Sadism: help please!

[TouhouFan28]

I suggest you go to a website that handles Antisocial Personality Disorder.
I don't judge people who have this issue, since it is beyond their control, BTW.

You're right. Idk I always thought it was a trait of my autism. Probably why when I brought it up to my other autistic fellas they gave me the same reaction LOL.

 

[TouhouFan28]

I'm not a medical or mental health professional, but this sounds like antisocial personality disorder to me, or maybe borderline personality disorder, but definitely not autism. Definitely seek help. Some of these actions are pretty unforgivable and have probably seriously traumatized people.

If you truly want to change, I agree with everyone who said you should go to therapy, and because you actually want help and to be a better person, not because you want to be manipulative. A good therapist will hold you accountable for this behavior, not excuse it.

I'm not sure if empathy can be learned if you don't already experience it, but maybe you can learn that abusing people and animals is not ok, and learn some self-control.
Please get help before you hurt anyone else. This makes me sad.

To add: I have been horrifically abused myself by people who did things like this. To the point of near-death experiences. So I'm not taking this lightly.

I have autism. I always thought that the lack of empathy was a symptom of it. Which is why I made the post. I guess it was just a stereotype. I'm sorry that someone drove you to that extreme. I hope you never meet anyone like me.

 

[scleod]

Nope. My parents raised me well, I grew up privileged and without any shortcomings

Hrmm very interesting. I can see why you would think that autism is the culprit. As it does cause many people to process and feel feelings in a different capacity. Empathy, guilt etc can be included. But much like others have stated. I would recommend some professional help.

Behaviors that you have stated you exhibit, either in the past or now. Are ones that can grow into more sinister things. There is always a route cause a to why one is like this. It could be trauma, which you say you don't have. So that leads me to believe it could be a chemical imbalance. I am not a medical professional either. By any means. If you are looking for some change than you should seek help and betterment of yourself so you do not slip into some unsavory things that you cannot come back from.

People on this forum are very protective of this place because it is a safe haven for them. So you are not getting the warmest welcome with this post. But it also comes across that you are gloating and don't want to change behaviors l. You just don't want to be alone. Which putts those people in danger. People don't want to teach you how to better put others in danger so you don't have to be alone.

I was not trying to sound harsh in anyway. Just truthful. Because I have had known people who have been in the same emotional state. I gave them a chance which was a huge impact on their life. But they came from a vastly different past. They also had the drive to move forward in a positive manner.

So you have to ask yourself.
Do you want to be better?
Do you want to not hurt people?
Do you want to not gain amusment from the pain of others?
Etc
You get the questions I am laying down.

 

[Aspychata]

YOU ask the questions, are you better or are you worse?????

 

[Jonn]

You're right. Idk I always thought it was a trait of my autism. Probably why when I brought it up to my other autistic fellas they gave me the same reaction LOL.

Sadism, overwhelmingly speaking, is the antithesis of what ppl on the spectrum are all about.
Autistic ppl are known for a heightened sense of justice, often compulsively honest, and having an enormous affinity with animals.
In your own words, you have failed on all three counts.

I may have missed it, but have you been officially diagnosed as being on the spectrum, or have you self-diagnosed?

 

[Jonn]

Hrmm very interesting. I can see why you would think that autism is the culprit. As it does cause many people to process and feel feelings in a different capacity. Empathy, guilt etc can be included. But much like others have stated. I would recommend some professional help.

Ppl on the spectrum may lack inherent/intuitive empathy, but that doesn't mean they would be deliberately vindictive as a result.

I dare say, if we on the spectrum unintentionally offend someone, the realisation would cause a state of severe regret for most.
I am speaking from my experience, and others I know.

 

[Lou Laurinen]

I dare say, if we on the spectrum unintentionally offend someone, the realisation would cause a state of severe regret for most.

100%. I hate offending people and hurting people's feelings, and I regret it so much that I obsess about it for a long time afterwards wishing I'd done something differently.

 

[vergil96]

Nothing traumatic happened to me for me to be a sociopath

Isn't it more genetic and environmental than induced by trauma? Sociopathy is when someone grows up in an environment that promotes becoming a criminal. Psychopaths are born.

One way or another, I don't quite understand why you don't put a stop on that. I can understand that bullying might be funny, but come on, you're not a 5-year-old and you know better what the effect is. Idk if a psychotherapist is needed, maybe they would be helpful if you can't do anything about it alone. It's easy to hurt here and there, but you need to think before you act and have a filter. A lot of people want to be aggressive but don't act on it, you're not unique in *wanting*. What is lacking is the impulse control and maybe a full understanding of the implications. I also don't understand why others around you were so lenient before and don't call you out. The girl you mentioned and your sister must really lack assertiveness.

Be responsible and don't go around causing damage to others! Grow up!

 

[Hypnalis]

@TouhouFan28

You certainly have a issue that needs to be addressed by or together with professionals.
Find one ASAP.

FWIW, what you have might show up on a brain scan, because you may have a problem with an observable physical cause. In your situation I'd want to know, regardless of treatment options.
See the short paragraph about James Fallon below.

Important: stop sharing details here:
1. You need to be talking to people who are legally bound to protect your privacy
2. The intersection of modern ideologies and the 'Dark Triad" or a "Cluster B" Personality Disorder leads to an unproductive kind of highly inaccurate criticism.

You don't need amateurs or (in this specific medical context) ignorant people telling you things you already know, but with a strongly negative spin.

There's an AF member with ASPD who posts here sometimes. It might be worth searching the forum for "ASPD" (I think he's used that acronym).

Also take a look at YouTube videos by a guy named James Fallon.
He's a "pro-social psychopath", which means he's got a "wetware problem" (one that shows up on a brain scan), but (like the majority of people with the innate potential for it) doesn't have any inclination to do "really bad things".

I think one of his videos explains the necessary second condition for "doing bad stuff". You might as well learn it from an expert (if not Fallon, you'll find professionals via YouTube's suggestions).

NB: I have no idea if you have what Fallon has. But he found out he has the wetware for it while researching it (he has a PhD in a relevant field), so he's a genuine expert on what he has. His videos are quite good IMO, and might give you something useful to think about, regardless of what you have (if anything).

PS:
There's an ongoing example of the interaction of a disorder known to have a significant genetic component (like ASD does) with ideology.
Search for "John Davidson" and "BAFTA".

It's a lesson in the nature of tolerance /lol.

 

[Jonn]

100%. I hate offending people and hurting people's feelings, and I regret it so much that I obsess about it for a long time afterwards wishing I'd done something differently.

This is common in the autistic community.
When I was much younger, it paralysed/crippled me for extended periods.
Those days are long gone, now.

 

[Jonn]

Isn't it more genetic and environmental than induced by trauma? Sociopathy is when someone grows up in an environment that promotes becoming a criminal. Psychopaths are born.

This is my understanding.

One way or another, I don't quite understand why you don't put a stop on that. I can understand that bullying might be funny, but come on, you're not a 5-year-old and you know better what the effect is. Idk if a psychotherapist is needed, maybe they would be helpful if you can't do anything about it alone. It's easy to hurt here and there, but you need to think before you act and have a filter. A lot of people want to be aggressive but don't act on it, you're not unique in *wanting*. What is lacking is the impulse control and maybe a full understanding of the implications. I also don't understand why others around you were so lenient before and don't call you out. The girl you mentioned and your sister must really lack assertiveness.

The problem is the inherent mindset. IMO.
Many ppl embrace flight rather than fight.
But if someone is constantly bullied, it is no surprise that they would want to lash out.

I was gang-stalked for decades, in RL and on the internet.
I understand the dynamics intimately.
But in this situation, TouhouFan28 has indicated that this wasn't the case.

Be responsible and don't go around causing damage to others! Grow up!

If you lack a social conscience, there are no rules, only consequences to consider.
If TouhouFan28 does not face serious ramifications for his anti-social attitude, probably nothing will change.

If ppl are addicted to dopamine via domination and manipulation, why would they want to change unless the continued actions are countered by severe consequences?

Anti-social actions are addictive.
What replaces this addiction would be something to investigate.

 

[scleod]

Both sociopath and psychopath are technically outdated terms now. The proper term is ASPD which would be the umbrella of the two. But if you were to look at the out dated terms ( which I prefer tbh) sociopath is determined from a trauma based instance. Psychopath is ones personality construct. Not all psychopaths are evil though. That is where the nature vs nurture comes into play.

 

[Jonn]

@TouhouFan28

You certainly have a issue that needs to be addressed by or together with professionals.
Find one ASAP.

Well, it is a little more complicated than that, iMO.
We have no way of determining with certainty how genuine @TouhouFan28 is.
He has stated that he has engaged in grand deception on multiple occasions.
Who is to say this isn't happening here now?

FWIW, what you have might show up on a brain scan, because you may have a problem with an observable physical cause. In your situation I'd want to know, regardless of treatment options.
See the short paragraph about James Fallon below.

Are you talking about a scan to determine ASPD?
If so, consider the result of this search:

Summary​

• No, ASPD cannot be determined via a brain scan.
• Yes, brain scans show group‑level patterns that help researchers understand the disorder.
• Diagnosis is based on behaviour, history, and clinical assessment — not imaging.

Also take a look at YouTube videos by a guy named James Fallon.
He's a "pro-social psychopath", which means he's got a "wetware problem" (one that shows up on a brain scan), but (like the majority of people with the innate potential for it) doesn't have any inclination to do "really bad things".

ASPD is a fairly neutral term.
Just because someone has this neurological variance (context: genetic difference) doesn't mean that they will inevitably follow the "Dark Path".

 

[Jonn]

Both sociopath and psychopath are technically outdated terms now. The proper term is ASPD which would be the umbrella of the two. But if you were to look at the out dated terms sociopath is determined from a trauma based instance. Psychopath is ones personality construct. Not all psychopaths are evil though. That is where the nature vs nurture comes into play.

I generally agree with what you said...
However...
The last time I checked, both sociopathy and psychopathy are not recognised in the official medical dictionary.

A psychopath is generally understood as a person who shows a cluster of personality traits involving severely impaired empathy, chronic antisocial behaviour, and a distinctive emotional and interpersonal style. It is not an official medical diagnosis, but it is a well‑studied psychological construct that overlaps with—but is not identical to—antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Psychopathy is described in clinical and research literature rather than in diagnostic manuals.

Core meaning of “psychopath”​

Across major psychological sources, psychopathy refers to a pattern of:

• Lack of empathy or remorse
• Superficial charm and manipulativeness
• Deceitfulness and pathological lying
• Impulsivity and thrill‑seeking
• Callousness and emotional shallowness
• Chronic violation of social norms or laws

The thing here is that, as so often happens in psychology, you have numerous views on the same subject matter.
I guess it ultimately boils down to choosing your own particular take. <shrug>

 

[Hypnalis]

@Jonn

I can't tell if Touhou is faking or not, but I'm 100% confident that it the right thing to do is take him seriously.

Apart from that, I think our positions are very close, but we see it from different (but equally valid) perspectives.

James Fallon explains about what you can and can't get from brain scans in one of his videos.

He was literally doing that as a research project (maybe for his PhD, maybe later on), tested himself as well, and met the scan indicators for "psychopathy" he was looking for in the project.
Note: he has certainly "spun" his story , but that doesn't matter. His immediate value here is that he's an expert and has released several good videos that are readily available.

I know you can't make a specific diagnosis with a scan. And I chose to remove a comment that ASD doesn't show up in scans because IMO AF is not a good place to try to delve into brain scans. I decided that adding more data, even data I know it to be true, would ultimately be "negative information".
I chose to use "ASPD" only once in my post, referencing another AF member, for the same reason.

The only meaningful source for a diagnosis is a professional (i.e. an MD with the correct specialty).

FWIW, In terms of definitions, "Dark Triad" covers (most of) the sub/clinical cases for stuff like this, "Cluster B" captures the clinical ones.

A partial quote from your post:

Just because someone has this neurological variance (context: genetic difference) doesn't mean that they will inevitably follow the "Dark Path".

This is what I was trying to say, but less directly. That was a deliberate choice too.

The additional causal factors for "bad psychopaths" aren't something I'm prepared to raise in AF. And even less so when some members, who should know better (even the NT's), made value judgements in this thread about a condition that isn't ASD, but has similar diagnostic and treatment difficulties.

I added in the reference for people blaming the guy with Tourette's for displaying a symptom of Tourette's to make that point indirectly. FWIW I can see it being a "local high point" in the Culture Wars, so I suggest you check it out.
Or look at The Critical Drinker's treatment of it:

07:53 total, so quite time-efficient, And as ever for the Drinker, well-produced and scripted.

 

[Tired]

right, because it's my destiny to be held in prison for my uncontrolled empathetic absence instead of getting treatment

It was a joke, my man, I even out an emoji there, sigh. Clearly I do understand that this isn't something you choose to be. But do seek therapy, it will help you understand yourself better, maybe you will find a cause of your feelings and it will be easier for you to control your behavior.

 

[Forest Cat]

Maybe you should try to torment someone that can fight back. Instead of small animals and children. Getting punched in the face can change people. You sound like a sadistic coward, so go find a big guy and try to torment him. It could be good for you, maybe you learn something. Maybe you'll learn how it feels and that it's not fun.

 

[Masked Man]

right, because it's my destiny to be held in prison for my uncontrolled empathetic absence instead of getting treatment

That will certainly be the case if you are an adult and you can't or won't control impulsive behavior. Law enforcement doesn't care about your intent, they care about your actions.

 

[Tired]

Maybe you should try to torment someone that can fight back. Instead of small animals and children. Getting punched in the face can change people. You sound like a sadistic coward, so go find a big guy and try to torment him. It could be good for you, maybe you learn something. Maybe you'll learn how it feels and that it's not fun.

People like him do know that their tricks won't work on anyone who isn't kind, small or defenseless, exactly why he was using only kids, animals and already tormented women. It was his choice, he knows what he is doing, and he knows that what he is doing is bad. His (and other people's) problem is that he chooses to hurt others instead of doing smth else. He will one day be punished for that, if he doesn't seek help to control that.

 

[Mary Terry]

Kinda expected this response. I don't know what reaction you want out of me

What reaction do you want from us? Revulsion? Disgust? Fear and loathing? You need psychiatric help. For starters, look at WHY you do those cruel things and WHY you came here to tell everyone about it.