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I mean, the repetitiveness itself should be kind of a tell-tale sign, shouldn't it? And for that matter, I'm not even convinced that sociopaths have that highly

I mean, the repetitiveness itself should be kind of a tell-tale sign, shouldn't it? And for that matter, I'm not even convinced that sociopaths have that highly-developed of a TOM (Theory Of Mind) either. Their manipulations seem to be skin-deep, and they have deeper problems with succeeding in negotiation and letting go of entitlement attitudes, even when they would stand to gain significantly from doing so - that are hard to explain other than via a defective TOM. (It might even be possible to explore these things via formal research, such as by enticing/incenting sociopathic subjects to play properly-specified games/puzzles that require them to manipulate someone in just the right (and increasingly complex) ways, and looking at their outcomes.)

Nomentatus 7y ago
Interesting followup. Re repetition - it's a sign but only after a couple months do you notice that all these pleasing utterances you keep hearing are expressed with one of the same three emotional notes. Sociopaths have no real theory of mind, I agree, just a lot of stimulus-response mimicked behavior, lifted from those who do have a theory of mind. Negotiation is a very interesting topic in this regard. I like your research program proposal. I've noticed a lot more pleading or demanding than trading from sociopaths; good trading/negotiation pretty much requires a theory of the other's mind, needs, etc.
- 0815test 7y ago
  > Sociopaths have no real theory of mind, I agree, just a lot of stimulus-response mimicked behavior I mean, it might be that they do have a core TOM in addition to the stimulus-response stuff - but one that fails, because by default they're generalizing their own mental states/emotional ranges to others, not the neurotypical's or for that matter the autistic's. (Thus, even their TOM defects would be - at least to some extent - a consequence of them lacking certain drives. Including, of course, the uniquely-human drive to "truck, barter and trade" that makes people willing to engage constructively with others, even when pursuing entirely-selfish goals.)

Nomentatus 7y ago

Interesting followup. Re repetition - it's a sign but only after a couple months do you notice that all these pleasing utterances you keep hearing are expressed with one of the same three emotional notes. Sociopaths have no real theory of mind, I agree, just a lot of stimulus-response mimicked behavior, lifted from those who do have a theory of mind. Negotiation is a very interesting topic in this regard. I like your research program proposal. I've noticed a lot more pleading or demanding than trading from sociopaths; good trading/negotiation pretty much requires a theory of the other's mind, needs, etc.

0815test 7y ago
> Sociopaths have no real theory of mind, I agree, just a lot of stimulus-response mimicked behavior I mean, it might be that they do have a core TOM in addition to the stimulus-response stuff - but one that fails, because by default they're generalizing their own mental states/emotional ranges to others, not the neurotypical's or for that matter the autistic's. (Thus, even their TOM defects would be - at least to some extent - a consequence of them lacking certain drives. Including, of course, the uniquely-human drive to "truck, barter and trade" that makes people willing to engage constructively with others, even when pursuing entirely-selfish goals.)