[Julia150]

I'm a girl and I am 15 years old.
I've been told by my friends to find a therapist because I might have antisocial tendencies. I took it as a compliment when I heard it. Now that I am thinking about it a little I realize they may have been serious.
Three months ago I was watching an animal torture video. I mean, some girls were really torturing a puppy until death. Everyting was explicit. I watched it for about 5 minutes, I had no reaction, I was neutral and then got bored and stopped the video. I decided to send it to one of my close friends and she became horrified after about two seconds. That was one of the most surprising moments I ever had!! I had expected her to be as neutral as I was. That was the first time I had realized I may be different from my peers.
Some people in our high school say I have behavior problems: "How can you be so indifferent to others' opinion about you?!", " You love getting into arguments with everyone!" , "You are so arrogant! Why do you think you are better than anyone else?!", " You are very strange!" etc.
I am not really concerned but I wonder if I really have psychopathic tendencies.
Thank you!

[Steiger]

Sounds like it to me. Textbook actually. The onset is usually about your age perhaps a bit earlier. For me it started around 11 and ramped up as I got older. Psychologists are reluctant to diagnose anyone young like yourself due to the lack of back data (experiences you can site in your life that establish a clear trend and lend credibility to consistent behavior patterns) On top of the fact that therapy is of little use and there are no medications to help us. As you have just started to recognize your differences, you have a very important life choice to make. You can either put forth the energy in developing a mask that will allow you to interact with the herd and have access to their shared resources, or you can just be yourself and most likely be thrown into a cage due to your inability to control yourself. I'd love to talk more in depth but it's really not a public thing, so private message me if you feel so inclined. Otherwise, good luck.

[PsychoPhil]

Maybe you just have more insight into the hypocrisy of our society that considers torturing pets as cruel, but has no problems with industrial slaughter of farm animals kept in miserable conditions all their lives.

If I were you I'd rather work on my social skills.

[Julia150]

Originally Posted by Steiger

Sounds like it to me. Textbook actually. The onset is usually about your age perhaps a bit earlier. For me it started around 11 and ramped up as I got older. Psychologists are reluctant to diagnose anyone young like yourself due to the lack of back data (experiences you can site in your life that establish a clear trend and lend credibility to consistent behavior patterns) On top of the fact that therapy is of little use and there are no medications to help us. As you have just started to recognize your differences, you have a very important life choice to make. You can either put forth the energy in developing a mask that will allow you to interact with the herd and have access to their shared resources, or you can just be yourself and most likely be thrown into a cage due to your inability to control yourself. I'd love to talk more in depth but it's really not a public thing, so private message me if you feel so inclined. Otherwise, good luck.

Actually, I.d love to talk more about this but I cannot send you a private message because i have to have more than three posts on this site.

[Steiger]

Originally Posted by Julia150

Actually, I.d love to talk more about this but I cannot send you a private message because i have to have more than three posts on this site.

Yeah, so peruse through the forums and throw some random posts down. What a pain. I'm looking forward to it.

[PsychoPhil]

Originally Posted by Steiger

On top of the fact that therapy is of little use and there are no medications to help us.

You are jumping to conclusions: that, based on what Julia experienced watching some torture video, she is one of you (i.e. a psychopath?).

Originally Posted by PsychoPhil

You are jumping to conclusions: that, based on what Julia experienced watching some torture video, she is one of you (i.e. a psychopath?).

"one of you" Do you not realize how incredibly rude that was? Steiger offered support. What did your comment offer other than judgement? Nada.

[Steiger]

Originally Posted by PsychoPhil

You are jumping to conclusions: that, based on what Julia experienced watching some torture video, she is one of you (i.e. a psychopath?).

A tentative speculation based on what the fine lady described can hardly be considered a conclusion. The invitation to further discussion would provide additional substantiation. The only conclusion made here is the one you jumped to. A and B conversation, C your way into it with something relevant.

[PsychoPhil]

Originally Posted by Steiger

Sounds like it to me. Textbook actually. [...] On top of the fact that therapy is of little use and there are no medications to help us.

So in this a little bit expanded quote Steiger says Julia's recount sounds like textbook something to him. The something from Julia's post is then psychopathic tendencies. And writing about "us" in this context indicates to me that Steiger includes himself into this circle and, as I fear, Julia.

But if we can all agree that the information given is insufficient to deduce anything, in particular not enough to diagnose Julia with psychopathy or even tendencies thereof, I'm happy.

[Steiger]

I'm in no position to diagnose anyone with anything. I'm simply coming from a standpoint of pure experience, lending a hand to a struggling youth. Your sensitivity is valid, for those who are susceptible to such sensitivities that is. Lmfao! I believe here however, it is misplaced.