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Jobs with power attract people who like exploiting such power. And it's a particular character flaw that makes them think they'd get away with it, even though

Jobs with power attract people who like exploiting such power. And it's a particular character flaw that makes them think they'd get away with it, even though they tell others. That's also a reason why police officers like to make inappropriate racist or sexist jokes: It's relatively harmless but by the reaction they can evaluate which colleagues would back them up.

mijoharas 4y ago
I seem to recall that law enforcement has a higher rate of sociopathy than the average. Let me find a reference/double check myself. I found this[0] which on a cursory reading doesn't seem to support the above. There was also a pop-sci book[1] which seems to argue the above, but I don't know how much weight I put behind it (and I'm not curious enough to get the book and look for references.) Does anyone know of any data or research to support or refute the claim "law enforcement has a higher rate of sociopathy than the general population"? [0] https://sci-hub.ru/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2018.08.002 https://sci-hub.ru/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2018.08.002 [1] https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Psychopaths-Saints-Killers-Success/dp/0374533989 https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Psychopaths-Saints-Killers-Suc...
- m463 4y ago
  I kind of wonder if any job that has a constant collision with "reality" will wear down more mainstream moral values and reactions. For example, doctors meet people all day long with unhealthy lifestyles, and how many persist in saying "you have to change your diet, lose weight and exercise" to each one? Police officers deal with lawbreakers all. day. long. lawyers have to represent their client. etc.
  - bayesian_horse 4y ago
    Lot's of doctors have the same problem so I guess it should have gotten through to most of them that it isn't that easy. It has been shown in studies that giving the advice "change diet, lose weight and exercise" simply doesn't work. Doctors then blame the patient for not following the advise. Then other studies showed that "eat less and exercise more" doesn't work even if compliance was monitored...

mijoharas 4y ago

I seem to recall that law enforcement has a higher rate of sociopathy than the average. Let me find a reference/double check myself. I found this[0] which on a cursory reading doesn't seem to support the above. There was also a pop-sci book[1] which seems to argue the above, but I don't know how much weight I put behind it (and I'm not curious enough to get the book and look for references.) Does anyone know of any data or research to support or refute the claim "law enforcement has a higher rate of sociopathy than the general population"? [0] https://sci-hub.ru/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2018.08.002 https://sci-hub.ru/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2018.08.002 [1] https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Psychopaths-Saints-Killers-Success/dp/0374533989 https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Psychopaths-Saints-Killers-Suc...

m463 4y ago
I kind of wonder if any job that has a constant collision with "reality" will wear down more mainstream moral values and reactions. For example, doctors meet people all day long with unhealthy lifestyles, and how many persist in saying "you have to change your diet, lose weight and exercise" to each one? Police officers deal with lawbreakers all. day. long. lawyers have to represent their client. etc.
- bayesian_horse 4y ago
  Lot's of doctors have the same problem so I guess it should have gotten through to most of them that it isn't that easy. It has been shown in studies that giving the advice "change diet, lose weight and exercise" simply doesn't work. Doctors then blame the patient for not following the advise. Then other studies showed that "eat less and exercise more" doesn't work even if compliance was monitored...