reasonable doubt

[Jane]

Not only does it have to be a conversation,you have the overall persona,including body language and eye movements.

But it won't tell anyone with only a sketchy idea of what is a psychopath, whether that is what they are. In fact, unless a specific crime has been committed, it's unlikely to inform anyone but a highly trained professional....................and even they'd be likely to have the humility to say, at that stage, they couldn't be 100% certain.

[Stephanie]

Not only does it have to be a conversation,you have the overall persona,including body language and eye movements.

It is highly unlikely you would recognise a psychopath if you met one. Psychopaths blend in. They appear very normal and very 'nice.' The overall persona, including body language would make no difference - they are chameleons.

[Stephanie]

But it won't tell anyone with only a sketchy idea of what is a psychopath, whether that is what they are. In fact, unless a specific crime has been committed, it's unlikely to inform anyone but a highly trained professional....................and even they'd be likely to have the humility to say, at that stage, they couldn't be 100% certain.

As you say Jane, even professionals trained in psychopathy can be fooled.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10737827/Psychopaths-how-can-you-spot-one.html

[lookout]

It is highly unlikely you would recognise a psychopath if you met one. Psychopaths blend in. They appear very normal and very 'nice.' The overall persona, including body language would make no difference - they are chameleons.

That's just it,I don't do " very nice " in people,as first off it's patronising and secondly I don't always trust them. I've had a wealth of experience of people and it's surprising how you can get things right in your perception of them.

[Stephanie]

"We think of psychopaths as killers, alien, outside society. But, says the scientist who has spent his life studying them, you could have one for a colleague, a friend – or a spouse

[Jane]

As you say Jane, even professionals trained in psychopathy can be fooled.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10737827/Psychopaths-how-can-you-spot-one.html

My own experience was that, although all my senses were on high alert -I knew SOMETHING wasn't right- I didn't know exactly WHAT was wrong until much later. Would it ever happen again? Who knows? These people are PLAUSIBLE.

[Stephanie]

My own experience was that, although all my senses were on high alert -I knew SOMETHING wasn't right- I didn't know exactly WHAT was wrong until much later. Would it ever happen again? Who knows? These people are PLAUSIBLE.

Not according to Lookout.

[lookout]

 A for instance was the matron I trained under. She was a dragon,but a very fair person with no side to her,very clever of course and fair to everyone,but didn't suffer fools.
Because of matron's superior persona,she wasn't arrogant nor bossy and didn't ever humiliate anyone.
I learned an awful lot from her,,but her " syrupy" understudy was one I couldn't stand,the assistant matron who had more faces than the town hall clock,as well as those members of staff who followed her.

Out of the two of them,who do you think would be the most popular today ? 

[Jane]

That's just it,I don't do " very nice " in people,as first off it's patronising and secondly I don't always trust them. I've had a wealth of experience of people and it's surprising how you can get things right in your perception of them.

D'ya know something, Lookout? It could just turn out that you're the most vulnerable one here, SIMPLY because you're so damned certain of your own omnipotence and that you "know" people better than experts.. You've certainly allowed one to break through your defences. Chances are, there've been others. Not ALL psychopaths kill.

[lookout]

It may NOT be psychopathy that one could spot,but another form of mental illness taking on the image of psychopathy. There are dozens of different types of mental illness which can be mistaken for psychopathy.

[Jane]

A for instance was the matron I trained under. She was a dragon,but a very fair person with no side to her,very clever of course and fair to everyone,but didn't suffer fools.
Because of matron's superior persona,she wasn't arrogant nor bossy and didn't ever humiliate anyone.
I learned an awful lot from her,,but her " syrupy" understudy was one I couldn't stand,the assistant matron who had more faces than the town hall clock,as well as those members of staff who followed her.

Out of the two of them,who do you think would be the most popular today ?

That says no more than that there are some people you respond to more than others. I see nothing particularly mind blowingly surprising about that. It's the same for us all. Like you, I don't follow the what the crowd do -just for the sake of it- but if I agree with them, I'll go with them rather that DISagreeing in order to stand out as being different.

[Jane]

It may NOT be psychopathy that one could spot,but another form of mental illness taking on the image of psychopathy. There are dozens of different types of mental illness which can be mistaken for psychopathy.

How ironic is that!!!!!? The image of psychopathy is what ever passes as normal within a given situation.

[lookout]

That says no more than that there are some people you respond to more than others. I see nothing particularly mind blowingly surprising about that. It's the same for us all. Like you, I don't follow the what the crowd do -just for the sake of it- but if I agree with them, I'll go with them rather that DISagreeing in order to stand out as being different.

Just because I say that Jeremy is innocent isn't a case of disagreeing with the majority just to be different. ? Heck no. Do you think there's anything nice in being called a " ghastly harridan " and  a sufferer of " dementia " as pugwash described me from the red forum ? Because I support a " child killer " ? ME ?? Who agrees with the death penalty for killers ??
If I thought for one minute that Jeremy was guilty,I'd say so rather than put up with being a punchbag.

[Caroline]

It may NOT be psychopathy that one could spot,but another form of mental illness taking on the image of psychopathy. There are dozens of different types of mental illness which can be mistaken for psychopathy.

Psychopathy is NOT an illness!

[Stephanie]

It may NOT be psychopathy that one could spot,but another form of mental illness taking on the image of psychopathy. There are dozens of different types of mental illness which can be mistaken for psychopathy.

Psychopathy isn't a mental illness and I disagree with what you have written. A psychopath could feign a mental illness but they would not be mentally I'll.