[Just another Joe]

I have, many times, described myself as a functioning psychopath.

Do I have a conscience? I really don't know.

Have I ever felt guilt? No.

On the other hand I have felt shame, but not about what I believe others to feel that emotion.

And then again, to me, family is everything.
If you have ever read any of the Louie LaMour Sackett western series, that is ALL of my family's take on family.
When family calls you answer that call if humanly possible.

Am I a true psychopath? Probably not but functioning psyochopath is a pretty close description.

[A_perfect_lady]

Sounds very Dexter-ish. Lacking the emotion, but given a code to live by that you’ve accepted.

[A_perfect_lady]

Now me, I have a conscience but it's very specific. People tend to fall into three groups, for me: those I feel compelled to protect, those I have no reaction to, and those who have ticked me off enough that if I can do them some harm, I will, and it wouldn't cause me a flicker of guilt to arrange for their disappearance. But I suspect this has to do with the judgmental aspect of my psyche; I feel perfectly competent to judge others and do truly feel that the world would be a much, much better place if I were simply given the power to strike people dead with lightning.