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Originally Posted by Michael the Great
Which begs the question, do all psychopaths cause harm by nature, intentionally or otherwise? And can we control our actions?
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Psychopaths still have cognitive abilities that differentiate them from animals who merely act on instinct, just as much as non-disordered personalities do. As you yourself mentioned, you can still think through that which angers and hurt you will likewise hurt and upset another human being, even if you do not feel it, and therefore remain responsible for your behaviour and actions irregardless whether or not you have lower impulse control, and can be held accountable for it, legally or functionally by any human being whom boundaries you may infringe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael the Great
I brought up the case because psychopathy, at its very core, is merely the lack of a well developed conscience and certain emotions. It isn't something we can control and it isn't a set of damaging behaviours (although certain behaviours may contribute to the diagnosis of psychopathy). It's a status, essentially. And, as the Supreme Court decided in the Robinson case, it is unethical to punish someone for a status. By that logic, a psychopath cannot be punished for being a psychopath. He (or she) can only be judged by his (or her) actions.
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True. So, can for example a person who disrespects the boundaries of others, after they have been clearly expressed, for their own entertainment, wishing to debate those boundaries and blaming them for these boundaries, irregardless of their pathology, be ousted and rejected by the very people whose boundaries were disrespected, especially when they can logically deduce they may be causing pain?