Dick Cheney sociopath?

...I am hoping that this thread ends up being about 4 or 5 posts long because I just want people with psychology degrees or experience to respond.
I wish I had the PBS "Jim Leher" news interview he had with Cheney last night but I don't.....if you saw it, or can search youtube or where ever and find it, post it here for us.
I worked with psychopaths and sociopaths for 10 years and I have a psych. degree but don't have a phd. or anything like that.
I watched that interview and I am utterly convinced that Dick is a clinical sociopath. (politics aside seriously)
So what I am asking for in this thread is "clinical" opinions from this interview or I guess if you have other evidence....please please don't use this thread to either bash the guy or praise the administration...
I think this best fits in the "education" board because it would be useful to identify sociopaths in society for no better reason then to understand the condition better and its ramifications for those that are in power.
......like I said....please....don't throw your 2 cents in unless you know something about sociopaths, clinically. I would rather my thread die with this posting than be the OP for more political bashing.

What makes *you* think he is a sociopath?

Please elaborate.

I would also like explanation as to why you believe he is a sociopath. I could come up with reasons as to why he could be a sociopath but I want to hear why you think that he is one first.

I have no idea if he is a sociopath.

But I know for a fact he is possessed by an extremely evil entity.

I have a Psych Degree. I use Dr. Hare's checklist and this gives a resounding YES, he is! I am sure with some research we could find an example in Cheney's life for each of these traits.

Dr. Hare's Checklist (Sociopathic Traits)

1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM -- the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Sociopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A sociopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.

2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Sociopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.

3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM -- an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Sociopaths often have low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.

www.apsu.edu...

[edit on 16/1/09 by WatchNLearn]

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[edit on 16/1/2009 by Mirthful Me]

reply to post by WatchNLearn


I could apply lot of those to Obama or Clinton, among many others....

Maybe that's what it takes?

I agree, and this is what I posted in an earlier thread about politicians motives which applies equally as well here:

Unfortunately there is a propensity within politics that attracts "Type A" personalities.


Type A individuals can be described as impatient, excessively time-conscious, insecure about their status, highly competitive, hostile and aggressive, and incapable of relaxation. [1] They are often high achieving workaholics who multi-task, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about the smallest of delays. Because of these characteristics, Type A individuals are often described as "stress junkies."


Thus, many of our controllers are the quintessential control freak.

And that is it - control. These people want everyone, everywhere to think and act like they think they should.

In short it is a type of mental illness that should be treated like any other mental illness. Instead we elect them into positions of power where their natural tendencies will be to abuse the power.

reply to post by Res Ipsa


Here is the whole talk with Cheney and JIM LEHRER
www.pbs.org...
I’ve read it, bit by bit, but don’t understand why you think he is a sociopath.

good posts.
I like the check list too. If someone asked me to describe a psychopath it would be just as hard to explain as a sociopath, for me at least.
I have spent literally hundreds of hours interacting with both types that were civilly committed for being a psychopath or sexually dangerous person and of course sociopathology and narrisism is a part of it.
If you listened...or read the interview...you are experiencing what I am familiar with. It is kind of like what that one senator said back in the day about porn. "I don't know what it is, but I know it when I see it" (could have been a judge that said that)
Anyway.....Dick was beyond glib in the interview, almost as if he was playing with Jim (the interviewer) His aura of superiority as if he were a God and we were all 10yrs old. Compare to Clinton for example...I think he is narrisistic, type A, and has some sociopathology but not really.
...I might even be willing to believe that Dick may be a psychopath. They are above the law, this is their world and we are just supporting cast, they know best, they are never wrong.....now look what Dick said when he was asked about any mistakes he might have made......
He said that he underestimated the beat down that Sadam did to his people and that is why it has taken so long for them to stand up a government. He not only was saying that the Iraqi people were to blame for not being stronger, he blamed Sadam, he was implying that he expected more from the Iraqi people and they let him down......
I know there is much more but it really is hard to explain, at least for me, that is why I wanted some phd. person to point out all of the markers and explain more to us. I just know it when I see it.
sociopaths are common and function in society and make the world the "difficult" place it can be. Psychopaths are dangerous but they too often function in society too. The intelligent psycho/sociopaths are some dangerous people. (OJ is a sociopath.)
But.....even doctors have a hard time determining where to draw the line between dangerous levels of psychopothy or if the person is just a "insert expletive"
....I didn't do such a hot job of explaining why I think Dick may be a clinical sociopath AND maybe a psychopath...but like I said in the beginning, I'm looking for a clinical person to affirm or correct my position.