Language and words for psychopaths are only word deep; there is no emotional colouring behind it. A psychopath can use a word like, βI love youβ but it means nothing more to him than if he said, βIβll have a cup of coffee.
Robert D. HareRead
Psychopaths are social predators, and like all predators, they are looking for feeding grounds. Wherever you get power, prestige and money, you will find them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights that psychopaths often seek environments where they can exploit power, prestige, and wealth.
In this quote, Robert D. Hare emphasizes the predatory nature of psychopaths, who are drawn to situations where they can leverage their charm and manipulation to gain power and resources. By referring to them as 'social predators', Hare conveys the idea that these individuals are adept at identifying and infiltrating social structures for personal gain, revealing the potential dangers they pose in environments marked by authority and wealth.
Themes
PsychopathsPredatorsPowerSocialManipulationWealthPrestige
In practice
Example use cases
In a psychological seminar discussing the traits of psychopaths.
More from Robert D. Hare
All quotes βMany psychopaths describe the traditional treatment programmes as finishing schools where they hone their skills. Where they find out that there are lots of techniques they had not thought about before.
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Measurement and categorization are, of course, fundamental to any scientific endeavor, but the implications of being able to identify psychopaths are as much practical as academic. To put it simply, if we can't spot them, we are doomed to be their victims, both as individuals and as a society.
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Not all psychopaths are in prison - some are in the boardroom.
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A psychopath can tell what you're thinking but what they don't do is feel what you feel. These are people without a conscience.
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