sociopath: a memoir by Patric Gagne

[Matt McKeon]

A fascinating read. Patric Gagne describes her growing up, realizing that she is different from other children, and finally being diagnosed as a sociopath by a psychatrist when in college.

We think of sociopathy as serial killers or criminals. What Gagne describes is a lack: a lack of empathy, of trust, of fear, compassion, or restraint. Clever enough to realize that she was appeared as "off" by others, she learned the tone of voice, gestures, and behavior that allowed her to blend in, a protective camoflage.

 

[Matt McKeon]

She does commit a great many crimes, not out of greed or sadism, but to create a "pop" of emotion when the stress between her lack of feeling and the expectations of being a human being. Stealing cars, breaking and entering, casual thief, she treated them as therapy to keep herself from doing something really dangerous. The book is often funny, as Patric's actions, consistent with her internal logic, are bizarre.

She acknowledges as a white, attractive woman some an affluent family, she could simply evade consequences of her crimes. She was successful in business. "Moral flexibility," she notes dryly, "will take you far in the music industry."

 

[Matt McKeon]

What is remarkable about Gagne, is that she consciously decides to fufill herself and have a good life without the criminal actions she found so easy and enjoyable. She wants to marry and have children, she's head over heels about her boyfriend, loves her parents and sister, she feels anger and happiness is a muted way, so she works with what she has to regulate her behavior. Her mantra is, she couldn't help being a sociopath, but she could choose her behaviors. She advocates for better and effective treatments for sociopathy and a better understanding of this frightening psychological condition.

 

[Matt McKeon]

Of course, in interviews, she seems superficially very charming and sincere, and uses the gestures she describes in the book as the most effective ways to relax the person interviewing. How trustworthy is someone who lies so fluently? Occasionally there is a red flag, she admits (before changing the subject, deftly) there is plenty she left out, not because it struck her as terrible(nothing does), but because her husband told her.

But her basic point seems valid: a sociopath can't help how they were born, but they can choose to have good lives and, non destructive ways to live in the world.

 

[Matt McKeon]

Couples of funny points: once she cooes over a couple of small children she was nanny for. "I loved those kids. In my fashion."

She gets annoyed at a show boating co-worker. Man, you do not want her as an enemy.

 

[5fish]

She is a psychopath...

 

[Matt McKeon]

She is a psychopath...

Gagne discusses the difference between sociopathy and psychopathy at length, and the results of the tests administrated to her, which place her in the sociopathic range, not the psychopathic. The youtube clip does describe her behavior as typical of psychopaths.

 

[5fish]

@Matt McKeon ... I think you might like this video...