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Psychopaths exist for an evolutionary reason. The fact that the military essentially screens for them in order to make the most of the mounted 50 calibers sugg

Psychopaths exist for an evolutionary reason. The fact that the military essentially screens for them in order to make the most of the mounted 50 calibers suggests why. But they are less important now, and given the demographics of the prison population, it's clear why. It's actually best not to treat such a thing. Just evict them from the gene pool via the justice system and the problem will solve itself.

etherael 14y ago
> the military essentially screens for them in order to make the most of the mounted 50 calibers Citation needed, not calling bullshit necessarily but I can't imagine selecting for pyschopaths in the military does wonders for unit cohesion / morale.
philwelch 14y ago
> The fact that the military essentially screens for them No, no they don't. What makes you think that they do?
- mynameishere 14y ago
  Because it's a huge field. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_psychology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_psychology It's actually pretty common sense. Pulling a trigger is not easy when it's aimed at another creature, and I've seen people refuse to shoot deer. When training infantry costs a million dollars, you have to economize by distinguishing who will be a state-sponsored killer, and who will shoot in the air out of compunction. http://www.amazon.com/Men-Against-Fire-Problem-Command/dp/0806132809 http://www.amazon.com/Men-Against-Fire-Problem-Command/dp/08... I maybe wouldn't believe it, but I've seen it.
  - philwelch 14y ago
    Being willing to effectively fight in combat isn't equivalent to being a psychopath. It's something most men can be trained to do. Once you've in an actual combat situation it's either you or them--at that point it's just a rational manifestation of self-preservation. Even more to the point, people will kill in order to defend each other, which certainly favors empathy towards one's comrades over psychopathy. I'm sure some psychopaths get through, but for anything important the military tries to screen against them, and for good reason--the foundation of an effective military is teamwork, and military culture strongly honors heroism of the self-sacrificial sort, certainly not the stuff psychopaths are made of.
    - nekitamo 14y ago
      You would be surprised at how many soldiers deliberately miss the enemy, or don't fire at all. Discussions on the matter: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536561 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536561 http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=48;t=000511;p=0 http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_to... I can provide more solid material if needed.
      - philwelch 14y ago
        I know about that; I'm not contesting that, I'm contesting the notion that the military deliberately screens in favor of psychopaths. They don't, and it's absolute bullshit to say that they do.

etherael 14y ago

> the military essentially screens for them in order to make the most of the mounted 50 calibers Citation needed, not calling bullshit necessarily but I can't imagine selecting for pyschopaths in the military does wonders for unit cohesion / morale.

philwelch 14y ago

> The fact that the military essentially screens for them No, no they don't. What makes you think that they do?

mynameishere 14y ago
Because it's a huge field. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_psychology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_psychology It's actually pretty common sense. Pulling a trigger is not easy when it's aimed at another creature, and I've seen people refuse to shoot deer. When training infantry costs a million dollars, you have to economize by distinguishing who will be a state-sponsored killer, and who will shoot in the air out of compunction. http://www.amazon.com/Men-Against-Fire-Problem-Command/dp/0806132809 http://www.amazon.com/Men-Against-Fire-Problem-Command/dp/08... I maybe wouldn't believe it, but I've seen it.
- philwelch 14y ago
  Being willing to effectively fight in combat isn't equivalent to being a psychopath. It's something most men can be trained to do. Once you've in an actual combat situation it's either you or them--at that point it's just a rational manifestation of self-preservation. Even more to the point, people will kill in order to defend each other, which certainly favors empathy towards one's comrades over psychopathy. I'm sure some psychopaths get through, but for anything important the military tries to screen against them, and for good reason--the foundation of an effective military is teamwork, and military culture strongly honors heroism of the self-sacrificial sort, certainly not the stuff psychopaths are made of.
  - nekitamo 14y ago
    You would be surprised at how many soldiers deliberately miss the enemy, or don't fire at all. Discussions on the matter: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536561 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536561 http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=48;t=000511;p=0 http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_to... I can provide more solid material if needed.
    - philwelch 14y ago
      I know about that; I'm not contesting that, I'm contesting the notion that the military deliberately screens in favor of psychopaths. They don't, and it's absolute bullshit to say that they do.