or other crime. It is this obliviousness to the consequences of risk taking that often leads to the uncovering of a "successful" psychopath who was previously well esconced as a doctor, lawyer, teacher, politician, or some other respected person in the community.

Hey, here's a neat idea. Let's elect one as President.

[martin_fierro]

I always liked P.R. Deltoid.

[Equality 7-2521]

D'onofrio as Leonard "Pvt. Pyle" Lawrence.

[js1138]

Psychopaths are, in a twisted way, "other directed". Having no compass of their own, they can be counted on to say whatever pleases those around them. Ordinary people can be taken in once or twice by a psychopath, but eventually learn. Democrats, on the other hand, will always say, "thank you sir, may I have another." The only democrat presidents I cn think of who were not psychopaths were Truman and Carter, and they seem to have been placeholders in the democrat pantheon.

I reserve judgement on Nixon. He lost me with wage and price controls. But Ike, Reagan and both Bushes are inner directed. This terrifies democrats because it implies it is normal and expected that people will be responsible for their own behavior -- in other words, be adults.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Good article. I think Scott Peterson fits that description, as do Clinton and Kerry, to name a few.

[Spok]

My favorite film is Willie Wonka. Should my wife be worried?

[Ditter]

bump for later

[bikepacker67]

Fascinating stuff.

This quote by Kubrick is especially important:

"The idea that social restraints are all bad is based on a utopian and unrealistic vision of man."

[Helms]

Scott Peterson's "greatest movie" choice ping !

There are high functioning psychopaths (WJC)and then there is the more or less functioning but killing kind.

[MinuteGal]

I thought by bringing their names up specifically, the author was implying he thought Nixon and Carter were psychopathic.

Leni

[King Prout]

placemark

[P.O.E.]

[TaxRelief]

The psychopath recognizes no flaw in his psyche, no need for change. Those who are successful in avoiding brushes with the law do not present themselves for treatment or study...

On an aside, didn't Jack Nicholson's character recognize that he was wound too tight?

[TaxRelief]

Reading notes:

While the psychopath has likes and dislikes and fondness for the pleasures that human company can bring, analysis shows that he is completely egocentric, valuing others only for their enhancement of his own pleasure or status. While he gives no real love, he is quite capable of inspiring love of sometimes fanatical degree in others. He is generally superficially charming and often makes a striking impression as possessed of the noblest of human qualities. He makes friends easily, and is very manipulative, using his ability with words to talk his way out of trouble. Many psychopaths love to be admired and bask in the adulation of others. With the lack of love, there is also a lack of empathy. The psychopath is unable to feel sorry for others in unfortunate situations or put himself in another's place, whether or not they have been harmed by him.

This identically parallels the symptoms of "attachment disorder", a disorder common in orphanage babies and children of parents with "attachment disorder". Experiments with monkeys in the early seventies showed that baby monkeys deprived of maternal nurturing in their infancy developed severe anti-social behaviors. (FWIW)

[Polonius]

Bump for later reading.

[softengine]

Bump.

Long but worthwhile.

[MarMema]

A wonderful read. Thank you so much for posting this.

[Devil_Anse]

Bookmark

[uncitizen]

they almost always come from severely disturbed families

It really appears that Scott's father, Lee Peterson is a psychopath himself. Listen to him speak. Every other word is me/i/my. It's real easy to see from where Scott's personality derived.

But more importantly, i take offense to the labeling of Scarlett O'Hara as a psychopath! A manipulator, yes. Selfish, yes. But her problem was one of immaturity. She eventually outgrew those characteristics.