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pegasus · Nov 02, 2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myers

True, for depression... But, to date, there is no therapy that has been proven effective in the treatment of psychopathy, unlike the numerous avenues which can be taken to help treat depression. Most professionals consider us a lost cause and won't even try to treat anymore. You pick up any professionally written, layman's book on psychopathy, and what you'll find is page after page of utter contempt for the psychopathic personality, numerous details of the horrific acts of certain psychopaths, a great emphasis on the concept that us psychopaths cannot be changed or helped - so give up all hope while you still can, and warnings to avoid us at all costs - even how to spot us so you can avoid us better. There is not a single piece of literature that I've come across written for a psychopath on how to cope with psychopathic behavior. There is a proposed treatment that was released just recently by Dr. Bob Hare, and it'll take years for psychologists to even become familiar with it, and it will probably be restricted to forensic units; i.e., prisons. Furthermore, even if this treatment does work, it will only address the violent minority of psychopaths. It will not help those law-abiding psychopaths maintain healthy relationships, control harmful behavior, and learn to be happy, functional members of society.

I originally came into this thread to show you that change can happen, that there is hope. As the thread went on I saw that I am coming under fire for my views. I'm then goaded to tell you my credentials. This thread is not about me, it's about sociopathy and the view that a psychopath can't change.

I have worked with many, many different types of personality disorders and seen great results with psychotherapy. But like you say Myers, some people still stick to the old view that a psychopath cannot change. This is not true, I've seen cognitive behaviour therapies really work, no it won't change your overall personality but it will help you cope with it. (Behaviour therapies have been around for a real long time.)

The trouble is that many psychopaths end up in prison and they don't receive the therapy therefore they don't change. See?

Now, if you want you can spend your time hating the world and prove that the old view is right. I know psychotherapy works because I've seen it right infront of my eyes.