4 ms·

It doesn't ring true to you but your truth differs from the science. The idea that everyone has an equal and balanced amount of dark and light traits and is th

It doesn't ring true to you but your truth differs from the science. The idea that everyone has an equal and balanced amount of dark and light traits and is therefore impossible to classify is misguided. There are many people who can fit into the category of dark and light and there are many people who are complex as you describe. At the very far end of the spectrum are people with antisocial disorder or more commonly known as psychopathy. These are people who can plunge a knife into your face and feel nothing. These people fit our definition of "dark." These traits are actually physically measurable and the fact that these people exist proves your statement as only one part of a more complex story. The science actually says that at the far end of the spectrum a psychopath tends to not be successful due to there inability to self control. Ordinarily your behavior is tempered by fear and empathy but a psychopath can only temper his impulses through raw logic overall leading to more problems.

darkerside 6y ago
I'm not saying they are equal parts light and dark. I do think it is dangerous and misguided to apply binary thinking to complex individuals. While there are psychopaths and sociopaths in this world, in the overwhelming majority of cases, your boss/coworker/rival of the moment is not one of them.
- Geminidog 6y ago
  You don't have evidence for this. You are simply viewing others as a reflection of yourself. If there are people at the tail end of the spectrum there must be people in between people who are centered and people who are extreme. Where and how these groups aggregate is hard to measure experimentally but it is clear that humans can lie and if they are not in the center of the spectrum and more evil than normal than likely they won't reveal it.
  - darkerside 6y ago
    I like to think I have sufficient theory of mind that my self isn't the only evidence for my views. I'm able to admit that my thoughts are colored by myself and my experiences, just like yours. Some people are not psychopathic but get labeled as if they are because of a lack of understanding. Others truly do have psychopathic tendencies. Even then, they are people first, and I'd wager they are a product of environment in more cases than not.

darkerside 6y ago

I'm not saying they are equal parts light and dark. I do think it is dangerous and misguided to apply binary thinking to complex individuals. While there are psychopaths and sociopaths in this world, in the overwhelming majority of cases, your boss/coworker/rival of the moment is not one of them.

Geminidog 6y ago
You don't have evidence for this. You are simply viewing others as a reflection of yourself. If there are people at the tail end of the spectrum there must be people in between people who are centered and people who are extreme. Where and how these groups aggregate is hard to measure experimentally but it is clear that humans can lie and if they are not in the center of the spectrum and more evil than normal than likely they won't reveal it.
- darkerside 6y ago
  I like to think I have sufficient theory of mind that my self isn't the only evidence for my views. I'm able to admit that my thoughts are colored by myself and my experiences, just like yours. Some people are not psychopathic but get labeled as if they are because of a lack of understanding. Others truly do have psychopathic tendencies. Even then, they are people first, and I'd wager they are a product of environment in more cases than not.